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THE 



HISTORY 



Old Town of Derby, 



CONNECTICUT, 



1642-I88O. 



* BIOGRAPHIES AND GENEALOGIES. 



BY 

SAMUEL ORCUTT, 

A nthor of the Histories of Torrington and U'olcott, Com, 
AND 

AMBROSE BEARDSLEY, M. D. 



PRESS OF SPRINGFIELD PRINTING COMl'ANY, 

SPRINGFIELD, MASS. 

1880. 



Thus once more our journey is ended ; our track hath been centuries long; 

We liave heard tiie wild whoop of the savage, and the rude note of puritan song ; 

We have watched the briglit wave of progression as it broke o'er our valleys and 

hills; 
We've seen builded the castle of beauty Ijy the lake, with its chattering mills ; 

E'en we've tarried a while in the present, (so soon to be counted the past!) 

And have caught at the sparks of the furnace that holdeth the future in " blast ; " 

We've followed the thread of the stoiy as traced up this history's page. 

And have seen that forever \.\\^ present was the rose that was crowning the age. 

There were struggles, and crosses and trials ; and days when the sun was withdrawn ; 

Vet forever there came in the morning the light of encouraging dawn ; 

Our men have been men with a purpose, and our maidens have been gentle and 

true, — 
With a faith that was strong, and as rugged as the rocks where from childhood they 

grew. 

Though the names that these pages have rescued, forgetfulness nearly had claimed, 
\"et heroes were they that had borne them, as ])roud as our country e'er hath named. 
So farewell, ancient ])ilgrims! we have sung to your memory our best song. 
Which in the ages to come, may cheer the travelers on the journey so long. 



\ 



PREFACE 



History is the record of experiences in the ages that 
are past; and experience, while varying through the 
changing of circumstances, is a teacher worthy to be 
carefully studied, and to whose voice it is wise to listen. 

The person who is indifferent to the past is too selfish 
to be of much benefit to the world in the present, and 
too heedless of wisdom to accomplish much for human 
good in the future. 

One object sought in the writing of this book has 
been the promotion of reflection on the past, which 
would result, it is believed, in careful consideration of 
what shall be the life of the future, for it would be un- 
pardonable to give a book to the world without some 
high motive of good, in the mind of the author. How 
well or poorly the purpose may have been attained is 
not a question now, the existence of the motive is the 
only fact of which we can be certain. 

As to the completeness of the book, it may be said 
that no work of the kind which has fallen under the 
author's observation is more so in the amount and defi- 
niteness of the matter printed, and yet much remains 



IV PKKFACE. 

unwritten that would be of great interest, while the time 
occupied in putting the material into form has been too 
short to allow perfectness in any single department. 

The Indian History, for which the community as well 
as the authors are under great obligation to the Rev. 
Joseph Anderson, D. D., of Waterbury, and the prepara- 
tion of which, so far as he prepared it (more than one- 
half), cost many weeks of study and research, — he being 
peculiarly competent for the task, — is but the outline of 
what might be, and it is to be hoped will be, some day, 
placed before the public in book form. 

The Historical and Biographical parts are much more 
extended than was originally intended, or promised in 
the circular given to the community ; and the Genealo- 
gies, although very incomplete, being confined almost 
wholly to the town records, except such items as dil^er- 
ent families have by their own effort placed in the hands 
of the authors, have been obtained by great effort and 
carefulness, and should give much satisfaction. 

It is to be hoped that the subject will be taken up by 
a patient hand, for such only can succeed, and another 
volume secured to the memory of those who, otherwise, 
will soon be forever forirotten. 

The authors present their thanks to the town for their 
generous purchase of a copy of the work, for without 
this aid the jjrice must have been greater, or the book 
much abridged; and even now thev are at their wit's 



PREFACE. V 

end to know how to work out of the undertaking with- 
out loss. 

They are much indebted to those who have allowed 
their portraits to enliven the pages of the book, this 
being a very great addition, and one for which thousands 
will be thankful as well as the authors. 

They are specially indebted to the Ousatonic Water 
Company for help in procuring a picture of the Dam; 
also to Mr. Wjlliam E. Miller, photographer, for his gen- 
erous and very satisfactory aid rendered in taking a num- 
ber of pictures without charge ; to the Town Clerk, Mr. 
D. E. McMahon, for his genial courtesy in the frequent 
and oft-repeated calls made upon him to search the rec- 
ords under his care ; to Mr. Charles Reed who has 
greatly assisted in hunting up the lost tribes of the 
benevolent societies, and for many other little attentions 
in obtaining various items from the records, which were 
very highly appreciated; and to Mr. George W. Beach, 
who, in behalf of the Naugatuck Railroad, has furnished 
several illustrations for the book. 

Special thanks are tendered to Mr. John W. Storrs 
for his poem, " The Story of the Years" (page 680), 
written at the request of the authors, the which they 
would not be without for a large consideration, and 
which, as a poem, would do honor, — penned in a hurry 
as it was — to many a well-read and celebrated poet. 
The story of the book is thus: When the History of 



r\ I'KEI'ACE. 

Torrington, Conn., had been completed, Mr. George W. 
Beach, Superintendent of the Naugatiick Railroad, see- 
ing it, remarked to the author, " If you will write a like 
history of Old Derby, I will see that a portrait of my 
father is furnished for the work." He then recom- 
mended a call on Doctor A. Beardsley as being the 
source most likely to furnish proper information as to 
anything already done or likely to be done in the matter. 
Some six months afterwards this su2:o:estion was fol- 
lowed, but the Doctor spoke discouragingly and the sub- 
ject was fully dropped. After three months the author 
met the Doctor again on other business, at which time 
he urged somewhat the undertaking as very desirable ; 
a proposition w^as made which was at once accepted and 
the next day the work was commenced. Whatever 
matter the Doctor has furnished, being written neces- 
sarily in great hurry, has been carefully rewritten but 
designedly left in the Doctor's style, which has hereto- 
fore been so agreeable to the community. 

Samuel Orcutt. 



Birmingham, June i, 1880. 

During a residence of nearly half a century in Derby 
many pleasant memories have been awakened and attach 
ments formed, while endeavoring to aid in beautifying 
the local surroundings and improve the advantages of 
the growing population of the tow^n; and being familiar 
with so many households by reason of forty-four years' 
practice of my profession ; and, withal, naturally fond of 
reviewing the historic past, I had gathered interesting, 
reminiscences at the ,. suggestion of many friends for 
twenty years, with a view, some day, of publishing them 
in book form ; but had nearly abandoned the project, 
wdien the Rev. Samuel Orcutt called upon me and offered 
to join in the undertaking, and soon the work was com- 
menced. 

The researches into musty records, the work of in- 
quiry for confirmatory evidence of traditions among the 
oldest families, and the varied correspondence to gain 
trustworthy information, have been far more onerous 
than at first was expected. Of this none can know but 
those who attempt to write a Town History. Much 
that had been written is omitted in the printing, for want 
of room. The authors have aimed at correctness, and 
have endeavored to make such selections as would be 
most interesting and appropriate in such a work, thus 



VIU PREFACE. 



rescuing from oblivion many facts and traditions which 
would otherwise have slept in the ages of the past. 
Whatever has been contributed by the undersigned has 
been written by piece-meals, as Sallust wrote his history 
of the Roman Empire. 

The genealogies are necessarily imperfect fr-om the 
great difficulty in procuring facts and dates from reliable 
sources, but the authors have been faithful to this depart- 
ment, and as a whole have published a work far more 
extended than was promised to the subscribers. 

With this brief statement of my connection with this 
book, I tender my cordial thanks ^o the town and those 
individuals who have aided and encouraged its publica- 
tion ; resting assured that when the hand that now 
writes is moldering in the dust, many will feel grate- 
ful to the authors who have given to the public this 

History. 

A. Beards LEY. 



Yale College, New Haven, Conn., 

February i, 1880. 



This may certify that I have looked whh much interest 

through the History of Derby, by Rev. Samuel Orcutt. It 

seems to me to have been prepared with great fidelity and 

thoroughness, and to take rank with the best town histories 

which are so interesting and valuable to every son ot New 

England. 

Noah Porter. 



CONTENTS 



INDIAN HISTORY. 

CHAPTER r. 
Primitive Condition, ........ xvii 

CHAPTER H. 
Ethnographic History, ....... xxviii 

CHAPTER in. 
Chuse and the Last Families, ...... xli 

CHAPTER IV. 
Further Authentic Records, ...... Ivii 

CHAPTER V. 
The Indian as an Enemy, ....... Ixxiv 

HISTORY OF DERBY. 

chapter I. 
Paugasuck and Paugassett, I 

chapter h. 
Derby, 1675-1680, ......... 45 

chapter hi. 
A Mill, a Meeting-house, and War, ..... 75 

CHAPTER IV. 
Education, Enterprise and Improve:ments, . . 102 

CHAPTER V. 
Dissenting Derby and the Episcopal Church, . , . 134 

CHAPTER VI. 
Derby in the Revolution, 165 

C HAPTER VII. 
After the Revolution, 201 



CONTEiXTS. XI 

CHAPTER VIII. 

The Town of Oxford, . . . . . . .228 

chaptp:r IX. 
Commercial Enterprises, 245 

CHAPTER X. 
The First Church of Derby and the War of 1812, . 282 

CHAPTER XI. 
Roads, Bridges and Floods, 304 

CHAPTER XII. 
Birmingham, .......... 343 

CHAPTER XIII. 
The Dam and Shelton, . . . . . . .391 

CHAPTER XIV. 
Ansonia, 413 

CHAPTER XV. 
The Town of Seymour, ....... 442 

CHAPTER XVI. 
The War of the Rebellion, ...... 486 

Biographies, .......... 523 

Genealogies, .......... 693 

Appendix, 785 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



STEEL ENGRAVINGS. 



A. Beardsley, 
Samuel Orcutt, . 
John I. Howe, 
Franklin Farrell, 
Lewis Hotchkiss, . 
Joseph Arnold, 
J. H. Bartholomew, 
Royal M. Bassett, 
Sharon Y. Beach, 
Wm. E. Downes, • 
Almon Farrell, 
Charles Pinney, 
'1'homas Wallace, 
W.M. B. Wooster, 



Benjamin Hodge, 
Willis Hotchkiss, 



LITHOGRAPHS. 



I 
I 

366 

420 
438 
523 
525 
528 

533 
545 
547 
633 
663 
674 

556 
5<'H 



ARTOTYPES. 



Abram Hawkins, 
Sylvester Colburn, 
Sullivan Colburn, 
Josiah Colburn, 
William Hawkins, 



PHOTO-ELECTROTYPES. 



Zephaniah Hallock, 
Zephaniah Swift, 



WOOD CUTS. 



First Meeting house, 
Second Meeting-house, 
First Episc:opal Church. 



358 
364 
3^4 

543 
555 



554 
659 



79 
126 
149 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



XIU 



Gen. Humphreys delivering the flags, 

Oxford in 1836, 

Derby Landing in 1836, 

Old Stone Building, 

The Schooner Modesty 

Train at Hich Rock, 

Beacon Falls Dam, 

High Rock Glen, 

Sherman's Cut, 

Birmingham in 1836, . 

M. E. Church and Parsonage, 

Birmingham Iron Foundry, 

Sterling Organ Co , . 

Allis's Book Store, 

St. James's Church, 

Public Square, Birmingham, 

Congregational Church and Parsonage, 

Public School, Birmingham, 

Residence of Geo. S. Arnold, 

OysATONic Dam, 

N'orway Iron Bolt Works, Shelton, 

Wilcox and Howe Hardware, Shelton, 

Indian Well, ..... 

OsBORN and Cheeseman Co., Ansonia, 

Christ Church and Parsonage, Ansonia, 

Rock Rimmon, 

Humphreysville, 

Falls of the Naugatuck, 

Swan's Mills, 

Gen. David Humphreys, 

Edmund Leavenworth, 

John Lindley, 

Abiram Stoddard, 

Stephen N. Summers, . 



BiRMI 



ngham, 



199 

242 

255 
258 

266 
317 

318 

320 
321 

349 
359 

365 
368 

370 
374 
376 
379 
387 
388 

390 
407 
409 
411 
421 
425 

445 
472 
481 
483 
593 
615 
617 
632 

657 



E RRATA. 



Page 1 6, 5th line from top, read Pomperaug for Pompesaug. 

Page 87, loth line from bottom, read 1688 for 1668. 

Page 90, read Agur for Agar, etc. 

Page 96, read Major for Mayor Johnson. 

Page 158, read Shelton for Shelon. 

Page 196, Nathan Mansfield is supposed to be a son of Dr. Mansfield, 

which is an error. 
Page 197. James's Church of Hartford is an error. 
Page 199, last line read 1781 for 1761. 
Page 214, 3d line from top read credulity for incredulity. 
Page 248, 9th line from top, read 1773 for 1763. 
Page 264, 23d line from top, read packets for pickets. 
Page 442, H. h. Munson is said to have been Representative in 1850, 

which is an error as to the date. 
Page, 488, read fires of evil passion, instead of fire's evil passion. 



PREFACE 

"TO the: INDIAN HISTORY. 



This part of the History of Derby has grown far beyond 
the limits contemplated in the original plan of the work. After 
some of the material for it had been collected, information was 
received that the Rev. Joseph Anderson, D. D., of Waterbury, 
was preparing a brief course of lectures on the aboriginal 
history and antiquities of the Naugatuck valley, and at once a 
request was made for the use in this work of such parts of 
those lectures as related to Derby. The request was very 
cordially granted and the offer made of any further assistance 
which Dr. Anderson might be able to render in giving com- 
pleteness to this part of the work. 

From Dr. Anderson's researches it was evident on the one 
hand that the Milford tribe was the stock from which the abo- 
riginal inhabitants of the lower Naugatuck and Ousatonic val- 
leys had sprung, and on the other hand, that the Tunxis Indi- 
ans, who came into the Naugatuck valley from the east, were 
related to these others in various important ways ; so that any 
large and thorough treatment of the subject would naturally 
embrace the whole field covered by the lectures. It was there- 
fore determined to make the lectures the groundwork of this 
part of the History. They are given entire, and such other 
facts are added as could be obtained by diligent search from 
whatever sources, the additions being chiefly from the Indian 
deeds recorded in Derby, Milford and StratfortI, which were 
not within the lecturer's reach at the time his lectures were 



XVI PREFACE. 

prepared. These deeds were forty in lumiber, coverino- the 
space of time from the date of the first to the hist one of over 
one hundred years. 

The public, therefore, as well as the authors of this work, 
are indebted to Dr. Anderson, who is second to few in regard 
to the extent and thoroughness of his researches in this depart- 
ment, for something more than one-half of this aboriginal his- 
tory. His accurate description of the Naugatuck valley, and 
his brief ethnological sketch of the Indian tribes our readers 
will without doubt appreciate. 

In view of all the facts it is believed that the treatment of 
this field equals in thoroughness and accuracy, if it does not 
exceed, that accorded to any other piece of territory within the 
bounds of Connecticut. To the thoughtful reader it will not 
ojily afford instruction and pleasure in the perusal ; it will aid 
him in forming a truer judgment respecting the mutual rela- 
tions of the native inhabitants and the early settlers of New 
England. The Authors. 



INDIAN HISTORY 



>.*.^ 



CHAPTER I. 



PRIMITIVE CONDITION. 




CAREFUL review of the geographical position and re- 
lations of Derby is important in order to a full under- 
standing of the movements of the Indian tribes within 
its borders in historical times, their gradual extinction, 
and the complete acquisition of the territory by the incoming 
English. It is also important, because of the close connection, 
now generally recognized, between a people and the physical 
characteristics of the region in which they dwell. It seems 
appropriate, therefore, to begin with a geographical survey, cov- 
ering the valleys of the Ousatonic and Naugatuck rivers. 

The chief river of western Connecticut is the Ousatonic 
(more properly the Owsatunnuck, and known in former times 
as the Pootatuck and the Stratford river). It enters the state 
from the north, about seven miles east of the western boundary, 
and flows in a direction somewhat west of south for about thirty 
miles. Having almost touched the New York state line, it 
bends toward the east, and for a distance of thirty-five miles 
flows in a south-easterly direction, when it turns again and flows 
nearly due south for nine or ten miles, and empties into Long 
Island Sound between Stratford and Milford. Between the 
two bends of which mention has been made (in that part of its 
course in which it flows to the south-east) it receives several 
tributaries from the north — prominent among them the She- 
paug river which drains Bantam lake in Litchfield and smaller 
lakes in Goshen ; the Pomperaug, which flows through Wood- 
bury and Southbury ; and P2ight-milc brook, which drains Lake- 
Ouassapaug. Just above the second bend, where it turns to go 
c 



XVlll INDIAN HISTORV. 

southward, and, as we have observed, nine or ten miles from its 
mouth, it receives the Naugatuck river. The Naugatuck belongs 
to this group of southward-flowing tributaries, but is much the 
largest, and constitutes the main branch of the Ousatonic. 
Its general course from Wolcottville to Birmingham is south- 
ward and parallel to the other tributaries. Its length, running 
between these two points, is thirty-eight and a half miles. The 
river is formed by the union of the east and west branches at 
Wolcottville, near the southern boundary of the town of Tor- 
rington. The west branch rises in Norfolk and flows through 
the north-east corner of Goshen, and through Torrington in 
a south-easterly direction ; the east branch rises in Winches- 
ter and flows more nearly southward. Between the two 
branches there is a range of hills which terminates abruptly at 
its southern extremity in a hight known as Red mountain. 
South of Wolcottville, the hills on opposite sides of the stream 
are about a mile ai:)art ; but just above Litchfield station they 
come close down to the river, and the valley for many miles 
below is narrow, and flanked by precipitous bights. All along 
its course there are alluvial lands, curiously arranged for the 
most part in triangular pieces on the east side of the stream ; 
and between Waterville and Naugatuck these lands broaden 
out into extensive meadows — the " interval [or inter-vale] lands " 
of Mattatuck, which attracted the first settlers to this part of 
the state. In the neighborhood of Waterbury, not only are the 
meadows wide, but the hills which overlook them are low, 
and partake of the character of bluffs, while on the eastern side 
there is an opening in the hills large enough to afford room for 
a thriving little city. Below Naugatuck the water-shed be- 
comes narrow again, and the hillsides precipitous. This is 
especially true of the section below Beacon Hill brook. The 
hills are not only steep, but high and rocky, and the valley is 
gorge-like. The "dug road" on the eastern bank, and the rail- 
road on the western, are cut into the foundations of the mount- 
ains, and at the same time overhang the rushing waters. 
From Beaver brook to the mouth of the river at Birmingham, 
about two miles, there is a fine tract of meadow land about half 
a mile in width. In the ujiper part of the valley (for example, 
just above Waterville) there is much that is wild and pictur- 



BROOKS AND RIVERS. XIX 

esque ; but the entire section between Beacon Hill brook and 
Seymour is of cjuite exceptional beauty and grandeur. 

The Naugatuck has many tributaries ; for instance, Spruce 
brook which flows through East Litchfield and empties near 
Campville ; Lead river which rises in New Hartford and flows 
through Harwinton ; the West branch, which rises in Morris 
and Litchfield, and divides Thomaston from Watertown and 
empties at Reynolds's bridge ; Hancock's brook, which rises in 
the north-east part of Plymouth, and empties at Waterville ; 
Steele's brook, which flows through Watertown and empties at 
the north-west boundary of the city of Waterbury ; Mad river, 
which rises in the north part of Wolcott, and flows through the 
city of Waterbury ; Smug brook, which empties at Hopeville ; 
Fulling-mill brook, which flows westward and empties at Un- 
ion City ; Hop brook, which comes from Middlebury, and emp- 
ties at Naugatuck; Longmeadow brook, which rises in Middle- 
bury, drains Longmeadow pond, receives a tributary from Toan- 
tuck pond and empties at Naugatuck ; Beacon Hill river, (an- 
ciently the boundary between Waterbury and Derby) one branch 
of which rises in the north of Prospect, the other in Bethany ; 
Sherman's brook, which tumbles through High Rock glen ; 
Lebanon brook, which rises in the south of Bethany and emp- 
ties at Beacon P^alls ; Chestnut Tree Hill brook, which comes 
from the west and empties at Pines Bridge ; Bladen's brook, 
which rises in Bethany and Woodbridge and empties at Sey- 
mour ; Little river, which rises in Middlebury, drains Oxford 
and empties at Seymour ; and Beaver brook, which empties a 
little below Ansonia. These are all rapid streams, plunging- 
downward into the deep valley of the Naugatuck. Compared with 
our western rivers it has but an insignificant water-shed ; yet 
there are eighteen or twenty towns embraced in it. Those 
which border upon the river are Torrington, Litchfield, Har- 
winton, Plymouth, Thomaston, Watertown, Waterbury, Nau- 
gatuck, Beacon Falls, Seymour and Derby.. Those which, 
although lying back from the river, are drained in part by its 
tributaries, are Morris, Middlebury, Wolcott, Prospect, Beth- 
any, Woodbridge and Oxford. 

It may be seen from this rapid sketch, that this region of 
country is but a narrow valley drained by a tributary river 



XX INDIAN HISTORY. 

of very moderate size, is of limited extent and has a decided 
geographical unity. Besides this, it has come to possess in 
modern times a unity of another kind. The township divisions 
and the centres of population are numerous ; but industrially the 
valley is one. The district extending from Winsted, just be- 
yond the head waters of the river and in the same valley, to 
Birmingham at its mouth, has become the seat of one of the 
greatest manufacturing industries of our country. As in other 
valleys of New England, the populations of the hills have 
crowded to the water courses, drawn by opportunities of lucra- 
tive employment ; and, at the magic touch of the finger of 
trade, have sprung up or risen into a larger life such busy cen- 
tres as Wolcottville, Thomaston, Waterbury, Naugatuck, Sey- 
mour, Ansonia, Birmingham and Derby. If we take railway 
connections into account, the thrifty village of Watertown 
should be included in the list. 

To dwell upon the physical features of the Naugatuck valley 
is important, because the Indian history commences at a pe- 
riod when these characteristics were almost the only ones to be 
noticed. To obtain a clearer understanding of that history the 
reader must rid himself, so far as possible, of modern associa- 
tions, must lose sight of all political divisions of the territory, 
must forget the existence of these business centers which have 
just been enumerated, must suppose this dense population, and 
these dwellings and shops and streets and highways and bridges, 
and these extensive manufactories, and the railroads with their 
depots, stations and rolling-stock, all swept away — in fact, all the 
multitudinous products of modern civilization ; and go back to 
the primitive period in the history of New England. The river 
was here and the brooks flowing into it. The hills were here, 
and the occasional patches of meadow land ; and the entire region 
— the meadows excepted — was covered with stately forests. 
The woods abounded in game, and the streams in fish ; but the 
country was a pathless wilderness — the heritage and the pos- 
session of the red man. It was not divided as it now is among 
individual owners, but it belonged to the natives who roamed 
through its woods, and established their camp'ing grounds upon 
its streams. The statement in the " History of Waterbury," 
that at the time of its discovery by white men there was no 



SOURCES OF INFORMATION. XXI 

Indian settlement within the limits of the ancient town, might 
safely be applied to the entire valley, if a spot near the river's 
mouth be excepted. Rut what was true two hundred years ago 
may not have been always true ; and besides, although there 
may not have been settlements here, it does not follow that the 
valley was totally unoccupied. The Indians not only claimed 
it ; they roamed over it as a well tried hunting ground. The 
lands in the upper part of the valley were especially attractive 
in this respect ; and it is said that in the section which is now 
known as Litchfield, " many of the hills were nearly cleared of 
trees by fires" which Indian hunters had kindled. 

It is to the traces of Indian occupancy in the territory thus 
described, that attention is directed, in order to a better knowl- 
edge of the clans that dwelt in and around Derby, from just 
before the settlement of the English to the final disappearance 
of the natives from this territory. These traces might be pur- 
sued in the light of three sources of information : the land rec- 
ords, the traditions and place names, and the Indian relics dis- 
covered—the arrow heads, spear heads and knives, the larger 
ground-stone implements and the soapstone dishes ; but the 
first of these (the land records) will afford the largest source of 
information in this brief account of the departing footsteps of 
the Red man. 

The primitive condition of things in the Naugatuck valley 
continued until the hiiddle of the seventeenth century. Pre- 
vious to this date, however, a number of settlements had been 
made within the territorial area now embraced in Connecticut. 
It was in 1635 that parties of emigrants from the neighborhood 
of Boston pursued their way through the wilderness to the 
Connecticut river, and settled at Wethersfield, Windsor and 
Hartford. After the Indian war of 1637, those who pursued 
the fleeing Pequots toward the west saw for the first time the 
lands on Long Island Sound lying westward of the mouth of 
the Connecticut. Their value soon became known, and in 1638 
a colony went from Boston and established its head-quarters on 
New Haven bay. One of the three New Haven companies 
went still further west and settled at Milford in 1639. In the 
same year lands were purchased at Stratford, and a settlement 
was begun, but by a different company of emigrants. All these 



XXll INDIAN HISTORY. 

plantations were upon the sea coast, or on navigable waters ; 
but in 1640 some of the Hartford settlers, attracted by the 
meadow lands of the Farmington river, removed westward and 
established a settlement at Farmington. 

Now, how were the aboriginal inhabitants situated at the 
time when these settlements were made, that is, from 1635 ^^ 
1640, and for some years afterward ? 

It must be remembered that they all alike belonged to the 
great Algonkin stock — a division of the Indian race which at 
the Discovery extended along the Atlantic coast all the way 
from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the Peedee river. Of this 
extensive family, the most important branch were the Dela- 
wares. The Abnakis, far to the north-east, were also important. 
But in N'ew England the native population was broken up into 
numerous petty tribes, speaking divergent dialects of the one 
stock language. On the western bank of the Connecticut, 
an Algonkin people is found extending for some distance up 
and down the river, constituting a group of tribes, or a confed- 
eracy, ruled by a sachem named Sequassen. The precise nat- 
ure of the bond which held them together it is impossible to 
ascertain ; but it is certain that when the English first came 
among them Sequassen claimed jurisdiction over territory occu- 
pied by other chiefs, and sold land to the magistrates of Hart- 
ford, extending as far west as the country of the Mohawks. 
His dominion embraced therefore the tribes of the Farmington 
river, some of whom had their principal seat at Poquonnock, 
five or six miles from its mouth, and others at the bend in the 
river, eight or ten miles west of the Connecticut, where Farm- 
ington was afterwards settled. The first Poquonnock chief 
known to the P^nglish was named Sehat. He was succeeded 
by one whose name is familiar to Watcrbury people under the 
form of Nosahogan, but whose true name was Nassahegon or 
Nesaheagun. 

The Indians of F'armington are known as the Tunxis tribe. 
They had a camping ground also at Simsbury, and claimed all 
the territory west of that place as far as the Ousatonic river. 
They are spoken of by Mr. J. W. Barber in his "Historical Col- 
lections," as a numerous and warlike tribe ; but Mr. J. W. De- 
Forest, in his " History of the Indians of Connecticut," esti- 



THE PAlTCiASUCKS AND POOTATUCKS. XXUl 

mates their number at " eighty to one hundred warriors, or 
about four hundred individuals." Whatever other chiefs they 
may have had, the autliority of Nassahegon seems to have been 
recognized, and also the necessity of securing his consent in 
the disposal of lands. 

If now attention is directed from the centre of the state to the 
shore of the Sound, the country of the Quiripi (or Long Water) 
Indians comes into view, — a people known around New Haven 
harbor as Ouinnipiacs. They claimed the land for many miles 
to the north, and the north-west corner of their territory may 
be considered as lying within the bounds.of the Naugatuck val- 
ley. To the west of these on the coast we enter the country of 
the Paugasucks. The tribe was a large one, occupying a consid- 
erable territory on both sides of the Ousatonic. It extended in 
fact from the West river, which separates New Haven from 
Orange — or at any rate, from Oyster river, which separates 
Orange from Milford — all the way to Fairfield. On the west 
of the Ousatonic they claimed all the territory now comprised 
in the towns of Stratford, Bridgeport, Trumbull, Huntington 
and Monroe; and on the east side, as far north as Beacon Hill 
brook, and, as we shall see, still further, overlapping the hunting 
grounds of the Tunxis. This large tribe was under the domin- 
ion of the well known sachem Ansantaway, whose " big wig- 
wam " is said to have been on Charles Island. Outside of 
Milford, his son, Towetanomow, seems to have held the reins of 
power, as he signs the deeds as sachem at Stratford and Derby 
until his death, about 1676' ; and after this a younger son, 
Ockenunge (spelled also Ackenach), signed the deeds in Derby 
some years, beginning in 1665. About this time Ansantaway 
removed from Milford with^most of his Milford tribe, to Turkey 
Hill, (a little south of the Narrows on the east side of the Ousa- 
tonic, just below the mouth of the Two-mile brook), where 
he soon after died, and where some of his people remained 
about one hundred and forty years. Molly Hatchett and her 
children were the last of the tribe there. 

If at this time there were any of the Weepavvaug Indians 
remaining east of the Ousatonic, they were, probably, absorbed 
in this settlement at Turkey Hill. This was a strip of land 

1 Lambert, 131. 



XXIV INDIAN HISTORY. 

between Milford and Derby plantations, bought by Alexander 
Bryan, and turned over to the town of Milford, containing about 
one hundred acres. It was set apart by that town as the home 
of the Milford Indians, and to it they removed some time 
before the death of Ansantaway ; for in one of the deeds, that 
chief is named as residing in Derby. It was so near Derby that 
he is spoken of as belonging there, but it remained under the 
care of Milford until after the Revolution, when, Lambert says, 
" This land was lastly under the care of an overseer appointed 
by the county court." 

As early as 1671 Chushumack (also spelled Cashushamack) 
signed deeds as sachem at Stratford, and a little later at Poota- 
tuck, opposite Birmingham Point, west of the Ousatonic river. 
In 1673 there was here a fort, which must have been .standing 
some years before the English first came to Derby, and proba- 
bly before they came to Milford. Not long after this, these 
same Pootatucks built a fort about a mile further north, on 
what is now known as P'ort Hill, on the same side of the 
river. They are said to have built it for the purpose of keeping 
the English from ascending the Ousatonic, and therefore it 
must have been a new fort. It was after this fort was built, 
and probably about the time when the title was confirmed by 
several Indians, in 1684, to the town of Stratford, that the 
Pootatucks collected higher up the river, and established the 
Pootatuck village at the mouth of the Pomperaug, where they 
continued many years on land reserved by them in their sales 
to the Woodbury people. They may have been moving up the 
the river gradually for some years, but about that time they 
seem to have been collected at that place in considerable num- 
bers, and many remained there until the removal to Kent. 

One of the chief seats of the Paugasucks was at the " Great 
Neck," between the Ousatonic and the Naugatuck, in the vicin- 
ity of what is now called Baldwin's Corners. Here they had a 
fort, mentioned several times in the records as the Old Indian 
Fort, which was, very probably, built before the English came 
to the place. There was a large field at this place, frequently 
called the Indian field, which contained about sixty acres, and 
was once sold for that number. The Indians of this locality 
established a fort on the east bank of the Ousatonic, nearly half 



WESQUANTOOK. XXV 

a mile above the present dam, which, like that on the opposite 
side, was built to keep the English from sailing up the river, 
and which is referred to several times in the records as the 
New Indian Fort. The Indians of the Neck collected about 
this fort along the river bank for some years and then removed 
to Wesquantook", where a good many were living in 1710, and 
from which place they removed, some to Kent, some to the 
Falls, afterwards Chusetown, and some to Litchfield and per- 
haps as far north as Woodstock, in Massachusetts. Wesquan- 
toock seems to have been the last residence of the Sachem 
Cockapatana, if he did not remove to some distant place. 
It is a curious fact, possibly connected with the fate of this 
chief, that some years ago (that is, within the memory of per- 
sons now living), there resided in Goshen or in Torrington a 
white man who was habitually called "Old Kunkerpot." The 
nickname was given to him because he reported that while en- 
gaged in some war he had killed an Indian by the name of 
Kunkerpot. Cockapatana was sometimes called Konkapot, as 
an abbreviation of his real name. Most of the Indians had 
nicknames as well as their white neighbors. It is said, how- 
ever, that this Cockapatana died in 1 731, and if so, he could 
not have been killed by a man living more than a hundred 
years later. But it is quite possible, that some of Cockapatana's 
sons removed to Stockbridge, and that one of them may have 
borne the same name, for the name is found there. The name 
Paugasuck seems to have included at a certain time all the 
minor families of the Indians who descended from the Milford 
tribe, but it was afterwards used to designate those only who 
resided on Birmingham Neck, and their descendants. 

After the death of Ansantaway the proprietorship of the lands 
inhered definitely in the two tribes, the Pootatucks and Pauga- 
sucks ; the lands of the former extending on the west and south 
of the Ousatonic, and those of the latter east and north of the 
same river ; yet they signed deeds, as is said in one case, " inter- 
changeably." The Pootatuck chief signed two deeds to the 
Derby people, one of quite a large tract of land above the Neck. 
How the Pootatucks came into possession of the lands sold to 



'^Wesquantook was the original FtKlian name, not Squntook. 
D 



XXVI INDIAN HISTORY. 

the Woodbury settlers is not known, but conjecture is not se- 
verely taxed to answer the query. There are about forty In- 
dian names given in the "History of Woodbury" as names of 
Pootatuck Indians, which are found on deeds given by the Pau- 
gasuck tribe to the Derby settlers, and some of these names are 
on quite a number of deeds. Again, the Paugasuck Indians 
(several of them) signed a quit-claim deed to Milford lands, 
near the Sound, nearly or more than forty years after these 
lands were first sold. Another thing seems quite clear : that the 
Paugasucks, at least, divided the territory among themselves, 
after the English began to buy ; so that different parties sign 
the deeds of different tracts of land. Sometimes the sachem 
signs the deed ; at other times it is signed by others, but the 
deed says, the land is sold "with full consent of our sachem," 
but by the "rightful owners." 

As in Stratford, two sales covering the same territory that 
was at first deeded to that plantation are recorded, (sales for 
which payment was made,) some thirty years after the first pur- 
chase, so in Derby, several pieces of land were sold and deeded 
three or four times; and had the Indians not removed it is 
doubtful whether the time would ever have come when the 
whites would have been done paying for the right of the soil. 
A careful perusal of the Indian deeds will reveal the masterly 
ability of the Red man to sell land over and over, without ever 
buying it, and the wonderful depth of the white man's purse to 
pay for Indian lands. The land on Birmingham Point and some 
of that above Birmingham, along the Ousatonic, was deeded 
four times by the Indians, and each time for a consideration, 
except once, when that at the Point was given to Lieut. Thomas 
Wheeler ; and this was probably done so as to sell other lands 
on the Neck. The prices paid at first were, apparently, every 
dollar and cent and button and bead that the land was worth, 
or that they were able to pay. The Indians urged the sale of 
their lands, and the English bought as fast as, and faster than 
they could pay for it. In the case of Camp's Mortgage Pur- 
chase, they hired the money of Merchant Nicholas Camp of 
Milford to pay for it, and gave a mortgage as security, which 
mortgage was finally paid, after a number of years, by a town 
tax, at the rate of four pounds a year. 



STRATFORD INDIAN DEEDS. XXvii 

The following items taken from the Stratford records confirm 
the foregoing statements : 

" May 26, 1663. An agreement of friendship and loving correspon- 
dence agreed upon between us and the town of Stratford. — We will 
no more plant on the south side of the great river Pugusett, to prevent 
a ground of future variance between us in order to any damage that 
might be done to corn. And also do hereby engage that we will not 
either directly or indirectly sell, bargain, alienate or make over lands 
or any part of our land at Paugasett or thereabouts, with privileges 
thereon adjoining to any other English resident in any part of the 
country except Stratford. 

Okenunge, his mark. Nompunck, hi.s mark. 

Nansantawav, his mark. Jemiogu, his mark. 

Amantanegu, his mark. Ahuntaway, his mark. 

Munsuck, his mark. Ronuckous, his mark. 

Asynetmogu, his mark. 

Four of these are leading names attached to Derby deeds 
during thirty or forty years afterwards. 

A deed of land lying on the west of land already deeded to 
Stratford was given April 22, 1665, signed by Okenonge, and 
witnessed by Ansantaway and Chipps. 

An agreement to deed lands in Stratford was made May 17, 
1 67 1, and signed by Musquatt, Nesumpau and Robin Cassasin- 
namin. And another was signed a week later by : 

Musquatt, Takymo, 

Nisumpaw, Sucksquo, 

Sasapiquan, Ponseck, 

Shoron, Totoquan. 




CHAPTER IT. 

ETHNOGRAPHIC HISTORY. 

HE settlement of the Naugatuck valley must be consid- 
ered in what may be called its ethnographical rela- 
tions, in order to bring to view the significance and 
bearings of the various purchases made by the first 
settlers. The valley was claimed by the Paugasetts^ on the 
south, the Pootatucks on the west and the Tunxis Indians on 
the east. With one or other of these tribes the white men had 
to deal, and in Watcrbury the settlers found it expedient to 
purchase the same lands from different tribes, without attempt- 
ins: to decide between their rival claims. 

Considering the Naugatuck valley as ending where that river 
enters the Ousatonic, the first sale of land in the valley made 
by the Indians was previous to 1646, and was probably the land 
on which Mr. Wakeman's men were employed in 1642 ; which 
was on what is now Birmingham Point. The then governor of 
New Haven is authority for the statement that this land was 
purchased of the Indians,'' but no deed has been seen of that 
sale. The next purchase was made in 1653, by Mr. Goodyear' 
and others. It consisted of a tract of land at Paugassett, which 
was sold to Richard Baldwin and nine other men of Milford, in 
the spring of 1654, and a settlement was made at that time, of 
three or four families. All this land lay east of the Nauga- 
tuck, but no deed is found of this sale of it ; the fact, however, 
is recorded on Derby books. The next year, in the spring, the 
settlers petitioned the General Court of New Haven to be made 
into a separate plantation, which was granted and the name of 
the place called Paugassett, but in the next autumn, in conse- 
quence of the strong opposition of Milford, the decree of the 
court was informally revoked. 

^This name was written for many years Paugasuck by the best spellers, but after- 
wards the name Paugasett became more familiar and it has been mostly used in pub- 
lic prints. 

*Ncw Haven Col. Rec. I. 265. 

3Ibid. 156. 



VARIOUS INDIAN DEEDS. Xxix 

In May, 1657, >a deed of land on what is now Birmingham 
Point, was given to Lieut. Thomas Wheeler of Stratford, if he 
would settle upon it, which he did, and remained there until 
1664. This deed was signed by Towtanemow, Raskenute and 
others. In 1665, after the death of Towtanemow, his brother 
Okenuck (or Ockenunge) confirmed the Goodyear purchase 
east of the Naugatuck and this land was given to Mr. Wheeler ; 
making the western boundary of Paugassett on the Great river 
(Ousatonic) instead of the Naugatuck as at first. From this 
time forward the Paugasuck Indians sold lands piece by piece, 
northward, to the Derby people, until the town bounds reached 
Waterbury and Woodbury on the north ; and some twenty-five 
or more deeds were recorded, with one hundred or more differ- 
ent Indian names attached thereto ; the last deed (except of 
reservations) being given in 171 1. The names recorded as 
sachems or sagamores, are Ansantaway, Towtanemow, Ocke- 
nuck, Atterosse, Ahuntaway, Nanawaug, Cockapatana of the 
Paugassucks and Chushumack of the Pootatucks. 

The W^oodbury lands were purchased in the same way by 
pieces, only fewer in number ; and of the forty-five names of 
Indians attached to those deeds as given in the Woodbury his- 
tory, one-half are names found on Derby deeds, but the former 
deeds are later in date and indicate that some of the Derby 
Indians had removed and joined the Pootatucks, or else that 
they signed the Woodbury deeds in behalf of the Paugasucks. 

The same year that Lieutenant Wheeler received his deed of 
land on Birmingham Point (1657), a transfer of land took place 
in the upper part of the valley, which found record in a curious 
deed preserved in the town records of Farmington. Two of 
the Farmington settlers, Stanley and Andrews by name, in 
their excursions to the west had discovered somewhere a de- 
posit of plumbago or something which they mistook for that 
valuable mineral. Their discovery attracted some attention, 
and doubtless led to the purchase just referred to. The deed 
was made on the eighth of P'ebruary, (O. S.) by Kepaquamp, 
Querrimus and Mataneage and the land was sold to William 
Lewis and Samuel Steele. The document is as follows : 

"This witnesseth that we, Kepaquamp and Querrimus and Mata- 
neage, have sold to William Lewis and Samuel Steele of Farmington, 



XXX INDIAN HISTORY. 

a parcel or tract of land called Matecacoke, that is^o say, the hill from 
whence John Stanley and John Andrews brought the black-lead, and all 
the land within eight miles of that hill on every side, — to dig and carry 
away what they will, and to build on it for the use of them that labor 
there, and not otherwise to improve the land. In witness whereof we 
have hereunto set our hands ; and these Indians above mentioned must 
free the purchasers from all claims by any other Indians." 

This piece of territory, sixteen miles in diameter, was pur- 
chased by Lewis and Steele in behalf of themselves and a com- 
pany composed of other inhabitants of Farmington. For what 
" consideration " it was disposed of is not known. " Precisely 
where the hill referred to was situated " says Mr. George C. 
Woodruff in his " History of the Town of Litchfield," " I have 
been unable to discover ; but from the subsequent claims of 
the grantees, from tradition and from the deed itself, it would 
seem that it was in the southern part of Harwinton." The 
name of Mattatuck still survives in that part of the valley. 
From a supplementary deed given some years afterwards, it 
appears that " a considerable part " of this tract was comprised 
within the bounds of ancient Woodbury ; but the Waterbury 
planters, as will be seen, paid no regard to this early transac- 
tion, nor do they seem to have been any way hampered by it. 

The deed to Lewis and Steele was made, as has been ob- 
served, in 1657. At that date, Farmington had been settled 
seventeen years and the forests to the westward had become 
familiar ground to the Farmington hunters. From year to year 
they continued their excursions, and in course of time the Nau- 
gatuck river became well known to them. Their attention was 
particularly attracted to the so-called "interval lands" which 
now constitute the meadows of Waterbury. For obvious rea- 
sons, such lands were specially valuable in a forest-clad region. 
Their discovery was duly reported and was enough to arouse the 
spirit of enterprise. A committee was sent to examine the 
place and their report being favorable the Farmington people 
petitioned the General Court for permission to make a settle- 
ment, "at a place called by the Indians Matitacoocke. This 
was in 1673, nineteen years after the first settlers took up their 
residence at Derby. After due investigation the petition was 
granted and a committee of prominent men of the Colony was 



WATERBURV LANDS. Wxi 

appointed " to regulate and order the settling of a plantation 
at Mattatuck." One of their first duties was to procure the 
extinguishment of any title to the land on the part of the na- 
tive proprietors, which they did by honest purchase. A copy 
of the deed given to this committee by the Indians is pre- 
served in the land records of Waterbury/ and is dated Au- 
gust 26, 1674. The consideration was "thirty pounds in hand 
received and divers good causes thereunto us moving," in re- 
turn for which the purchasers received a " parcel of land at 
Mattatuck, situate on each side of the Mattatuck river, hav- 
ing the following dimensions and boundaries : Ten miles in 
length north and south and si.\ miles in breadth: abutting 
upon the bounds of Farmington on the east, upon Paugassett 
on the south, upon Paugassett, Pootatuck and Pomperaug on 
the west and upon the open wilderness " on the north. It was 
to this purchase the first settlers came in 1674, and again, after 
a serious interruption, in 1677. The dimensions of the town 
remained as indicated until 1684, when they were greatly ex- 
tended by the purchase from the native proprietors of a large 
piece of territory on the north. This territory was bounded 
on the south by the former grant, or, more definitely, by an 
east and west line running through Mount Taylor, the precip- 
itous rock which overhangs the river not far above Waterville. 
From this line it extended northward into the wilderness, eight 
miles. It was bounded on the east by Farmington and on the 
west by a north and south line which if extended southward 
would run " four score rods from the easternmost part of Ouas- 
sapaug pond." By this purchase, which cost the proprietors 
nine pounds, the area of the town was nearly doubled. But it 
seems to have become necessary at the same time, to buy 
again from the natives the tract already bought by the com- 
mittee of the General Court of 1674. The original owners may 
have claimed that they did not comprehend the significance of 
their act and were not adequately paid ; but for whatever rea- 
son Messrs. Judd and Stanley, on the second of December, 
1684, purchased again the land lying between Mount Taylor 
on the north and Beacon Hill brook on the south, extending 

*Vol. Ti. 



XXXU INDIAN HISTORV. 

eastward to Farmington bounds and westward three miles to- 
ward Woodbury. The amount paid, this time, was nine pounds. 

These deeds have been examined carefully, to obtain if possi- 
ble some items of knowledge concerning the aboriginal own- 
ers, who are described in one of the deeds as " Indians now belong- 
ing to P'armington." The earliest deed (that of 1674) contains 
the names of fourteen Indians, eleven of whom (if the copy has 
been correctly made) affixed to it their mark. The first name 
is that of Nesaheagon, the sachem at Poquonnock, whose juris- 
diction has already been described. The occurrence of his 
signature here indicates what position he held in relation to 
the Tunxis tribe. The second name is John Compound, 
which if not of English origin has been forced into a strange 
resemblance to English. He has been handed down to immor- 
tality as the original proprietor of Compound's (Compounce) 
pond. The third name is Oueramoush, which has already 
been met with, in the deed of 1657 ; for it was Ouerrimus with 
two other Indians, who deeded to Lewis and Steele the land 
around the "hill where John Stanley found the black-lead." 
The other names in the order in which they occur are as fol- 
lows : Spinning Squaw, Taphow, Chery, Aupkt, Caranchaquo, 
Patucko, Atumtako, James, Uncowate, Nenapush Squaw and 
Alwaush. To those who hear them, these names are a mean- 
ingless jargon ; but it is pleasant to think that originally every 
one of them meant something and that some of the meanings 
may have been beautiful. In studying them upon the time- 
stained pages where they are preserved, one or two points of 
interest have been discovered. One of the prominent names 
in the list is Patucko, who will be referred to again. Next to 
this follows Atumtucko. A relation between the two was sus- 
pected and this was afterward confirmed by finding in another 
deed that Patucko's squaw was Atumtucko's mother. In sign- 
ing this first deed Patucko first promises for James, and then 
for himself; whence it may safely be inferred that between 
Patucko and James, who seems to have been well known by his 
English name, there was some kind of family relationshi]). It 
is possible that Caranchaquo may have been a member of the 
same family. 

Between this first deed and that by which the northern half 



INDIAN CLAIMANTS. XXXIU 

of the town was disposed of, nearly ten years had elapsed, so 
that it would hardly be expected to find precisely the same sig- 
natures attached to both, even if Indian society had been more 
stable than it was. In the second deed Patucko's name stands 
first and Atumtucko's second ; then Taphow, then Wawowus. 
This fourth name sounds like a new one, but making due al- 
lowance for inaccurate hearing and spelling on the part of the 
early scribes, it may be easily identified with Alwaush in the 
former list. The rest of the signers are new ; Judas (another 
English name), Mantow, Momantow's squaw, Mercy (Sepuses's 
squaw) and Quatowquechuck, who is described as Taphow's 
son. 

Between this second deed and the third, by which the south- 
ern half of the town was sold the second time to the settlers, a 
few months only elapsed, but the names for the most part are 
different. Patucko has disappeared, but we have in his stead 
Patucko's squaw, who is here described as Atumtucko's mother. 
John a-Compound appears again, and Warm Compound appears, 
who is described as Nesaheag's son. This fact suggests that 
John a-Compound, whose name stands next to Nesaheagon's in 
the first deed, may have been an elder son of the same chief. 
Spinning Squaw also appears and Aupkt under the form of 
Abuckt ; and besides these there is Mantow, who signed not 
the first deed, but the second. In addition the following appear : 
Hachetowsock (and squaw), Sebockett, the sisters of Cocoesen, 
whoever he may be, and a daughter of one of them. It is prob- 
able that Cocoesen's sisters were the daughters of James ; ap- 
parently the same James for whom Patucko promised in the first 
deed. As one of them was Patucko's squaw and Atumtucko's 
mother, a connection between the two families is established ; 
a connection which becomes specially interesting when it is 
known who James was. 

But, as already indicated, the Tunxis Indians were not the 
only claimants. The Paugasucks on the south roamed over the 
same hunting grounds, and apparently considered their right to 
them as valid as that of their neighbors on the east. Messrs. 
Judd and Stanley, without inquiring particularly into the jus- 
tice of the claim, deemed it expedient to extinguish it by pur- 
chase. A deed was accordingly drawn, dated February 28, 



XXXIV INDIAN HISTORY. 

1685, and signed by sixteen Paugasuck Indians, by which in 
consideration of " six pound in hand received " twenty parcels 
of land, named and described in the deed, all of them appar- 
ently embraced in the first and third purchases fi'om the Farm- 
ington Indians, were conveyed to the settlers of Mattatuck. 
The deed which is contained in the volume of land records 
already referred to, is peculiarly interesting because the twenty 
parcels of land are designated each by its Indian name.^ Nine 
of these were on the east side of the river, the others on the 
west side. The grantors were sixteen in number. Prominent 
in the list is the name of Conquepatana, [Konkapatanauh] who 
signs himself sagamore, the same already spoken of as sa- 
chem at the mouth of the river until 1731, when he died. In 
the body of the deed, however, his name is preceded by that of 
Awowas. Already among the signers of the second deed an 
Awowas has appeared, apparently identical with Alwaush, who 
signed the first. It might naturally be supposed that the name 
occurring among the Paugasucks designated a different per- 
son, but there are facts which establish a connection between 



^Twenty parcels of land, by their names distinguished as follows : 
Wecobemeus, that land upon the brook, or small river that comes through the 
straight [Straitsville] northward of Lebanon and runs into Naugatuck river at the 
south end of Mattatuck bounds, called by the English Beacon Hill brook ; and Pac- 
awackuck, or Agawacomuck, and Watapeck, Pacaquarock, Mequuhattacke, Mus 
quauke, Mamusqunke, Squapma sutte, Wachu, " which nine parcels of land lie on 
the east side of Naugatuck river southward from Mattatuck town, which comprises 
all the land below, betwixt the forementioned river, Beacon Hill brook and the 
hither end of Judd's meadows, called by the name Sqontk, and from Naugatuck 
river eastward to Wallingford and New Haven bounds, with all the lowlands upon 
the two brooks forementioned. 

And eleven parcels on the west side ; the first parcel called, Suracasko ; the rest 
as follows : Petowtucki, Wequarunsh, Capage, Cocumpasuck, Mcgenhuttack, Pa- 
nooctan, Mattuckhott, Cocacoko, Gawuskesucko, Towantuck, [the only name that 
has survived] and half the cedar swamp, with the land adjacent from it eastward ; 
which land lies southward of Quasapaug pond ; we say to run an east line from there 
to Naugatuck river; all which parcels of land forementioned lying southward from 
the said line, and extend or are comprised within the butments following : from 
the forementioned swamp a straight line to be run to the middle of Towantuck pond 
or the cedar swamp, a south line which is the west bounds toward Woodbury, and 
an east line from Towantuck pond, to be the butment south and Naugatuck river 
the east butment, till we come to Achetaqupag or Maruscopag, and then to butt 
upon the east side of the river upon the forementioned lands, — these parcels of 
land lying and being within the township of Mattatuck, bounded as aforesaid, situate 
on each side of Naugatuck and Mattatuck rivers." 



WESTERN LANDS. XXXV 

the two tribes. For among the signers of this Paugassett 
deed there is found the name Cocoesen and not only so, but Co- 
coesen's sisters also, who signed the third deed given by the 
Tunxis tribe. Their names are Wechamunk and Werumcaske, 
and in the Tunxis deed they are described as the daughters of 
James. In the deed given to Lieutenant Wheeler at Paugassett, 
in 1657, there is the name Pagasett James. It is almost impos- 
sible to avoid the conclusion that Cocoesen was his son and Co- 
coesen's sisters his daughters, that one of these was Patucko's 
squaw, that a connection by marriage between the two tribes was 
thus established, and that this relationship was recognized in the 
various sales of land. Besides the names thus far mentioned 
there are the following : Curan, Cocapadous (Konkapot-oos, 
perhaps Little Konkapot), Tataracum, Cacasahum, Wenunta- 
cum, Arumpiske, described as Curan's squaw, and Notanumke, 
Curan's sister. 

To this instrument the following note is attached : " Milford 
February, 1684 (o. s.). Awovvas, the Indian proprietor, appeared 
at my house and owned this deed above mentioned to be his 
act, and that he has signed and sealed to it. Robert Treat 
governor." On the i8th of April Conquepatana made a similar 
acknowledgment of the deed before the governor, " and said 
he knew what was in it." Several years afterward (June 28, 
171 1,) the same sagamore and "Tom Indian," his son, for 
twenty-five shillings, deeded to the proprietors of Waterbury 
" a small piece of land," north of Derby bounds, west of the 
Naugatuck river, and south of Toantuck brook. 

The original owners of all the land in the Naugatuck valley 
have thus far been traced, except of what lies in Ilarwinton and 
Litchfield. This territory has a history of its own. On Janu- 
ary 25, 1687, the General Court of Connecticut, for the pur- 
pose of saving the so-called " western lands " from the grasp of 
Sir Edmund Andros, conveyed to the towns of Hartford and 
Windsor as follows : " Those lands on the north of Woodbury 
and Mattatuck, and on the west of Farmington and Simsbury, 
to the Massachusetts line north, and to run west to the Housa- 
tunock or Stratford river."^ As has already been seen, a por- 
tion of this territory, sixteen miles in diameter, had been con- 

^Conn. Col. Rec. 3, 225. 



XXXVl INDIAN HISTORY. 

veyed in 1657 to William Lewis and Samuel Steele of Farming- 
ton. The General Court, in its action in 1686, paid no regard 
to this old conveyance, and on the other hand the Farmington 
company, represented by Steele and Lewis, insisted on their 
claim. On the eleventh of August, 17 14, they obtained from 
the successors of the original grantors a deed by which the title 
to this whole tract was conveyed, " in consideration of the sum 
of eight pounds received from Lieut. John Stanley about the 
year 1687, and other gratuities lately received," to Stanley, Lewis, 
Ebenezer Steele and their associates and successors. To Lieut. 
Stanley, in especial, fifty acres were laid out and confirmed, near 
the hill where he found the black lead, " and fifty acres more 
where he shall see cause to take it up, or his heirs." This deed 
was signed by Pethuzo and Toxcronuck, who claimed to be the 
successors of Kepaquamp, Querrimus and Mattaneag, and in 
the following October it was signed by Taphow the younger 
and his squaw, by Awowas, whose name (written also in this 
same deed Wowowis) has been previously noticed, and Petasas, 
a female grandchild, probably of Awowas. By the action of the 
General Court, the title to all this land had been vested in the 
towns of Hartford and Windsor, and these towns therefore 
claimed the exclusive right to purchase the Indian title and to 
survey and sell the lands^. In the final settlement of the mat- 
ter, however, the claim of the Farmington company was to some 
extent recognized. In 1718 they received from the two towns 
a grant of one-sixth of the township of Litchfield, in considera- 
tion of their making over to said towns their interest in the 
disputed territory. 

The management of these western lands was intrusted to a 
joint committee appointed by the towns. In 1715 this commit- 
tee entered upon an exploration of the region lying west of the 
Naugatuck river, and appointed as their agent Mr. John Marsh, 



'These lands were claimed by Connecticut under its then existing charter, and 
fearing lest Andros might wrest them from the state and sell them to others, or an- 
other colony, the General Court gave them to the towns of Hartford and Windsor, 
to hold until the danger should be past, with the private understanding that the 
lands should revert to the state as soon as the danger should be past. When the 
danger was past these towns would not surrender the lands, but claimed them as 
their property. It was one of the clearest cases of betrayal of trust that ever oc- 
curred in the settlement of the country, and will be a lasting disgrace to the actors. 



LAND IN LITCHFIELD. XXXVli 

one of their number, who in May of that year undertook what 
was then a perilous journey into a pathless wilderness. When 
the committee had concluded to commence a settlement they 
proceeded to purchase the Indian title to the lands. But they 
did not recognize any claim to these lands on the part of the 
Tunxis tribe, but applied instead to the Pootatucks, from whom 
the settlers of Woodbury had made their various purchases, 
who had their chief village, at that time, it will be remembered, 
on the Ousatonic at the mouth of the Pomperaug. Mr. Thomas 
Seymour, a member of the joint committee of the towns, vis- 
ited Woodbury in Januar}^ 1716, and again in May, and ob- 
tained the necessary deed. " In consideration of the sum of 
fifteen pounds money in hand received," the Pootatucks sold a 
tract of land lying north of the Waterbury and Woodbury lim- 
its, bounded on the east by the Naugatuck river, on the west by 
the Shepaug and its east branch, and on the north by a line run- 
ning from the north end of Shepaug pond easterly to the Nau- 
gatuck. It comprised nearly 45,000 acres. This deed, dated 
March 2, 1716, was signed by twelve Indians and witnessed by 
three others. The witnesses were Weroamaug (whose name is 
familiar to many as connected with a beautiful lake in New 
Preston and Warren), Wagnacug and Tonhocks. Among the 
names of the signers appears the name Corkscrew, which has a 
very civilized sound. It was originally Coksure or Cotsure. 
The other names as given in " Woodruff's History " are as fol- 
lows : Chusquunoag, Ouiump, Magnash, Kehow, Sepunkum, 
Poni, Wonposet, Suckquunockqueen, Tawseume, Mansumpansh, 
and Norkquotonckquy. Comparing these names with the names 
attached to the Woodbury purchase of May 28, 1706, it appears 
that although that deed precedes this by ten years, yet several 
of the names are the same in both. Chusquunoag appears in 
the earlier deeds as Chesquaneag (or Cheshconeag of Paugas- 
sett) ; Magnash is evidently an error of the copyist for Ma- 
quash^ (or Mawquash of Paugassett) ; Kehow appears as Kchorc, 
Sepunkum as Wusebucome, Suckquunockqueen as Wussocka- 
nunckqueen, and in a still earlier deed, Corkscrew as Cotsure. 
It appears that Ouiump, under the form of Aquiomp, was also 

^Mauquash, the last sachem of the Pootatucks, died about 175S. Wooodbury 
Hist. 



XXXVlll INDIAN HISTORY. 

the name of the sachem of the Pootatucks in 1661 at Pom- 
peraug. As that was fifty-five years before this, it was proba- 
bly not the same person, although possibly a relative. Such 
identifications as these are of but little account to the world 
to-day, but to the explorer of ancient records, preparing the 
way for the more stately historian, they are as interesting and 
perhaps as valuable as the discoveries of the modern genealo- 
gist or the devotee of heraldry. 

It thus appears that the aboriginal ownership of the Nauga- 
tuck valley was divided among three quite distinct tribes, and 
that the claims of these tribes were recognized by the early set- 
tlers. It would be interesting to consider the nature of this 
primitive proprietorship, for it has decided bearings upon the 
great modern question of the origin of property, and the signifi- 
cance of that " institution," in the history of civilization. It 
was said by Sir Edmund Andros that Indian deeds were " no 
better than the scratch of a bear's paw," and there are those at 
the present day who for different reasons from those which 
shaped the opinion of Andros, would deny that the aboriginal 
ownership of the soil was of any account whatever. Because 
their system was a kind of communism, their rights amount to 
nothing in the eyes of these modern thinkers. The early set- 
tlers, however, either from a sense of justice or out of regard 
to expediency, and possibly somewhat of both, made it a rule 
to extinguish the titles of the natives by actual purchase ; and 
now, in their recorded deeds with the signatures, is treasured 
up a large part of the only history the world will ever have of the 
Red man of the forest. And when the value of the money of 
that day is considered, the unimproved condition of the lands 
and the fact that in almost all cases the grantors reserved either 
large sections as hunting grounds, or else the right to hunt every- 
where, as before the sale, it can hardly be said that the Indians 
were dealt with unfairly. The late Chief-Justice Church of 
Litchfield, in his centennial address in 185 1, commented severely 
upon the action of the early settlers in this respect, but he 
seems to have looked at the subject in an unjudicial way. The 
other side is strongly presented in Dr. Bronson's " History of 
Waterbury^. 

"Hist., pp. 64-65. 



THE LAST VISIT. XXxix 

The Indian usually reserved, or supposed that he reserved, 
the "right to hunt and fish everywhere, the same as before the 
lands were sold. In most of the towns he remained harmless 
and unmolested in the neighborhood of the settlements, from 
generation to generation. The relations of the aboriginal in- 
habitants to the whites are well illustrated in the statements of 
an aged citizen of Farmington, who died within the present 
century, and who was born about 1730, "that within his recol- 
lection the Indian children in the district schools were not much 
fewer than those of the whites. In their snow-balling parties 
the former used to take one side and the latter the other, when 
they would be so equally balanced in numbers and prowess as 
to render the battle a very tough one and the result doubtful." 
But however good the intentions of the white man may have 
been, the transformation of the wilderness into a fruitful field 
must go steadily on, and the red man must inevitably fall back, 
seeking new hunting grounds. For example, the Paugasucks 
of the sea-coast removed inland, as we have seen, and made their 
principal seat at the lower end of the Naugatuck valley, which 
thus became practically a new settlement, which was their head- 
quarters from before the English settlement until after King 
Philip's war, or about 1680, when they began to collect at 
Wesquantuck and to join the Pootatucks at Pomperaug. After 
the death of their sachem, Konkapatana, who resided either at 
Wesquantuck or at the Falls (Chusetown,) but almost certainly 
at the former place, the " nation " broke up, and as such be- 
came extinct, except those who remained at Chusetown. 
" Some joined the Pootatucks," it is said. Quite a large num- 
ber must have done so, since nearly half the names given in 
the "History of Woodbury" as being Pootatucks are Paugas- 
uck Indians and signers of the Derby deeds. Those who col- 
lected at the Falls were there earlier as well as in larger num- 
bers than has usually been supposed. " Some went to the coun- 
try of the six nations." This is quite probable. " In the spring 
of 1831 a company of Indians, consisting of about thirty, men, 
women and children, from the shores of Lake Champlain came 
to the Point [Milford] and encamped for a number of days, per- 
haps fifteen. They were led by an old patriarch or chieftain of 
' eighty winters,' whom they appeared to obey and reverence. 



xl INDIAN HISTORY. 

They conversed in the Indian tongue, and some of them knew 
but little of English. They had a tradition that some of their 
ancestors lived at Poconoc Point, and said they had come for 
the last time to the hunting ground of their fathers.""* These 
were no doubt descendants of the Paugasuck tribe, whose an- 
cestors had removed from Milford to Turkey Hill, Paugassett, 
Pootatuck or Newtown, and who went back yearly to Milford 
to catch and dry oysters, " spending the summer at a watering 
place." Again, " some emigrated to Scatacook," but this was 
some years after the decease of Cockapatana. At Turkey Hill 
a few remained, their number growing less year by year until 
about 1830, when Molly Hatchett only was left; but ere long 
she passed on to the far away hunting land of the Indian. 
There are indications, indeed it is very probable, that some 
of these Indians removed to Stockbridge, Massachusetts. The 
last deed of Derby lands that Cockapatana signed was in 17 10. 
but his son, Waskawakes {alias Tom), seems to have signed 
a deed, given by the Pootatuck Indians, in 1706, indicating 
his active part in the business transactions of that tribe. 
In 1724 the Stockbridge Indians gave a deed of land to the 
white men which was signed by Konkapot and twenty other 
Indians. In 1734 Konkapot received a captain's commission 
from the Massachusetts government; in 1735 he was baptized 
in the Christian faith, and he died previous to 1770, one of the 
first fruits of the Housatonic Mission, of which the Rev. Sam- 
uel Hopkins, born in Watcrbury, was the founder. Konkapot's 
name became celebrated through the northern part of Litchfield 
county, and is perpetuated, after a fashion, in connection with 
one of the streams of Stockbridge, which was originally called 
Konkapot's brook. It was afterwards known as Konk's brook, 
and latterly has been degraded to Skunk's brook. 



i°Lambert, p. 130. 




CHAPTER III. 

CHUSE AND THE LAST FAMILIES. 

CATACOOK in Kent became one of the largest In- 
dian settlements in the state. 

It was composed of wanderers who retreated be- 
fore the advancing colonists, and was founded by Gid- 
eon Mauwee' (or Mawvvee), who was a resident for a time in or 
near Derby, and was the father of Joseph Mauwee whose nick- 
name " Chuse " gave rise to the name Chusetown (now Sey- 
mour). Considerable has been written about this man ; and 
most writers have followed what is said of him by Mr. John W. 
Barber in his " Historical Collections." Mr. Barber says he 
was a Pequot (or Mohegan) ; but Mr. DeForest says that while 
"various connections might be traced between the Narragan- 
setts and the tribes of western Connecticut," "both united in 
holding the Pequots in abhorrence and seldom bore any other 
relations to them than those of enemies, or of unwilling sub- 
jects.'"^ Hence it would have been almost impossible for a Pe- 
quot to come among the Paugasuck Indians, after the English 
began to settle here, and become a chief. 

Chusumack succeeded Tovvtanimo as sachem at Stratford and 
at Pootatuck, across the river from Derby Landing, and signed 
a deed as such in 1671. His son, one of several, signed the 
same deed, and also a grandson. It is barely possible that 
Chusumack was a Pequot, but not probable. This Chusumack 
signs three deeds of land conveyed to the Derby settlers, dated 
respectively 1670, '71 and 'ji, thus indicating ownership with 
the Paugasucks ; and there are many evidences of this close 
relation between these tribes. Chusumack may have been the 
son of Tovvtanimo, but this would make Ansantaway quite 
aged at his death, which is possible, as he had apparently been 
chief some years when the English came to Milford. It is 
worthy of remark that if Joseph Chuse was descended from 



iSo spelled on Derby records and not Mauwehu. 

-Hist. Conn. Indians, p. 60. 
F 



Xlii INDIAN HISTORY. 

Chusumack, his nickname could be accounted for as an abbre- 
viation according to the custom of those days. Another fact 
must be remembered, that the Indians' land at the Falls lor 
Chusetovvn) was a 7'escrvation made by Ockenuck in 1678, when 
the land on both sides of the river at that place was sold to the 
town. It was reserved in the following words : " Only the said 
Indians do reserve the fishing place at Naugatuck, and the 
plain and the hill next the river at the fishing place ; further, 
the Indians do grant to the inhabitants all the grass and feed 
and timber on the plain against Rock Rimmon, and do en- 
gage to sell it to them if they sell it." This reservation com- 
prised thirty or more acres and belonged to the Paugasuck 
Indians, and the Pootatucks so far as the latter were inherit- 
ors with the former. How then could Gideon Mauwee give 
this land to his son Joseph about 1720, as stated by some 
writers } He did it only as a chief relinquishes his claim, for 
it belonged to the Paugasuck tribe. He could surrender his 
claim as chief, but how did he possess any claim over this land, 
unless by ancestral right, running back to a time anterior to the 
date of the reservation.-' And how did Gideon Mauwee become 
sachem of this land before 1720, when the rightful sachem, Cock- 
apatana, was living at Wesquantuck until 1731, and his son with 
him .' 

Again, Joseph Mauwee is said to have been brought up, or ed- 
ucated at the home of Agar Tomlinson'' of Derby. But the first 
man of that name, and quite a spirited business man he was, 
was first married in 1734, about fourteen years after Joseph was 
himself married and settled at the Falls, according to report. 
From this and other facts, it is probable that Joseph Mauwee 
did not settle at the Falls until a later date. An item in the town 
records confirms this opinion. It was customary when a 
man became an inhabitant of the town, to record the mark he 
was to put, on the ears of his sheep, swine and cattle. The fol- 
lowing entry has force, for the reason that if Joseph was brought 
up among the English, which is most probable, he would not 
have remained thirty-nine years at the Falls before being in 
possession of animals upon which he would need an ear mark. 
'* Joseph Mauwee, his ear mark is two halfpennies of the fore 

»[. W. Barber, 199. 



INHERITORS OF THE RESERVATION. xliH 

side of the right ear and a half tenant [tenon] the underside the 
left ear. June 27, 1759." It is said, however, that his young- 
est child, Eunice, was born in 1755, and that he had ten children, 
which would indicate that his marriage took place about 1730. 
Barber says, " He married a woman of the East Haven tribe." 
The Seymour history says she was " of the Farmington Indians." 

The " striking statement " reported to have been made by Eu- 
nice Mauwee, that she " had seen an old Indian who had seen 
King Philip," requires only the age of ninety-five in the old Indian, 
to have made it abundantly possible. It was from this woman 
that Mr. Barber received most of his information about the In- 
dians of Derby, as he says,^ and, making some allowances for the 
memory of an Indian woman seventy-two years of age, the 
source of information is as reliable as any but actual records, 
except when it comes to opinions or interpretations, or leg- 
endary stories, when the stoty is all there is of value.* The 
story that Chuse's name resulted from the peculiar manner of 
pronouncing "choose" is not credited by the author of this 
book. There is no doubt, however, that the story was told to 
Mr. Barber, as well as several others, which the town records 
prove to be erroneous. It is more probable that " Chuse " was 
the abbreviation of a full Indian name, for although among the 
Indians in early times names were not hereditary, yet later, after 
much intercourse with the English, the paternal name was used 
in designating families. Hence, from Moll Hatchett we have 
Joseph Hatchett and David Hatchett. And we have, as early 
as 1702, Will Toto, John Toto, Jack Toto. 

Mr. Barber's account of Chuse and the Indians at the Falls 
is interesting and worthy of preservation, and is as follows :^ 

" For a long period after the settlement of this place, it was 
called Chusetown, so named from Chuse, the last sachem of the 
Derby Indians, who is said to have derived this name from his 
manner of pronouncing the word " choose." His proper name 
was Joe Mau-we-hu; he was the son of Gideon Mauwehu, a 
Pequot Indian, who was the king or sachem of the Scatacook 



*Page 200. 

^This subject will be further treated of in the history of Chusetown, or Hum- 
phreysville. 

^Hist. Col. 199, 200. 



Xliy INDIAN HISTORY. 

tribe of Indians in Kent. It appears that Gideon, previous to 
his collecting the Indians at Kent, lived in the vicinity of 
Derby, and wishing to have his son brought up among the white 
people, sent Joe to Mr. Agar Tomlinson of Derby, with whom 
he lived during his minority. Chuse preferring to live at Derby, 
his father gave him a tract of land at the Falls, called the In- 
dian field. Here he erected his wigwam, about six or eight rods 
north of where the cotton factory now [1836] stands, on the 
south border of the flat. It was beautifully situated among the 
white-oak trees, and faced the south. He married an Indian 
woman of the East Haven tribe. At the time Chuse removed 
here there were but one or two white families in the place, who 
had settled on Indian hill, the bight of land east of the river and 
south-east of the cotton factory, in the vicinity of the Methodist 
and Congregational churches. These settlers wishing Chuse 
for a neighbor, persuaded him to remove to the place where 
the house of the late Mrs. Phebe Stiles now stands, a few rods 
north of the Congregational church. When Mr, Whitmore 
built on the spot, Chuse removed back to the Falls, where a 
considerable number of the Indians collected and built their 
w'igwams in a row, a few rods east of the factory on the top of 
the bank extending to Indian hill. Near the river in the Indian 
field, was a large Indian burying-ground ; each grave was cov- 
ered with a small heap of stones. Mr. Stiles, of this place, pur- 
chased this field about forty-six years since of the Indian pro- 
prietors, and in ploughing it over destroyed these relics of 
antiquity. The land on the west side of the river from this 
place, where the Episcopal church stands was formerly called 
Shrub Oak. Both the Indians and the whites went to meeting 
on foot to Derby. Those of the whites who died here, were con- 
veyed on horse litters to be buried at Derby: these litters were 
made by having two long poles attached to two horses, one of 
which was placed before the other ; the ends of the poles were 
fastened, one on each side of the forward horse, and the other 
ends were fastened to the horse behind. A space was left be- 
tween the horses, and the poles at this place were fastened to- 
gether by cross pieces, and on these was placed whatever was 
to be carried. Chuse lived at this place forty-eight years, and 
then removed with most of the Derby Indians to Scatacook, in 



SHOT BY MISTAKE. xlv 

Kent, where he died, at the age of about eighty years. He was 
a large, athletic man and a very spry and active hunter. He 
had ten children. Eunice, aged seventy-two years, the young- 
est daughter of Chuse, is still living [1836] at Scatacook and it 
is from her that most of the particulars respecting Chuse and 
the Indians are derived. 

" Chuse and his family were in the habit of going down once a 
year to Milford ' to salt,' as it was termed. They usually went 
down in a boat from Derby Narrows ; when they arrived at 
Milford beach they set up a tent made of the sail of their boat 
and stayed about a fortnight, living upon oysters and clams. 
They also collected a considerable quantity of clams, which they 
broiled, then dried them in the sun and strung them in the 
same manner as we do apples which are to be dried. Clams 
cured by this method were formerly quite an article of trafific. 

" The Indians in the interior used to bring down dried ven- 
ison, which they exchanged with the Indians who lived on the 
sea-coast, for their dried clams. Chuse used to kill many deer 
while watching the wheat fields ; also great numbers of wild 
turkeys and occasionally a bear. Some of the whites also were 
great hunters ; the most tamous were Gideon Washborn and 
Alexander Johnson. Rattlesnakes were formerly very numer- 
ous about Niumph, near Rock Rimmon, and occasionally have 
been known to crawl into the houses in the vicinity. About 
the time of the first settlement at Humphreysville, a white man 
by the name of Noah Durand, killed an Indian named John 
Sunk, by mistake. They were hunting deer on opposite sides 
of the river, Durand on the west side and the Indian on the 
east ; it was in the dusk of the evening, in the warm season, at 
the time the deer went into the river to cool themselves. Du- 
rand perceived something moving among the bushes on the east 
side and supposing it to be a deer, aimed his gun at the place 
and fired. Sunk, mortally wounded, immediately cried out, 
'You have killed me.' Durand sprang through the river to 
the assistance of the dying Indian, who begged for water. 
Durand took his shoe, filled it with water and gave it to Sunk, 
who, after drinking, immediately died. This took place perhaps 
twenty or thirty rods south of Humphreysville, just below where 
Henry Wooster lived. A kind of arbitration was afterward held 



Xlvi INDIAN HISTORY. 

upon this case by the white people and the Indians. One of 
the Indian witnesses remarked that he never knew of deer 
wearing red stockings before, alluding to the common Indian 
dress. The Indians, however, appeared satisfied that their 
countryman was killed by mistake and ever afterwards made 
Mr. Durand's house their stopping place."^ 

" Anecdotes are preserved of Chuse, which show that he was 
somewhat addicted to the use of ardent liquors and considered 
rum or whisky essentially superior as a beverage to cold water. 
He used to come when thirsty, to a fine spring bursting from a 
hollow rock at the foot of the hill and there sit on the bank by 
the side of the spring and drink the sweet water as it gushed 
from the rock, and praise it and say that if there was only 
another spring of rum, flowing by the side of it, he would ask 
for nothing more, but should Be perfectly happy. 

" In 1760, he sold an acre and a half of land on the east side 
of the Falls, including the water privilege, to Thomas Perkins 
of Enfield, and Ebenezer Keeney, Joseph Hull and John Woos- 
ter of Derby, who had formed a company for the purpose of put- 
ting up some iron works. After living at Humphreysville 
forty-eight years Chuse removed to Scaghticook, where, a few 
years after, he died at the age of eighty. His land was not dis- 
posed of until 1792, when it still amounted to thirty-three acres ; 
and only a part was sold at this time, the rest being sold in 

I8l2."» 

On the day-book of the selectmen of Derby are found the 
following items : 

" 1809. Abigail Short, credit, by keeping Frederick Fronk, 
one of the proprietors of the Indian land at Rock Rimmon Falls, 
and tending him in his illness, $6.^0. By horse and carriage 
to move Frederick Fronk, one of, etc., $0.67. 

"Sept. 4, 1809. Isaac Pease, credit, by making a coffin for 
Frederick P>onk, one of proprietors, etc., $4.50. Abraham 
Harger, credit, by digging Frederick Fronk's grave, $1.34. 
Daniel Todd, credit, by tending on Lydia French and Freder- 
ick Fronk's funeral, $1.00. 

" 1808. Augustus Bagden, credit, by keeping his mother, Hes- 

'Hist. Col. 199, 200. 

*DeForest's Hist. 406, 407. Town Rec. 



chuse's removal. xlvii 

ter, one of the proprietors of the Indian land at Rimmon Falls, 

Thus did' the town do for the Indians the same as for others 
under the same circumstances ; and whatever may be said of 
the treatment rendered to the Indians in America, Derby has 
paid them for all she ever had of them, over and over and over; 
living in peace and great friendship with them, caring for 
them just as for citizens and neighbors, and at last laying them 
in their last sleeping place as brothers. What more " would 
ye that men should do unto you .'* " 

Since preparing the above concerning Chuse, the following 
items have come under observation : Joseph Mauwee, the sa- 
chem of Humphreysville, removed to Scatacook about 1780, 
and in 1786 his name was attached to a petition to the Assem- 
bly, and hence, he was still living. In 1792 his land was sold 
(some of it, so said) at Humphreysville, upon the petition of his 
heirs. Therefore, he died between 1786 and 1792, and is said 
to have been eighty (or about eightv) years of age. Hence, 
he was born about 1710, and probably did not settle at Chuse- 
town before 1740, or when he was about thirty years of age. 
It is probable that after his marriage he remained some few 
years at Turkey Hill or Derby Narrows, which was then in- 
habited only by Indians, and then settled at Chusetown, which 
agrees with the tradition that his family were closely associated 
with the Turkey Hill locality. It also appears from these items 
that he may have lived with Agar Tomlinson a few years after 
1734, and after he was twenty-three or twenty-four years of age, 
to fit himself to become the sachem of the remaining Derby In- 
dians. 

It is within the legitimate scope of this brief record, to fol- 
low Gideon Mauwee to his hunting grounds in Kent. " The 
clan which collected at New Milford was quite considerable in 
size, although I cannot find that it had a distinctive name. It 
was unquestionably a mere collection of refugees and wander- 
ers, who had migrated hither from the southern and eastern 
parts of Connecticut, to escape from the vicinity of the English 
settlements."^ 

This opinion is not only probable, but demonstrated by the 

^DeForest 389. 



xlviii INDIAN HISTORY. 

fact that Paugasuck Indians were there, forming no inconsider- 
able part of that settlement. The New Milford settlers bought 
the township from the native proprietors, on the eighteenth of 
February, 1703, for sixty pounds in money and twenty pounds 
in goods. The first Indian name mentioned in the deed, and the 
first on the list of signers, was Papetoppe ; from whence it is 
possible that he at that time was sachem, or at least the leader. 
The others are Rapiecotoo, Towcomis, Nanhootoo, Hawwasues, 
Yoncomis, Shoopack, Wewinapouck, Docames, Paramethe, 
Wewinapuck, Chequeneag, Papiream, Nokopurrs, Paconaus, 
Wonawak and Tomassett. The deed is witnessed by John Minor 
of Woodbury and Ebenezer Johnson and John Durand of Derby, 
Of these seventeen names, sixteen are given in the Woodbury 
history as belonging to the Pootatucks, and it is possible that they 
were taken from this deed and placed to the account of the Poota- 
tucks, but this would be such a stretch of history as seemingly 
no author would venture upon, unless they were all found previ- 
ous to the date of this deed among the Pootatucks. Chequeneag 
is Cheshconeag of the Derby deed, dated 1698; Wonawak is 
Nonawaug alias Nonawaux of the same deed ; Tomassett is 
Tomasoot or Chomasseet of the same deed. Taking into con- 
sideration the different spelling of the same names by different 
town clerks in Derby, we need not be surprised to find other 
New Milford names identical with names in Derby previous to 
the date of the New Milford deed ; as for instance, Paconaus 
may be the same as Pequonat of Derby. 

Hence, in his westward emigration, Gideon Mauwee was not 
peculiar nor alone, nor did he go among entire strangers. It 
would be interesting to know whether Cheraromogg, signer 
of a deed at Stratford in 1684, was Raumaug of New Milford 
in 1 7 16, and finally Weraumaug, of undying fame, at New Pres- 
ton. Gideon Mauwje finally rested at Scaghticook'" and gath- 
ered about him many wanderers, until his company became 
large enough to attract the special attention of missionaries. 
The name on white lips became Scatacook, and these Indians 
were known only as Scatacook Indians. Here Eunice Mauwee 
lived (as have her descendants after her) on a state reservation, 
and died in 1859, aged about one hundred and four years. 

10" Pish-gach- ti-gock, — the meeting of the waters." Benson J. Lossing. 



THE HATCHETT FAMILY. xlix 

Her father was the last chief. " Until within a few weeks of 
her death, she often talked with freedom of the Indians and 
their habits. It was interesting to hear her pronunciation of 
Indian words which have now become local property and are 
attached to so many names. In almost every instance the mod- 
ern use of them is merely a reduction of larger and more un- 
manageable ones ; words which, as they are now used, have been 
shorn of a half or a third of their original syllables. She was in- 
telligent and accustomed to talk, and remembered many curious 
things. She made this statement, that she saw when a girl, an 
old Indian who had seen King Philip. The Indian was telling 
her father of the personal traits and appearance of this brave 
hero."^" This last item leads us back to the hypothesis, that 
Chuse was descended from the Pootatuck chief Chusumack, who 
signed several deeds about 1670, and whose family consisted of 
several sons and grandsons ; whose residence was at Pootatuck, 
opposite Birmingham Point in Stratford, and afterwards at 
Pomperaug or Newtown. The old Indian in this case might 
have been her great grandfather. 

In various other parts of the Naugatuck valley is traced the 
Red man, lingering amidst the institutions and customs of civ- 
ilization, and suffering more or less in the contact. 

MOLLY HATCHETT. 

Some particular account of the Hatchett family is given by 
Dr. A. Beardsley, who, having some personal knowledge of the 
family, has continued the inquiry until the following result has 
been obtained : 

On the right of the old Milford road at Turkey Hill, just be- 
low Two-mile brook, there was once an Indian burying-ground. 
Around the base of a high hill overlooking the Ousatonic, 
rough field-stones have within a few years marked the resting 
place of many Red skins who once occupied these regions. 
An old saying is that many Indians were buried there. Some 
of these stones were small, others of large size. 

In early times the wild turkeys, seeking to escape from the 
hunter, flew from this hill across the Ousatonic, — a fact which 

i°Sharpe's Hist, of Seymour, p. 37. 
G 



1 INDIAN HISTORY. 

gave it the name of Turkey Hill. These lands, long in the 
possession of Mr. David Burt were held sacred. He did not 
even allow his ploughshare to disturb the rude grave-spots which 
told so sad a story of the poor Indian. Like Hippocrates of 
old, who dug up grave-yards in the night season for imperisha- 
ble bones, so did the medical students of Yale College search 
here for materials to aid them in their anatomical pursuits. 
The New Haven and Derby railroad has extinguished all traces 
of this ancient cemetery, Indian skulls and bones in large quan- 
tities having been exhumed in excavating at Turkey Hill. 

Upon this hill stood the head-quarters of a tribe of Indians. 
Here they built their wigwams, held their war councils, joined 
in the noisy dance and smoked the pipe of peace, while the old 
sachem of Milford, Ansantaway, with his son Ockenuck of 
Stratford, set his mark upon Derby. 

It may be inferred from the most reliable sources that the 
New Milford Indians and the Paugasucks at one time lined the 
banks of the Ousatonic from Old to New Milford. They had a 
trail, many traces of which are still visible, along which, by sig- 
nal and war whoop, they could telegraph from the one place to 
the other "between sun and sun." They had several fortresses 
along this trail. The Paugasucks, however, possessed the land 
of Derby and one of the last of this tribe is still fresh in the 
memory of our citizens. 

On the line of Two-mile brook, near the Ousatonic, over an 
old cellar still to be seen, stood the little hut of Molly Hatchett. 
Leman Stone, agent for Indian land reservations in Derby, in 
the goodness of his heart caused it to be erected for her home. 
Truman Gilbert was the boss carpenter, and David Bradley and 
Agar Gilbert his apprentice boys, both of whom are still living, 
assisted. The building was only twelve feet square. Here lived 
and died Molly Hatchett. She was a wanderer upon the earth, 
but wherever she went she always found a hearty welcome, and 
was never turned away with an empty basket. She was a favor- 
ite among the people, and was looked upon with sad sympathy. 
The children in the streets flocked to meet her, and the old 
folks always paid her deference. A hundred families or more 
she visited once or twice a year, selling her little fancy stained 
baskets, and wherever a child was born she was sure to appear, 



MOLLY HATCHETT. H 

and present the baby with a basket-rattle containing six ker- 
nels of corn. If the mother had more than six children she 
put in one more kernel, and so on in arithmetical proportion. 

In her old age, when she could no longer go her rounds, she 
was often visited by the good people of Derby Narrows, who 
gave her great comfort and consolation. Parting with her one 
day when her death was approaching, a good woman remarked, 
" Molly, it is too bad that you should die in such a hut as this." 
" Oh no," she replied, " I shall soon have a better home in 
heaven, where I shall go and meet the pale faces with the Great 
Spirit." Her funeral was decently attended, Leman Stone ar- 
ranging the ceremonies, his workmen acting as pall-bearers. 
In the parish records of St. James's church, in the hand-writing 
of the Rev. Stephen Jewett, appears the following : 

" 1829, January 17, died Molly Hatchett, Indian, aged nearly one 
hundred, buried by Rev. W. Swift." 

There is no date of her birth or marriage, but she was the 
wife, according to Indian custom, of John Hatchett, who died 
at an early age and is said to have been a descendant of old 
Chuse, who lived at Humphreysville. Molly had four children. 
She lived with her son Joseph many years, but most of her 
family afterwards joined the Scatacook settlement in Kent. 

Molly Hatchett was a good specimen of the Paugasucks. 
Nearly six feet tall, muscular, erect, of stately step, with long, 
black hair falling over her shoulders, with piercing black eyes, 
of polite and commanding appearance, she was a noble relic of 
a barbarous race. 

It was a fashion of her own, always to wear a white blanket 
shawl and a man's hat, and to carry a cane or her little hatchet. 
Shrewd and witty, she was seldom overreached in her jokes. 
She was rather fond of " uncupe," as she called rum, and this 
was her besetting sin, for which she blamed the whites. 

One day she called at the store of Mr. S , and asked for a 

drink of "uncupe." "Can't give it to you," said the conscien- 
tious merchant, " it is against the law to sell by the glass." 
" Uh,"" said she, "there is no law against Indians." Thirsty 
and full of importunity on her part, the rumseller finally yielded, 
when he said, " Molly, if you will lie down on your back on this 



Hi INDIAN HISTORY. 

floor, and let me put a tunnel in your mouth, I will pour down 
your throat a good horn of uncupe." The action was suited to 
the words, and both seemed gratified with the evasion of the law. 
A few days after, calling on her benefactor, smiling and talka- 
tive, he said, " Well, Molly, what do you want to-day ? " " Oh ! 
I only called to see if you did not want to tunnel me again." 

Many years before her death Molly was often heard to say 
she could remember when the main road through Derby Nar- 
rows was only a foot-path by the river bank, dense with forest 
trees. 

She used to correct the white man's pronunciation of the names 
of our rivers. " You must call them as did the old ' Ingins,' Nau- 
g2Litick and Ons>2iX.onuck" When she received a gift her reply 
was, " Ariunshemoke, thank you kindly. Now you must say 
Tuptttney, you are welcome." Her real name was unknown, 
but she was often called, " Magawiska." 

In the evening of her days, when taking a last survey of the 
departed glory of her ancestors and standing on their graves, 
their wigwams leveled, their council fires almost forgotten, this 
poor, lonely Paugasuck is imagined as thus soliloquizing : 

" Deserted and drear is the place, 

Where huts of my fathers arose, 
Alone, and the last of my race, 

I watch where their ashes repose. 
The calumet now is no more, 

No longer the hatchet is red ; 
The wampum our warriors once wore, 

Now smolders along with the dead. 
The day of our glory is gone, 

The night of our sorrow is here ; 
No more will our day-star arise, 

No more our sunlight appear. 
Once we listened to hear the war song, 

Once we sailed on the Naugatuck's wave, 
When the arm of the hunter was strong. 

The soul of the warrior was brave. 
Now lonely and drear is the place 

Where huts of my kindred arose. 
Alone ! and the last of my race, 

I watch where their ashes repose." 

The above lines, so full of pathos were written by Dr. J. 
Hardyear, a native of Derby, a young man of talent and prom- 



OPINION OF A MINISTER. lili 

ise, who located in Stratford, where he died at the early age 
of twenty-nine years. 

Just above Two-mile brook, on the Whitney farm was also 
an Indian settlement, established there many years after the 
one at the spot originally called Turkey Hill. This latter 
place is the one more familiarly known at the present time, and 
for some years past, as Turkey Hill. 



An anecdote or two concerning the Indian Chuse, have not 
appeared in print. Living among the white settlers he became 
partially civilized, often going to church and thereby obtaining 
some knowledge of the doctrines of the gospel. 

Having a child dangerously ill, he became impressed with the 
desire of having it baptized, and called on the Congregational 
minister to perform the ceremony. The parson asked him if 
he was in full communion with the church. He replied that be 
was not. " Then I must refuse to baptize him," said the par- 
son. "Do you call yourself a minister of Christ.-*" asked 
Chuse. " Yes," was the reply. Said Chuse, " You are not ! 
You are the devil's minister. Christ commanded to teach all 
nations, baptizing them in the Lord." The sick child, however, 
received the rite of baptism from the Episcopal minister. This 
story is authenticated by one who was familiar with all the 
parties. 

After removing to Scatacook, he often visited the few who 
lived at Turkey Hill. Mrs. Deborah Riggs, deceased some years 
since, well remembered when one of his daughters was married, 
and the bridal party walked through the drifting snow from 
Turkey Hill to Chusetown in the night season, to solemnize 
the nuptials. 

Some few marks or foot-prints of the Red man in Derby still 
remain. Close by the New 'Haven and Derby railroad on the 
Whitney farm, is an Indian corn mill, or mortar, sunk in the 
bed rock. It is about eight inches in diameter at the top and 
the same in depth. Here, for many years, the Indians ground 
the corn for their daily bread. This is a little south of the 
ravine called the Devil's Jump ; near which are said to be two 
more mortars sunk in the bed rock. Lover's Leap is a little 



liv INDIAN HISTORY. 

further up the river, consisting of a high rock almost over- 
hanging the river. 

One Indian ax, of bluestone, has been seen, of the size of an 
ordinary ax, but from the roughness of the stone it is inferred 
that it had remained long exposed to the elements after it was 
made, before it was found. 

THE MACK FAMILY. 

The last remnants of the Paugasucks in Derby were the 
Mack Indians as they were called, who formerly inhabited 
Bethany. The selectmen of that town, fearing that these In- 
dians would become paupers, purchased a small tract of land in 
Deerfield, situated within the limits of Derby, and placed them 
upon it, so as to be rid of them. They assisted them in build- 
ing some cheap huts, and in these they dwelt, securing a living 
by hunting and making baskets. There were James and 
Eunice Mack, who lived by themselves near the turnpike that 
leads from Seymour to New Haven. Jerry Mack and four 
other Indian men, two squaws and three children lived over the 
hill south of James Mack's about eighty rods. For a long time 
the place was called the Indian settlement. 

In 1833, a squaw came from Milford, who became the guest 
of James and while there was taken sick and was immediately 
removed back to Milford, where she died of small-pox. In 
due time these ten Indians sickened with the same disease, 
and all died except the three children. These children were 
run down into the woods, and vaccinated by Dr. Kendall, and 
thus saved from the terrible scourge. The Indians were buried 
by Samuel Bassett and others, who had had the small-pox, in 
the garden near their huts. Derby paid all expenses and great 
excitement prevailed as to the disease, and to make sure that 
no more Indians should become paupers from that settlement, 
the torch was applied in the night season by order of the select- 
men to these modern wigwams, and thus they were reduced to 
ashes. 

Of these Deerfield Indians, Mr. DeForest says : 

" One of the women, old Eunice as she was commonly called, died 
a number of years since. Her two children, Jim and Ruby, I have 



INDIAN BURYING GROUNDS. Iv 

often seen coming into my native village to sell parti-colored baskets 
and buy provisions and rum. Ruby was short and thick and her face 
was coarse and stupid. Jim's huge form was bloated with liquor, his 
voice was coarse and hollow, and his steps, even when he was not intox- 
icated, were unsteady from the evil effects of ardent spirits. At pres- 
ent I believe they are all in their graves." 

There was another family called the Pann tribe, who were 
described by Mr. DeForest thirty years ago, as wandering 
about in that part of the country and owning no land. In a 
letter from a correspondent in Derby (W. L. Durand, Esq.) 
their settlement is described as located on the west side of the 
Ousatonic, above the Old Bridge place. He says : "They were 
called the Pann tribe and the old chief was named Pannee. I 
remember seeing some of the Panns when I was a boy. In dig- 
ging a cellar on the plains there, a great many bones were dug 
up — so many that the wife of the man who was intending to 
build, would not go there to live. He got the house inclosed, 
and after it had stood unoccupied a good many years, he 
sold it." 

Those Indians who gathered around Joseph Mauwee at Nau- 
gatuck Falls, where Seymour now stands, were most if not all 
of them of the Paugasucks. When the Indian census was ta- 
ken in 1774, there were four of Joseph's band within the limits 
of Waterbury. 



INDIAN BURYING-GROUNDS. 

The first place in which the Indians buried was most proba- 
bly at Derby Narrows, some years before the English discovered 
the region. More bones, indicating such a ground, have been 
exhumed at this place than at any other. 

Not many years since, when Mr. Lewis Hotchkiss was en- 
gaged in putting up some buildings near the Hallogk mills, a 
large quantity of bones was discovered, and the indications were 
that they had been a long time buried. It is most likely that 
the Paugasuck tribe buried at this place a long time after the 
English began the settlement here. 

The burying-ground at Turkey Hill was commenced proba- 



Ivi INDIAN HISTORY. 

bly after that place was set apart for occupancy by Milford, 
about 1665. 

Another ground was arranged soon after the beginning of 
the settlement of the English here, at the new fort on the Ous- 
atonic, a little above the dam on the east side. 

A ground of this kind of considerable extent was at Seymour, 
where many fragments have been found within the memory of 
the living. 

Another is said to be in existence, and the graves still visible, 
near Horse Hill, or, as it is called in one of the very early land 
records, White Mare Hill. 

Across the Ousatonic from Birmingham, in the southern part 
of Shelton, was another burial-place, where the Pootatucks laid 
their departed to rest ; and there were others still further up 
that river on both sides. 

As the Farmington Indians have been included in this survey 
of the ancient tribes, the monument erected at that place in 
1840 may be referred to. On the bank of the river looking out 
upon Farmington Valley and Indian Neck, stands a block of 
coarse red sandstone bearing the following inscription, which 
is becoming rapidly obliterated : , 

"In memory of the Indian race, especially of the Tunxis tribe, the 
ancient tenants of these grounds. 

" The many human skeletons here discovered confirm the tradition 
that this spot was formerly an Indian burying place. Tradition fur- 
ther declares it to be the ground on which a sanguinary battle was 
fought between the Tunxis and the Stockbridge tribes. Some of their 
scattered remains have been re-interred beneath this stone." 

The reverse side of the monument bears the following lines : 

" Chieftains of a vanished race, 
In your ancient burial-place, 
By your fathers' ashes blest. 
Now in peace securely rest. 
Since on life you looked your last, 
, Changes o'er your land have passed ; 

Strangers came with iron sway, 
.'\nd your tribes have passed away. 
But your fate shall cherished be 
In the strangers' memory; 
Virtue long her watch shall kcjcp. 
Where the Red man's ashes sleep." 



CHAPTER IV. 



FURTHER AUTHENTIC RECORDS. 




ROGRESS in disintegration and decay in the native 
tribes may be traced a little further by the examina- 
tion of documents and records. Mr. J. W. DeForest 
in his " History of the Indians of Connecticut," a book 
which, after all deductions are made, is a remarkable production 
for a youth of one-and-twenty years, makes the following re- 
marks upon the retirement of the Red men before the aggressive 
race that had landed on their shores : 

" Knowing little of European modes of life and judging of the colo- 
nists greatly by themselves, they supposed that the latter would culti- 
vate but a little land, and support themselves for the rest by trading, 
fishing and hunting. Little did they think that in the course of years 
the white population would increase from scores to hundreds, and from 
hundreds to thousands ; that the deep forests would be cut down ; that 
the wild animals would disappear ; that the fish would grow few in the 
rivers ; and that a poor remnant would eventually leave the graves of 
their forefathers and wander away into another land. Could they have 
anticipated that a change so wonderful, and in their history so unprece- 
dented, would of necessity follow the coming of the white man, they 
would have preferred the wampum tributes of the Pequots and the 
scalping parlies of the Five Nations to the vicinity of a people so kind, 
so peaceable, and yet so destructive." — (Pages 164, 165.) 

Of course the natives knew not that they were parting with 
their homes forever ; neither did the new settlers know how 
swiftly their predecessors upon the soil would melt away before 
the glow and heat of a Christian civilization. But the process 
was inevitable, and in New England, at least, however it may 
have been elsewhere, it was as painless and as little marked by 
cruelty as it well could be. 



INDIAN SLAVES. 



Through several documents still preserved there come be- 
fore us certain Derby Indians in the peculiar character o( s/<t7'i-s. 



Iviii INDIAN HISTORY. 

To Students of colonial history it is a known fact that not 
only negroes but Indians were held as slaves in New England. 
That slavery should have existed in the colonies was almost a 
matter of course, in view of its recognition by the mother coun- 
try. The Massachusetts code, adopted in 1641, known as the 
" Body of Libertiies," recognized it, and provided for its regula- 
tion and restriction ; and Connecticut in its code of 1650 fol- 
lowed in the same path. The ninety-first article of the Massa- 
chusetts code was as follows : " There shall never be any bond 
slavery, villanage or captivity among us, unless it be lawful cap- 
tives taken in just wars, and such strangers as willingly sell 

themselves or are sold to us This exempts none 

from servitude who shall be judged thereto by authority." Ac- 
cording to this, persons might be sold into slavery for crime ; 
might be purchased in the regular course of trade ; or might be 
enslaved as captives taken in war ; and it will be observed that 
no limitation is made in reference to color or race. Probably, 
however, the English distinction was tacitly recognized, which 
allowed the enslavement of infidels and heathen, but not of 
Christians. Of the fact that Indians became slaves in the dif- 
ferent ways here mentioned, there is abundant evidence. In 
Sandwich, Massachusetts, three Indians were sold in 1678 for 
having broken into a house and stolen. Being unable to make 
recompense to the owner, the General Court authorized him to 
sell them. In 1660 the General Court of Connecticut was em- 
powered by the United Colonies to send a company of men to 
obtain satisfaction, of the Narragansetts, for an act of insolence 
they had committed upon the settlers. Four of the malefactors 
were to be demanded ; and in case the persons were delivered, 
they were to be sent to Barbadoes and sold as slaves. In 1677 
it was enacted by the General Court that if any Indian servant 
captured in war and placed in service by the authorities should 
be taken when trying to run away, it should be "in the power 
of his master to dispose of him as a captive, by transportation 
out of the country." That the regular slave trade included 
traffic in Indians as well as negroes appears from several enact- 
ments of the General Court. For instance, it was ordered in 
May, 171 1, "that all slaves set at liberty by their owners, and 
all negro, mulatto or Spanish Indians, who are servants to mas- 



SELLING CAPTIVES. JlX 

ters for time, in case they come to want after they be so set at 
liberty, or the time of their said service be expired, shall be re- 
lieved by such owners or masters respectively." At a meeting 
of the Council in July, 1715,11 was resolved " that a prohibition 
should be published against the importation of any Indian slaves 
whatsoever." The occasion of this was the, introduction of a 
number of such slaves from South Carolina, and the prospect 
that many more were coming. In October following, the Gen- 
eral Court adopted an act in relation to this matter, which was 
a copy of a Massachusetts act of 17 12, prohibiting the importa- 
tion into the colony of Indian servants or slaves, on the ground 
of the numerous outrages committed by such persons. Of In- 
dians captured in war, a considerable number were sold into 
slavery, but what proportion it would be impossible to say. It 
was a defensive measure, to which the colonists were impelled 
by the fact that they were " contending with a foe who recog- 
nized none of the laws of civilized warfare." It was resorted 
to in the war with the Pequots, and again in the war with King 
Philip. 

In a manuscript, sold with the library of the late George 
Brinley of Hartford, namely, the account book of Major John 
Talcott (1674-1688), which includes his accounts as treasurer of 
the colony during King Philip's war, there are some curious 
entries indicating how the enslavement of Indians in certain 
cases originated. The following account stands on opposite 
pages of the ledger (pp. 54, 55) : 

" 1676. Capt. John Stanton of Stonington, Dr., To sundry commis- 
sions gave Capt. Stanton to proceed against the Indians, by which he 
gained much on the sales of captives. 

" Contra, 1677, April 30. Per received an Indian girl of him, about 
seven years old, which he gave me for commissions on the other side 
or, at best, out of good will for my kindness to him." 

Further light is thrown on this matter by the following docu- 
ments, which are interesting, also, in themselves'^ 

The first is a deed drawn up in Stratford, June 8, 1722 : 

" Know all men by these presents, that I, Joseph Gorham of Strat- 
ford, in the county of Fairfield, in the colony of Connecticut, for and 

"They are the property of the Hon. C. W. Gillette of Waterbury. 



Ix INDIAN' HISTORY. 

in consideration of sixty pounds money in hand received, and well and 
truly paid by Col. Ebenezer Johnson of Derby, in the county of New 
Haven and colony aforesaid, to my full satisftiction and content, have 
sold and made over unto the said Ebenezer Johnson and to his heirs, 
executors and assigns forever, one Indian woman named Dinah, of 
about twenty-six years of age, for him, the said Johnson, his heirs, ex- 
ecutors or assigns, to have, hold and enjoy the said Indian woman Di- 
nah as his and their own proper estate from henceforth forever, during 
the said Dinah's life ; affirming the said Dinah to be my own proper 
estate, and that I have in myself full power and lawful authority to sell 
and dispose of the said Dinah in manner as aforesaid, and that free and 
clear of all incumbrances whatsoever. In witness I set to my hand 
and seal in Stratford, this eighth day of June, in the year of our Lord 
God, 1722. Samuel French, 

Attorney for Capt. Gorham. 
" Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of us, 

John Curtiss, 

John Leavenworth." 

The second document traces Dinah's history a little further. 
It is dated at Derby, November 22, 1728. Before this date Col. 
Johnson had died, and this is the deed by which his widow dis- 
poses of a part of the estate to her son Timothy : 

" Know all men by these presents, that I. Hannah Johnson, widow 
of the late deceased Colonel Ebenezer Johnson of Derby, in the county 
of New Haven, in the colony of Connecticut, in New England, for the 
parental love and good will which I have towards my beloved son, Tim- 
othy Johnson of Derby, in the county and colony aforesaid, and for 
divers other good and well-advised considerations me thereunto mov- 
ing, have given and do by these presents fully, freely and absolutely 
give, grant and confirm unto my beloved son Timothy Johnson, him, 
his heirs and assigns forever : that is to say, one Indian woman called 
Dinah, and also a feathe* bed that he hath now in possession, and by 
these presents I, the said Hannah Johnson, do give, grant and confirm 
and firmly make over the above named Dinah and feather bed, with all 
their privileges and profits ; and unto him, the said Timothy Johnson, 
his heirs and assigns forever, to have and to hold ; to occupy, use and 
improve, as he, the said Timothy Johnson, his heirs and assigns, shall 
think fit, without any interruption, trouble or molestation any manner 
of way given by me, the said Hannah Johnson, or any of my heirs, ex- 
ecutors or administrators, or any other person or persons from, by or 



OI.l) RECORDS. Ixi 

under me. And furthermore, I, the said Hannah Johnson, do by these 
presents, for myself, my heirs, executors and administrators, covenant 
and promise to and with the said Timothy Johnson, his heirs and 
assigns, that we will forever warrant and defend him, the said Timothy 
Johnson, his heirs and assigns, in the peaceable and quiet possession 
and enjoyment of the above named Dinah and feather bed against the 
lawful claims and demands of ail persons whomsoever. In confirma- 
tion of all the above mentioned particulars, 1, the said Hannah John- 
son, have hereunto set my hand and seal this 2 2d day of November, 
in the second year of the reign of our sovereign lord. King George the 
Second, and in the year one thousand seven hundred and twenty-eight. 

Hannah Johnson. 
" Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of, 

Joseph Hulls, 
Charles Johnson. 

" Derby, November 22, 1728. This day Hannah Johnson, the sub- 
scriber of the above written instrument, personally appeared and ac- 
knowledged this to be her own free act and deed, before me. 

Joseph Hulls, Justice of the Peace." 

At no time in the history of American slavery has the recog- 
nition of human beings as chattels been more complete than it 
is in this old document, in which " the Indian woman Dinah " 
and " the feather bed " are classed together in so unceremonious 
a way. 

That the purchase of Dinah in 1722 was not Col. Johnson's 
first experiment in slave-holding is evidenced by another docu- 
ment pertaining to the Indian literature of the Naugatuck val- 
ley, also in the possession of Judge Gillette. It is a brief paper 
from the hand of Colonel Johnson, relating to an Indian named • 
Tobie, and certifying to his manumission. It is given just as 
recorded : 

" these may cartifi whome it may consJrn that tobee a Ingan that 
lived with me I had of a moheg Indian at new london 307 years agoo. 
he lived with me 12 year and is now and has bin a free man ever senc. 
October the 6 17 13 Ebenezer Johnson." 

There is an Indian deed given by Cockapatana and Ahunta- 
way, as sachems, and six other Indians, of land at the place still 
known as Tobie's Rocks, deeded to this same Tobie, in which 
he is said to be " a Narragansctt Indian, formerly servant unto 



Ixii INDIAN HISTORY. 

Capt. Ebenezer Johnson of Derby." The deed is dated Sep- 
tember 7, 1693. The deed and the legend concerning Tobie's 
capture will be found in their chronological order in the body of 
this work. 

The record shows that Tobie was taken in the time of King 
Philip's war, 1676 ; that he was twelve years a slave, being made 
free in 1688; in 1693 received the tract of land from the Nauga- 
tuck Indians " in consideration of ten pounds and a barrel of 
cider," and in 171 3 this certificate was made. What circum- 
stances called for such a paper at that time is a question con- 
cerning which we have no information ; nor has there been seen 
anything in the records upon which to found a supposition, ex- 
cept that it was the time when he had petitioned, or was about 
to petition, the legislature for a patent for his land, as the town 
had just received a patent, although it proved to be unsatisfac- 
tory. And what reason the town could have had, if not a self- 
ish one, for opposing Tobie's petition, it is impossible to guess. 
It is probable that the certificate was given to show his right to 
hold property and become a citizen. 

In 1709, Major Ebenezer Johnson sold another Indian girl, 
placing her in a vastly more satisfactory relation, according to 
modern ideas, than either of the other sales effected. The In- 
dians in deeding a certain tract say : " On account of a squaw 
Sarah, sold unto said Chetrenasut, and three pounds, ten shil- 
lings in hand received of Major Ebenezer Johnson of Derby." 
This tract of land was " lying in a place called ' Nayumps,' 
bounded northerly with Beacon Hill river, easterly with Milford, 
westerly with Naugatuck river, south with Lebanon river." This 
was a happy sale in this, that the Indian Chetrenasut obtained a 
bride. Well done, thou noble Red man of the forest, thou dost 
make a woman free^ while thy white brother possesses the land 
that is the price of human, living flesh and blood ! O, slavery, 
what corrupting sin hast thou not committed in the land of 
Bibles and religion ! But there is a favorable thought on the 
slave-holder's side : he had given one man his liberty. " Seven 
pounds" was no price for a young slave woman ; for a few years 
later Mr. Johnson paid sixty pounds for one, apparently of about 
the same value. We may hope that the price was but nominal 
and the real object benevolent. 



THE TUNXIS INDIANS. Ixiii 

Turning again to the Tunxis Indians, with whom the Pauga- 
sucks are related, and from whom the Waterbury purchases were 
made, we find the same process of gradual decay taking place 
among them which we trace in other tribes. The main body 
at Farmington was joined from time to time by re-enforcements 
from the Connecticut valley ; and it is very probable that some 
of the Paugasucks joined them, since we -are informed in one 
deed that some had settled in Hartford, where they were re- 
siding when they executed a deed of land in Derby. A school 
was established among them, a few were admitted as freemen, 
and a few became members of the church. But, notwithstand- 
ing the friendly feeling which existed, the lands which the In- 
dians had reserved slipped gradually from their grasp, and they 
found it desirable to emigrate. In 1761, the tribe was esti- 
mated at less than twenty-five families. They had moved back 
from their original position and were residing in the north-west 
part of Farmington and in New Hartford. In 1774, they num- 
bered fifty-six persons. Not long after, some of them removed 
to the country of the Mohawks ; others, subsequently, to Scata- 
cook, and from there to Stockbridge. The Tunxis Indians, as 
we have seen, had no established camping ground in the Nau- 
gatuck valley at the time of its settlement by white men ; nei- 
ther is there any strong evidence that they resided in the val- 
ley after they had begun to retire from their old reservation. 
It is probable, however, that some of the Indians who are still 
remembered as living in Waterbury, Litchfield and Wolcottville, 
belonged to that tribe. It is within the present generation that 
a family living in the Park road, in the western part of Water- 
bury, has entirely disappeared. Persons are still living who re- 
member Indian families in Wolcottville and Torringford. In 
the latter place a wigwam used to stand, in the very door-yard 
of a prominent citizen, Captain Shubael Griswold, some time 
after the Revolutionary war. Another family had their wig- 
wam, within the present century, in the field west of the brass 
mill in Wolcottville, where they had resided some years. In 
the edge of Goshen, a little north of Hart's Hollow, is a cave 
which used to be the recruiting station for the Indians while on 
their hunting excursions through that region. Many arrow- 
heads and other implements have been picked up at this place. 



Ixiv INDIAN HISTORY. 

indicating considerable occupation of it by these hunters. 
vVnother like place is found in Wolcott, or in the edge of the 
town of Bristol, near Wolcott, where implements have been 
found and which tradition, as well, claims to have been a resort 
of the Red man. Wist pond, in the western part of the town of 
Torrington was so called from an Indian by that name, who, it 
is said, was drowned in its waters. There used to be an Indian 
family in a cave in Harvvinton, nearly opposite the mouth of 
Spruce brook, and another on the tract of land called the Wig- 
wam, lying along " West branch," not far back from Reynolds's 
bridge. In 1850, Mr. DeForest spoke of" one miserable creat- 
ure, a man named Mossock," as living in Litchfield, "perhaps 
the sole remnant of the Tunxis tribe." There may be other 
similar traces of the departing Red man, which by a little effort 
could be discovered and, if it were worth while, recorded. 

It is important to take a further look at the Pootatucks, from 
whom the extensive Litchfield purchase was made. As to 
their numbers, it is difficult to determine anything, but some 
conclusions may be drawn from the number of different individ- 
uals who signed the Indian deeds in Derby. From 1657 to 
1678, or to the close of the sachem rule of Okenuck, a space of 
twenty-one years, there were over fifty different signers to these 
Indian deeds of the Paugasuck Indians. Sometimes only Oke- 
nuck's name is attached to a deed ; at other times two, five, 
seven and ten are recorded. The fact (which is demonstrated) 
that only a few signed when there were others who might have 
signed but did not, indicates that it was necessary for but a 
few to sign at a time. Hence, if during that time one in 
three of the men in the tribe signed, then the tribe consisted 
of one hundred and fifty men ; and, making allowance for deaths 
and removals, the tribe may have numbered one hundred men, 
or, on a small estimate, between three and four hundred persons 
at any time during the twenty-one years. It is quite apparent, 
nay, almost demonstrable, that the Indians increased in num- 
bers from 1657 to 1700, and afterward. Many of the Pauga- 
suck Indians united with the Pootatucks, from 1680 to 1730. 

It is probable that the chief seat of the Pootatucks in 1660 
was at the old fort opposite Birmingham Point, on the west side 
of the Ousatonic, and that the settlement at Pomperaug was 



A GREAT POWWOW. IxV 

mostly effected afterwards. In 167 1, when this tribe deeded to 
Henry Tomlinson land on both sides of the river, at what is now 
Birmingham Point, fifteen names were placed on the deed, and 
in the next month to a quit-claim deed in confirmation of the 
territory of the town of Stratford, four others were added and 
in 1684, to another deed of the same character, eleven more 
were recorded. Here then, in the space of thirteen years, there 
are thirty men ascertained ; and on the calculations, as in the 
case of the Paugasucks as above noted, we estimate, making 
due allowances, there were about seventy men in the Poota- 
tuck tribe, and from two hundred to two hundred and fifty 
persons. When then, this tribe had increased, as most prob- 
ably it did, of its own numbers and by accessions from the 
Paugasucks, up to 1700, it very probably numbered over one 
hundred men. Hence, when President Stiles of Yale College, 
in his " Itinerary" in 1760, estimated the number of warriors of 
this tribe to have been fifty half a century before, he was not far 
out of the way. 

The same writer preserves the account of a great " powwow," 
which took place at the village of the Pootatucks, somewhere 
from 1720 to 1725. The ceremonies lasted three days, and 
were attended by five or six hundred Indians, many of whom 
came from distant places, as Farmington and Hartford. While 
the Indians were standing in a dense mass, excited by dancing 
and other wild rites, a little Indian girl was brought forward, 
gaily dressed and covered with ornaments. She was led in 
among them by two squaws, her mother and her aunt ; and as 
she entered the crowd they set up a great yelling and howling, 
threw themselves into strange postures and made hideous 
grimaces. After a while the squaws, stripped of their orna- 
ments, emerged alone from the crowd and walked away, shed- 
ding tears and uttering mournful cries. Many white people 
stood around gazing at the scene ; but the savages were so ex- 
cited that none of them dared to interfere. A little white girl, 
who afterwards related the incident, ran up to the squaws and 
asked anxiously what they had done with the child, but the 
only reply was that they should never see her again. It was 
generally believed by the whites that the Indians had sacrificed 
her, and that this was an occasional custom. 
I 



Ixvi INDIAN HISTORV. 

In 1742, the Pootatucks petitioned the legislature for a school 
and a preacher, so that, as they expressed it (or some white friend 
in their behalf), "our souls need not perish for want of vision in 
this land of light," and their petition was granted. At this time 
they numbered forty persons. Previous to this, however (in 
1733), they had sold about three-fourths of their reservation in 
Southbury, and many of them had joined the Wyantenucks of 
New Milford, whither they had been emigrating for more than 
thirty years. To the fragment of land and the Indian village 
which remained, known as the Pootatuck Wigwams, they re- 
tained a title for a quarter of a century longer; but in 1758, they 
parted with it and took up their abode with other tribes. A 
clan of the Pootatucks resided alternately at Bethlehem, Litch- 
field and Nonawaug, and have been sometimes designated Ban- 
tam Indians. In 1761, the Pootatucks who remained in the 
vicinity of their old reservation consisted of one man and two 
or three broken families. 

One year previous to the presentation of the petition just re- 
ferred to, asking for a school and a preacher (that is, in May 
1741), a petition had been presented by a member of the Poota- 
tuck tribe asking the legislature, first, to allow something to- 
ward the schooling and supporting of his children ; secondly, 
to help him to a division of the Indian lands at Pootatuck. The 
document which is reproduced in full in Mr. Cothren's history 
of Woodbury,'^ is a very curious one; but it demands our atten- 
tion just now because of the name of the petitioner, who speaks 
of himself as a poor Indian native, " Hatchett Tousey by name." 
Hatchett Tousey, notwithstanding its English sound, is obvi- 
ously the same name which appears repeatedly in the Woodbury 
and Litchfield records as " Atchetouset ; " and it is all the 
more interesting to us because we meet with it under the form 
" Hatchatowsuck" among the Tunxis and Paugasuck names af- 
fixed to the Waterbury deed of December, 1684, and again as 
connected with the Hatchett family of Derby. It would not 
be safe to consider the petitioner of 1741 identical with the 
signer of 1684; but we can certainly trace him in another quar- 
ter — in the town records of Litchfield. On the third day of 
August, 1732, John Catlin sold to "a certain Indian resident of 
''Pp. loi, 102. 



A BRAVE SOLDIER. Ixvii 

Litchfield, commonly known as Hatchatousset, for eight pounds 
lawful money, one acre more or less of land in the crotch of 
Bantam river;"' and on the 14th of May 1736, Hatchatousset 
sold this land to John Sutliff for ten pounds, making, as prob- 
ably he supposed, a fair profit.^ The idea of individual owner- 
ship had evidently taken hold of this native of the soil ; for in his 
petition, as we have seen, he prayed the legislature to help him 
to a division of the Indian land at Pootatuck — " that I might 
have my right and just part set out to me, so that they might 
not quarrel with me ; for they say if I am a Christian then I 
shall not have my land." He had learned, too, that being a 
Christian does not by any means take away the desire to have 
land ; and that being a Christian secures sometimes the oppo- 
sition of nearest kindred. 

Another personage comes before us, whose name is already 
inscribed in history among the noble and honored defenders of 
our country. The name of one of the Indians who sold to the 
Litchfield settlers was written Corkscrew, apparently an im- 
promptu joke of the clerk at the time, who ought to have writ- 
ten Cotsiire or Cocksure. This name within a generation or 
two became Cogswell ; a worthy member of the family which it 
represents is still living at New Milford, and another, William 
H. Cogswell, won a lieutenant's commission in a Connecticut 
artillery company in the late war. The Cornwall History'* 
speaks thus of this honored soldier : 

"Lieut. William H. Cogswell died Sept. 22, 1864, aged 25 years, 2 
months and 23 days. He enlisted as a private in the Fifth regiment, 
C. v., June 22, 186 1, and was promoted to the Second Connecticut 
Artillery, for gallant services, Sept. 11, 1862. He was in the battles 
of Peaked Mountain, Winchester, Cedar Mountain, Cold Harbor and 
Opequan, and died from wounds received in the last battle. 

" A handsome freestone monument, with the above inscription, erected 
by his fellow-townsmen, stands as a tribute to his memory. As a val- 
iant, faithful soldier he had no superiors, while in power to endure fa- 
tigue, ai^ility, strength and never-failing spirits, he had few equals. 
The writer remarked to his colonel (Wessells) that William was one of 



^These items were furnished by D. C. Kilbourn of Litchfield. 
*T. S. Gold's, p. 223. 



Ixviii INDIAN HISTORY. 

a thousand soldiers. He replied, ' You might well say, one of ten 
thousand.' 

" It is related of him that when on the march many were falling out 
of the ranks from fatigue, he grasped the muskets of three or four, car- 
rying them for miles, showing his men what strong and willing arms 
could do. 

" Before he went into the army he was a noted runner at all our local 
fairs, surpassing all competitors, so that when it became known that he 
was to run there would be no race. 

" He was the eldest son of Nathan Cogswell, to whose skilled hands 
Cornwall farmers are indebted for many of their fine stone walls, and 
grandson of Jeremiah Cogswell, a member of the Scatacook tribe." 

This grandfather was probably Jeremiah Cocksure, who, re- 
moving with the remnant of the tribe from Pootatuck, became 
one of Gideon Mauwee's principal men. He was one of the 
converts of the Moravian missionaries, and his name often ap- 
pears in their lists. 

When we consider the Indian's character, the stage of devel- 
opment he had reached, and the ordeal necessarily involved in 
his being brought suddenly into contact with an aggressive civ- 
ilization, his behavior in this trying period of his history seems 
worthy of high commendation. However cruel and bloodthirsty 
he may have been by nature, in his intercourse with peaceable 
white men he was peaceable ; if they showed themselves friendly 
he was their friend. Much is said of the Indian's treachery, 
but it was mostly reserved for enemies, and does not differ es- 
sentially from the deception and stratagems which in all ages 
civilized people have considered legitimate in war. 

As a rule the conduct of the Indian was peaceable and friendly, 
but there were exceptions, — most of them traceable, it is pre- 
sumed, to the intemperate use of spirituous liquors. Among 
these exceptions may be mentioned a murder which was perpe- 
trated in the town of Litchfield, in February, 1768. The mur- 
derer was an Indian named John Jacob, and his victim was also 
an Indian. The guilty man was tried and executed the same 
year. Mention should also be made of Moses Cook of Water- 
bury, whose residence was on the north-east corner of Cook and 
Grove streets, where another branch of the family still resides. 
The crime was committed in the town of Bethany, on the 



AN INDIAN S CRIME. IXIX 

7th of December, 1771, by an Indian named Moses Paul. It 
appears that Paul was born in Barnstable, Mass., about 1742. 
He lived at Windham, Conn., until twenty years of age, when 
he enlisted in the Provincial service in the regiment of Colonel 
Putnam. After the campaign was ended he became a sailor and 
followed the sea for several years, becoming confirmed in bad 
habits which he had contracted while in the army. After re- 
turning to Connecticut he lived in a very unsteady way for three 
or four years, staying but a little while in a place, and often be- 
coming intoxicated. On the evening of December 7, 1771, 
at the house of Mr. Clark of Bethany, while under the influence 
of liquor, he quarreled with the proprietor. He seized a flat- 
iron weighing four and a half pounds (Paul himself testified 
that it was a club), and aiming a blow at Mr. Clark, missed him 
and struck Mr. Cook who was standing by. The wound termi- 
nated fatally five days afterward. Paul was pursued and arrested 
the same evening. He was tried in February, and after a fair 
and impartial hearing, which lasted a whole day, was found 
guilty of murder, and sentenced to be hanged in June. The 
General Assembly, however, on petition, granted a reprieve for 
three months. At Paul's execution, which took place at New 
Haven, Sept. 2, 1772, a sermon was preached "at the desire of 
said Paul," by Samson Occom, a well known Indian preacher 
and missionary ; the author, by the way, of the once popular 
hymn, 

" Awaked by Sinai's awful sound." 

A large assembly of whites and Indians had come together 
to witness the execution, and Occom, taking for his text the 
words, " For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is 
eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord," delivered a quite 
elaborate and impressive discourse, in which there were some 
characteristic specimens of Indian eloquence. The sermon 
was subsequently published in several editions, and re-published 
in England in connection with the treatise of the younger Jon- 
athan Edwards upon the grammar of the Muhhekaneew (Mohc- 
gan) Indians. Mr. Occom in his preface says it was "a stormy 
and very uncomfortable day when the discourse was delivered," 
and hopes that it may be serviceable to his poor kindred, the 



IXX INDIAN HISTORY. 

Indians, and that people may be induced to read it because it 
comes from an uncommon quarterl 

It is said that before the settlement of Torrington, a white 
man hunting on the hill which rises between the two branches 
of the Naugatuck river, just above where Wolcotville now 
stands, saw an Indian and shot him ; and from this instance the 
hill was named Red Mountain. The reason the man gave for 
his deed, so closely similar to many committed on our Western 
frontier, was that he "knew if he did not shoot the Indian, the 
Indian would shoot him, so he shot first and killed him." But 
the white man's logic was at fault, unless he had good reason to 
believe that the Indian belonged to some remote and hostile 
tribe. Indians knew, as well as white men, who were friends 
and who were enemies, and there was no period subsequent to 
King Philip's war when any of the Indians of Connecticut 
would have been likely to shoot down a white man at sight, or 
without the utmost provocation. The shooting of this Indian 
was, therefore, without excuse, and the name Red Mountain 
stands as a dishonor to the white man. 

The consideration of King Philip's war, and the other Indian 
wars of the colonial period, in their relations to the Naugatuck 
valley, must now engage our attention. Thus far we have been 
tracing the footsteps of a departing friend ; we have also to trace 
the coming and going tracks of a wily and cruel enemy. 

The first war in Connecticut was that waged against the Pe- 
quots, in the very beginning of its history as a colony. The 
Pequots were of the Algonkin stock, but did not belong to the 
same family as the other Connecticut tribes. "The Pequots 
and Mohegans were, apparently, of the same race with the 
Mohicans, Mohegans or Mohicanders, who lived on the banks 
of the Hudson**." They were, therefore, without allies in the 



^It is a fact worth mentioning in this connection, that the skull of Moses Cook 
was not buried with his body. It was probably prepared for examination and ex- 
hibited at the trial of Paul, and was afterward returned to the family. It was for 
many years in the possession of Mr. Cook's daughter, the wife of Titus Bronson, 
and mother of the late Deacon Leonard Bronson of Middlebury. This strange sou- 
venir was kept by Mrs. Bronson in a little cloth bag (it was in several pieces), and 
at her request was buried with her in 1841. Her grandson, Edward L. Bronson, re- 
members having seen it repeatedly in his boyhood. 

^DeForest, 59. 



KING Philip's war. Ixxi 

war, and were not only defeated, but practically extinguished 
by it. This was in 1636, and King Philip's war did not begin 
until forty years later. In the interval, which was a period of 
undisturbed peace, the settlement of Farmington took place on 
the one side, and of Milford on the other. The settlement of 
Derby, as we have seen, was begun as early as 1654, and in 
1657 the deed was given in which Mattatuck is first mentioned 
— the land around the hill where the black-lead was found. It 
was during this era of peace that the meadow lands of the 
Naugatuck were discovered. Preparations had been begun for 
the settlement of Waterbury, when the colony was startled by 
the cry of war. The first intimation of a misunderstanding be- 
tween Philip, who was the chief of the Wampanoags in south- 
eastern Massachusetts, and the colonists, was in April, 1671. 
From this time, if not before this, Philip skillfully planned to 
unite all the New England tribes against the whites in a war of 
extermination. The want of friendship among the tribes ren- 
dered this a difficult undertaking, but he succeeded so far as to 
extend his operations from the St. Croix river to the Ousatonic. 
An Indian league was formed, and the result was the most for- 
midable war the colonists ever had to sustain. Hostilities ac- 
tually commenced on the 24th of June, 1675, and were termi- 
nated by the defeat and death of Philip fourteen months after- 
ward. 

In this bloody conflict the colonists lost six hundred men. 
Thirteen towns were totally, and eleven partially, destroyed. 
The eastern part of Connecticut, being nearer the center of the 
conflict, suffered more seriously than the western ; but the val- 
ley of the Naugatuck was by no means exempt from anxiety, 
danger and trouble. If there had been no other sources of hard- 
ship, the enactments passed by the General Court and the 
Council — which have been correctly characterized as " equiva- 
lent to putting the whole colony under martial law" — must have 
come heavily upon such new settlements as Derby. At a meet- 
ing of the Council, held on the ist of September, 1675, it was 
reported " that the Indians were in a hostile manner prepared 
with their arms near Paugasuck ; " and this, with other similar 
reports, led the Council to pass a stringent law in reference to 
carrying of arms by Indians : 



Ixxii INDIAN HISTORY. 

" The Council sees cause to order that whatsoever Indian or Indi- 
ans with arms shall be espied traveling in any of the precincts of our 
township without an Englishman be with them, if they do not call to 
such English traveling as they may see, and also lay down their 
arms, with professing themselves friends, it shall be lawful for the said 
English to shoot at them and destroy them for their own safety ; 
which it is our duty to provide for thus in time of war." 

Two days afterward, it was ordered by the Council, that in 
each plantation a sufficient watch should be kept "from the 
shutting in of the evening till the sun rise," and that one-fourth 
part of each town should be in arms every day by turns. " It 
is also ordered that during these present commotions with the 
Indians, such persons as have occasion to work in the fields 
shall work in companies ; if they be half a mile from the town, 
not less than six in a company, with their arms and ammuni- 
tion well fixed and fitted for service." In October, the Gen- 
eral Court, in view of "great combinations and threatenings of 
the Indians against the English," ordered that sixty soldiers 
should be raised in each county, " well fitted with horse, arms 
and ammunition, as dragoons ; " that places of refuge should 
be fortified in every settlement, to be defended by such persons 
as the chief military officer in each town should appoint to that 
work ; and in case of an assault by an enemy or an alarm, any 
one who should willfully neglect the duty to which he had been 
appointed should be punished with death, or such other pun- 
ishment as a court martial should adjudge him to. The " places 
of refuge " were fortifications constructed of timbers placed 
vertically in the ground, so close together that no one could 
pass between. Such a wooden wall, with doors properly se- 
cured, afforded good protection against hostile Indians ; and 
to a house thus defended the population could resort with 
safety at night, and return in the morning to their own houses. 
In the following March, it was further ordered by the Council 
— " in regard of the present troubles that are upon us and the 
heathen still continuing their hostilities against the English, 
and assaulting the plantations," — that the watch in the several 
settlements, an hour at least before day, should call up the 
several inhabitants within their respective wards, who should 
forthwith rise and arm themselves and march to their several 



PROTECTION AGAINST INDIANS. Ixxiii 

quarters, there to stand upon their guard to defend the town 
against any assault of the enemy until the sun be half an hour 
high. Mounted scouts, also, were to be sent out from every 
town to watch for the enemy, " going so far into the woods as 
they may return the same day, to give an account of what they 
shall discover." 

It was under such circumstances as these that the inhabi- 
tants of Derby sought the advice and aid of the General Court. 

In answer, the Court advised them to secure their grain and 
remove to a more populous village for protection. A few did 
remove, but some evidently remained. 

For further account of this subject, see pages 55 and 56 
of the body of this book. 




CHAPTER V. 

THE INDIAN AS AN ENEMY. 

ING Philip's war and its influence upon the fortunes of 
Waterbury, we should naturally suppose, must have 
been slight, for the simple reason that Waterbury was 
not yet settled. Yet it is probably owing to that war 
that Waterbury is where it is ; and it would not be unreasona- 
ble to connect the course of its later history as a manufacturing 
center, and therefore its modern prosperity, with the same 
event. As we have seen, the first purchase of land around 
Waterbury Center was made in August, 1674. It was during 
the same season that a site was selected for the contemplated 
village, and there seems to have been no thought at first of any 
other site than the elevated plateau on the west side of the 
river, overlooking the meadows and the amphitheater amidst 
the hills where the city is now situated. The land on the east 
side was low and swampy and full of springs ; that on the west 
side was elevated and airy ; and accordingly in this latter situ, 
ation (known ever since as the Town Plot) roads were laid out, 
the one which ran north and south being sixteen rods wide. 
The " home lots," measuring eight acres each, were ranged 
along this road or street, sixteen on each side. This was ac- 
complished in the autumn of 1674, and apparently nothing 
more than this. So far as we can see, the settlers would have 
returned in the course of the following year to resume their 
work and erect dwellings on the Town Plot ; but in June, 1675, 
the war with King Philip began ; and not only was all thought 
of establishing new settlements abandoned, but some of those 
already commenced were broken up. There was no assured 
peace until the latter part of 1676, and meanwhile the Water- 
bury proprietors (unless indeed some of them went forth to the 
war) remained in their Farmington homes. In the spring of 
1677, tranquillity being restored throughout the colony, they 
began again to make plans for a new settlement ; but in the 
meantime they had learned to think of the dangers which sur- 



THE FIVE NATIONS. IxXV 

rounded them. For several reasons they had become dissatis- 
fied with the site they had chosen on the west side ; but the 
chief reason, the imperative argument against it, was the in- 
creased exposure it involved to attacks of hostile savages. At 
the best, Farmington was twenty miles away — the only place 
they could look to for succor or refuge in case of attack — and 
they did not deem it best to place between them and their 
friends, in addition to this broad expanse of wilderness, a fickle 
and sometimes destructive river. A meeting of proprietors 
was accordingly called in Farmington, and a committee ap- 
pointed " to view and consider whether it will not be more for 
the benefit of the proprietors in general to set the town on the 
east side of the river, contenting themselves with less home 
lots." On the east side of the river it was set, and the com- 
mittee of the General Court, in the October following, ordered 
that the inhabitants of the new plantation "should settle near 
together, for the benefit of Christian duties and defense against 
enemies." It thus appears that the present position of the city 
of Waterbury, the industrial and vital center of the Naugatuck 
valley, is itself a memorial of the Red man ; a reminder of the 
perils of war and the cruelty of the Indian as an enemy. 

It was natural that the colonists, knowing the character of 
the Indian and his modes of warfare, should live in a state of 
chronic anxiety. But from this time forward the people of Con- 
necticut had no trouble with the Connecticut Indians. The 
league with King Philip was an episode in the history of these 
tribes ; their normal relation to the white men was one of 
friendship, and in fact of dependence. They were the more 
anxious to be on terms of friendship with the settlers, espe- 
cially in the western part of the Colony, because they could then 
look to them as their allies and defenders when exposed to at- 
tacks from their relentless foes, the Mohawks. As already 
pointed out, the Indians of Connecticut, the Pequots included, 
belonged to the great Algonkin family of the Red race. The 
Mohawks belonged to an entirely different stock : they were 
one of the " nations " of the great confederacy which occupied 
the territory now comprising the state of New York west of 
the Hudson, and part of Pennsylvania and Ohio, and repre- 
sented the Iroquois family of the Red men. So totally distinct 



Ixxvi INDIAN HISTORY. 

were these two families or stocks, that between the one group 
of languages and the other — the Algonkin languages and the 
Iroquois — no verbal resemblances can be traced. There are of 
course resemblances in grammatical structure, for all the Indian 
languages seem to be formed upon the one plan of thought, 
but the vocabularies are totally different. As indicated by the 
stage of development they had reached, the Iroquois were the 
foremost people in aboriginal America north of Mexico, and the 
Mohawks were the foremost of the Iroquois. At the time of 
the Discovery they were waging wars of conquest, if not of ex- 
termination, upon their neighbors on every side, and the tribes 
of Connecticut, west of Connecticut river, were tributary to 
them ; paying an annual tax, and groaning under the capricious 
cruelties which they inflicted. The coming of the white man 
to Connecticut shores was therefore a welcome relief to these 
feeble tribes, and it was of course desirable in their eyes to 
have the white man for a friend. 

The Connecticut colonists had nothing*to fear from the Con- 
necticut tribes on the one hand, nor from the Mohawks on the 
other, because the confederacy of the Five Nations were on 
terms of friendship with the English, and after 1684 had a treaty 
with them. But trouble came frequently from another quarter. 
The Indians of Canada — hostile alike to the Mohawks and the 
New England tribes — were the constant allies of the French, 
and were constantly employed by the French in war. When- 
ever, therefore, war raged between France and England, the 
French let loose their Indian allies upon the New England set- 
tlements, and terror reigned among the colonists. Now the 
condition of these settlements may easily be imagined when 
we are reminded that from 1689, the year when William and 
Mary ascended the throne of England, to 17 13, when peace 
was proclaimed at Utrecht, with the exception of three or four 
years, England and France were continually at war, and the 
colonies continually involved in hostilities. The French aimed 
to expel the English from the northern and middle provinces, 
if not from the continent ; and the English, on their part, made 
repeated attempts to dislodge the French from Canada ; a re- 
sult which they effected at a later period. As the French availed 
themselves ot the services of their Indian allies, they kept the 



NEW FORTIFICATIONS. Ixxvii 

frontiers in a state of continual alarm. The savages often pen- 
etrated into the heart of the colonies, spreading terror and des- 
olation in every quarter. They destroyed crops, drove off cat- 
tle, burned dwellings, and murdered the inhabitants or carried 
them away into captivity. 

During this later war-period the town of Derby, in the lower 
part of the valley, could hardly be considered a frontier settle- 
ment ; but Waterbury was decidedly so, at least until the set- 
tling of Litchfield, in 1720, and shared in all the alarms, dan- 
gers, disasters and burdens of the times. Through a large part 
of the period now under consideration, Waterbury in common 
with the other frontier towns (Simsbury, Woodbury and Dan- 
bury), was required to keep two men employed as scouts. The 
business of these men was to keep a good lookout, to discover 
the designs of the enemy, and to give intelligence should they 
make their appearance. The citizens performed this duty in 
rotation, taking their stand on elevated places overlooking the 
village and meadows where men were at work. In 1690 the 
danger of invasion and attack was considered so imminent that 
the General Court established a military watch throughout the 
Colony, upon which " all male persons whatsoever (except ne- 
groes and Indians), upwards of sixteen years of age," were com- 
pelled to do duty. Widows and aged or disabled persons, whose 
estates were valued at fifty pounds, were to serve by proxy, and 
those absent at sea or elsewhere were to provide substitutes. At 
the same time (April 1690) it was ordered "that the fortifica- 
tions in each town appointed to be made be forthwith finished 
according to the appointment of the authority and commission 
officers and selectmen in each town." Several years afterward, 
in March, 1704, another order was issued in regard to fortifica- 
tions : " The inhabitants of every town in this colony shall be 
called together with as convenient speed as may be, to consider 
what houses shall be fortified." But already the town of Water- 
bury had moved in this direction ; for, on the 9th of April, 1700, 
they had voted to fortify the house of Ensign Timothy Stanley, 
"and if it should prove troublesome times, and the town see 
they have need, two more, should they be able." It was voted 
also to " go about it forthwith — all men and boys and teams 
that arc able to work, and to begin to-morrow." Four years 



IxXViii INDIAN HISTORY. 

later — not long after the order of the General Court concern- 
ing fortifications was issued — they voted to build another fort, 
and selected for this purpose the house of their pastor, the Rev. 
John Southmayd. In the meantime they had provided other 
means of defense. On the 15th of April, 1703, the town in- 
structed the selectmen " to provide a town stock of ammunition 
according to law," — a law which required that each town should 
keep "a barrel of good powder, two hundred weight of bullets, 
and three hundred flints, for every sixty listed soldiers, and 
after that proportion." The stock was duly purchased, and 
Timothy Stanley, who was by this time Lieutenant and com- 
mander of the train band, was made keeper of ammunition for 
the town. The order of the General Court in respect to forti- 
fications was followed up, at the regular session in May, by 
other enactments affecting the town of Waterbury. Eight 
towns, one of which was Waterbury, were designated as " fron- 
tier towns," and it was ordered that these should not be broken 
up or voluntarily deserted without permission from the General 
Court. It was also ordered as follows : 

" That ten men shall be put in garrison in each of these towns, Dan- 
bury, Woodbury, Waterbury and Simsbury ; and that the rest of the 
men to be raised out of the counties of New Haven and Fairfield, with 
such Indians as can be procured, .... shall have their chief 
head-quarters at Westfield : . . . . and said company of English 
and Indians shall, from time to time, at the discretion of their com- 
mander, range the woods to endeavor the discovery of an approaching 
enemy, and in especial manner from Westfield to Ousatunnuck " [that 
is, Stockbridge]. 

As already stated, the whole period now under review was a 
time of anxiety and alarms. But early in 1707, the Colony was 
aroused to special diligence in preparations for defense, by the 
intelligence " that the French and enemy Indians were prepar- 
ing to make a descent upon the frontier towns of New Eng- 
land." There was also reason to suppose that the Pootatuck 
and Owiantonuck Indians (the Woodbury and New Milford 
tribes) had been invited to join the enemy, and that measures 
must be taken to secure their fidelity and to preserve the small 
frontier towns. The Council of War was immediately convened 
at Hartford, and it was ordered, first, that the suspected tribes 



\VAR ALARMS CONTINUE. Ixxix 

should be removed with all convenient speed to Fairfield or 
Stratford, or if the sickness prevailing among them should pre- 
vent this, then two of their chiefs should be conveyed to Fair- 
field to be held as hostages. It was also "resolved, for the 
preservation of the frontier towns of Simsbury, Waterbury, 
Woodbury and Danbury, that order be sent to the inhabitants 
of these towns to provide with all possible speed a sufficient 
number of well fortified houses, for the safety of themselves 
and families in their respective towns." It was further "re- 
solved, that the inhabitants of Waterbury fortify their houses 
sufficiently for their safety;" and in view of the great losses 
which the town had recently sustained through extraordinary 
floods, it was agreed to recommend to the General Assembly 
an abatement of the Colony taxes of the town. At the same 
session it was resolved still further, " that the ^habitants of 
Woodbury, Waterbury and Danbury do every one of them 
maintain a good scout, out every day, from their respective 
towns, of two faithful and trusty men to observe the motions 
of the enemy," These resolutions were passed in council, in 
February, 1707. In the same month the town of Waterbury 
responded, by voting "to build the fort that is at Lieutenant 
Stanley's strong'' and "build a new fort at the east end of the 
town." These defenses were left for a time incomplete ; but 
in June, aroused perhaps by some new alarm, it was voted, 
" considering our troubles and fear of an enemy, to lay aside 
cutting bushes " (that is, clearing away underbrush on the com- 
mons) "and this day forthwith to go about finishing and re- 
pairing the forts, and to finish them by Wednesday next, at 
night." That they were duly finished and the defenses of the 
settlement made satisfactory to the General Assembly, appears 
from the fact that at the October session the Assembly " al- 
lowed to the town of Waterbury fifteen pounds out of the coun- 
try rate," in view of the expense they had incurred in fortifying. 
A year afterwards, in an act "for the encouragement of mili- 
tary skill and good discipline," it was ordered by the Assembly 
that the committee of war in Hartford county should establish 
garrisons in certain towns, one of which was Waterbury, at the 
charge of the Colony or of the respective towns as the commit- 
tee should order. Two garrisoned forts were established at Wa- 



IXXX INDIAN HISTORY. 

terbury at the expense of the Colony, and a third at the expense 
of the town. One of these forts was at the west end of the 
town, around Mr. Southmayd's house ; one at Lieutenant 
Stanley's, and the third at the house of John Hopkins, the 
grandfather of the Rev. Samuel Hopkins, D. D., the famous 
theologian. This house, in which Dr. Hopkins was born in 
1 72 1, stood a short distance east of the center of the city, on 
the corner of East Main and Brook streets. The forts, it will 
be seen, were situated so as to accommodate the scattered popu- 
lation. 

All these defenses were prepared with reference to attacks 
coming from the hostile savages of the north, the allies of the 
French. The Connecticut Indians were habitually employed 
by the colonial government as reliable soldiers. An act was 
passed by the General Court in May, 1704, in the following 
terms : 

" It is ordered by this Court that as many of our friend Indians as 
are fit for war, and can be prevailed with and furnished with all things 
suitable, shall go with our forces against the common enemy ; and 
Major Ebenezer Johnson [who has already been noticed as the owner 
of Indian slaves] is hereby empowered and ordered to employ suitable 
persons to acquaint the Indians in the counties of New Haven and 
Fairfield of this conclusion concerning them, and to furnish such of said 
Indians as shall offer themselves for the service as aforesaid, with arms 
and ammunition and what else may be needful to fit them out for war, 
and cause them forthwith to repair to Derby, to march with our Eng- 
lish forces under the command of the chief officer for the said service. 

And this court allows the [same] wages to such Indian 

volunteers as those have that have gone to the eastward 

And for the encouragement of our forces gone or going against the 
enemy, this court will allow out of the public treasury the sum of five 
pounds for every man's scalp of the enemy killed in this Colony, to be 
paid to the person that doth that service, over and above his or their 
wages and the plunder taken by them." 

This last mentioned provision shows that the General Court 
not only recognized the Indian taste of scalping, but was quite 
willing to encourage it. And when, in 1710, an Indian scout 
was established, the same encouragement was held out. The 
scouting company were promised, for each Indian scalp of the 



SNOW-SHOES. Ixxxi 

enemy brought to the committee of war, the sum of ten pounds 
to be divided equally amongst them. In 1724, the award was 
fifty pounds for every scalp. Another order, passed at the 
October session of the General Court in 1704, shows that the 
colonial authorities were familiar with the difficulties of Indian 
warfare and considered it necessary that the settlers should 
adopt the Indian's method, — not, indeed as regards scalping, 
but to the extent of wearing moccasins and snow-shoes. It 
was ordered : 

" That every town and plantation in this Colony shall be provided 
with a number of snow-shoes and Indian shoes, no less than one pair 
of snow-shoes with two pair of Indian shoes for every thousand pounds 
in the list of the estate of such town, which snow-shoes and Indian 
shoes shall be provided at or before the tenth day of December next, 
by the selectmen in every town, at the charge of the Colony, and shall 
be kept by them in good repair and fit for service wlien there may he 
occasion to make use of them." 

During the October session of 1708, it was enacted that there 
should be "allowed and paid out of the public treasury of this 
Colony the sum of fifty pounds, in pay for the bringing up and 
maintaining of dogs in the northern frontier towns in this Col- 
ony, to hunt after the Indian enemy." It was also ordered, 
that no person whatsoever should furnish lead, or sell, even to 
friendly Indians, any gun for any time longer or shorter; and 
that those who had lent guns to friendly Indians, should re- 
cover them as soon as possible. 

From all this it is evident that the towns and the general 
government understood the situation of affairs and were deter- 
mined to be thoroughly prepared for emergencies. If the de- 
fense of the frontiers had been neglected, we know not what 
disasters might not have overwhelmed the settlements. As it 
was, the one frontier town of the Naugatuck valley suffered but 
little. The only Indian raids upon Waterbury were in 17 10. 
A party' of savages came down through Simsbury into what is 
now the southern part of Thomaston, and killed a man named 
Holt ; probably a hunter from another town. The place where 
the deed was committed is named Mount Holt, a spur of Mount 
Toby. Another party from Canada, having made their way 
into the upper part of the town, ascended a hill on the west side 

K 



Ixxxii INDIAN HISTORY. 

of the Naugatuck, opposite Mount Taylor, to reconnoitre. To 
the south, in Hancock's meadow, they saw Jonathan Scott, one of 
the Waterbury settlers, and his two sons, one of them fourteen 
years of age, the other eleven. Scott was seated under a large 
oak tree eating his dinner ; the boys were a little distance from 
him. The Indians approached stealthily, taking such a course 
that the tree hid them from view ; reached him without being 
discovered, and made him prisoner. The boys took to their 
heels and would have escaped, but their father was given to 
understand that it would cost him his life if he refused to recall 
them, so he reluctantly brought them back. To prevent him 
from offering resistance, they cut off his right thumb. The 
three were taken to Canada, where they remained until after the 
proclamation of peace in 171 3. Scott and his eldest son, Jona- 
than, then returned to Waterbury ; but the younger son, John, 
having become accustomed to savage life, preferred to remain 
among the Indians and never came home. 

It is an interesting fact that the wife of Jonathan-Scott, whose 
name was Hannah Hawks, was the daughter of John Hawks of 
Deerfield, and that her mother was killed in the Indian attack 
upon that town, on the 29th of February, 1704. Her only sis- 
ter was taken prisoner and was put to death on her way to Can- 
ada. Her only brother, his wife and his three children were 
also killed. Mrs. Scott was the sole surviving child, and John 
Hawks spent his last days with her in Waterbury. After his 
return from captivity, Scott continued to reside in Waterbury 
until about 1720, when he removed to Wooster Swamp in the 
northern part of Watertown, near Scott's mountain. There he 
built a saw-mill and lived with his sons. There is a tradition 
that he died by violence, at the hands of the Indians, while on 
his way to the north ; but it seems to have no foundation in 
fact. The other tradition is more probable — that he was buried 
on Scott's mountain, where his supposed grave is stil^ pointed 
out.^ 

The capture of Scott and his sons, very naturally produced 
great excitement in Waterbury. The settlement was very weak, 
for in 1713 it numbered only thirty families and not more than 



'Bronson's Hist. Waterbury, pp, 105, 106, 1S5. 



CAPT. JACOB GRISWOLD. Ixxxiii 

two hundred souls ; and the greatness of the impending danger 
could not be known, neither could disaster be completely 
guarded against by the utmost vigilance. In July, following 
the capture of Scott, the town appointed a committee, consist- 
ing of the Rev. John Southmayd and three others, " to draw up 
in writing the circumstances of the town in this time of war," 
and to present the memorial to the General Court in New Ha- 
ven, in August. The General Court in response made special 
provision for the protection of the town, by appointing " a com- 
mittee of war, with full power upon the application of the inhab- 
itants of the said town of Waterbury, and in case of danger on 
the approach of the enemy, to raise and send men thither from 
the county of New Haven for their relief, by scouting or lying 
in garrison there, as occasion may require." 

There was no further trouble, however, and the proclamation 
of peace in 1713 brought relief from apprehension. But the 
upper part of the valley was exposed to similar dangers after- 
ward. Before war broke out again a settlement had been ef- 
fected at Litchfield, and when Indian raids from the north were 
renewed Litchfield was the frontier town and exposed to the 
same perils which Derby and Waterbury had experienced be- 
fore. Between 1720 and 1730, five houses in different parts of 
the town were surrounded with fortifications, that is, with pal- 
isades similar to those with which we have already become fa- 
miliar in Waterbury. Soldiers were stationed in the town to 
guard the inhabitants while in the fields and also while at pub- 
lic worship on the Sabbath. Notwithstanding these precau- 
tions, attacks were made by northern savages, and settlers 
were taken captive. In May, 1721, Captain Jacob Griswold, 
while at work alone in a field about a mile to the west of the 
present Court House, was suddenly seized by two Indians who 
had rushed upon him from the woods. They pinioned his arms 
and carried him off. Traveling in a northerly direction, they 
reached by night a spot within the limits of what is now Canaan. 
They kindled a fire and having bound Captain Griswold, hand 
and foot, lay down to sleep. In the night Griswold succeeded 
in disengaging his hands and feet, and although his arms were 
still pinioned, he seized their guns and escaped. After travel- 
ing a short distance through the dark woods, he sat down and 



Ixxxiv INDIAN HISTORY. 

waited for the dawn, when he resumed his journey, still carry- 
ing the two guns. When the savages in the morning found 
their captive was gone, they pursued him and soon overtook him. 
During the greater part of the day they kept in sight of him, 
but when they came too near he pointed one of the guns at them 
and thus kept them at bay. In this manner he traveled until 
near sunset, when he reached a high place in an open field 
about a mile north-west of where the Court House now stands. 
He then discharged one of the guns, which immediately sum- 
moned his townsmen to his assistance. The Indians fled and 
Griswold was restored in safety to his family. 

After this occurrence, the settlers were more cautious ; but 
their watchfulness did not last long, for in the following August 
a more serious misfortune came upon them. The victim this 
time was a Mr. Joseph Harris. He was at work alone in the 
woods, not far from the spot where Griswold was captured, when 
he was attacked by a party of Indians. Attempting to escape, the 
Indians pursued him; and when they found that he was likely to 
outstrip them they shot him dead and scalped him. As Harris 
did not return home at the usual time, the inhabitants became 
alarmed about him. They searched for him at night as long as 
they could see, and again in the morning, when his body was 
found near the north end of the plain, where the road turns 
toward Milton. From that time forward the plain was called 
Harris's plain. He was buried in the west burying-ground, 
near the church. His grave remained unmarked for more than 
a century ; but in 1830 a suitable monument was erected over 
his dust, which bears the following inscription, in which it will 
be observed there is no reference to his attempt to escape : 

" In memory of Joseph Harris, who was murdered by the Indians 
in the year 172 1. While ploughing in the field, about three-fourths of 
a mile north-west of the grave-yard, he was shot by the Indians con- 
cealed in ambush. He was found dead, sitting on the ground, his head 
and body reclining against the trunk of a tree. To record the first 
death among tlie original settlers, and to perpetuate the memary of a 
worthy but unfortunate citizen, this monument is erected, 1S30, by the 
voluntary benefactions of individual subscribers." 

The war between the French and English was not ended un- 
til some time after this, and the attacks of the northern Indians 



FEAR OF THE INDIANS. IXXXV 

upon the frontier settlements were still continued. In Au- 
gust, 1723, tidings were brought to the Governor and Council, 
of an attack upon Rutland and the massacre of several persons 
by the hostile Indians. They were also advised that about 
three hundred French Indians were come over Lake Cham- 
plain toward Connecticut, probably with evil designs. It was 
therefore " resolved, that Simsbury and Litchfield are frontier 
towns of this Colony, westward of Connecticut river, which are 
most exposed to danger by these parties of Indians ; " and in 
view of the impending dangers, it was decided that the com- 
missioned officers of these towns should immediately call to- 
gether the householders in the respective towns, agree upon 
suitable places for garrisons and encourage the inhabitants to 
establish such fortifications with speed ; also, that the sachems 
of the several bodies of Indians in the Colony should " forthwith 
call in all their Indians that were out a hunting in the woods, 
and that they do not presume to go out again in the woods to 
hunt north of the road that goes from Farmington through 
Waterbury and Woodbury to New Milford," without leave from 
the Council ; also, that tw^o scouting parties, consisting each of 
three Englishmen and six Indians, should range the woods 
above Simsbury, westward to Stockbridge, to be so ordered that 
they should meet each other about midway between the two 
places ; and finally, that a military watch should be kept in the 
towns of Simsbury, Waterbury, Woodbury, Litchfield and New 
Milford. In May following, the rule in relation to Indians hunt- 
ing was enacted as a law by the General Court; and in July, in 
view of the danger of giving false alarms, the same rule was ex- 
tended by the Council to English and Indians alike. The spring 
and summer of 1724 was a period of special alarm and excitement. 
In that year, the Assembly gave Waterbury authority to em- 
ploy six men "to guard the men in their outfields, at the discre- 
tion of the commission officers of said town." The authority 
thus given was exercised about a month. In Litchfield a 
small party of Indians was discovered lurking about the town 
on the night of the 19th of May. Word was immediately sent 
to the Council at Hartford, and it was ordered that a company of 
thirty-two men be immediately raised in Hartford, Wethersfield 
and Farmington and marched to the threatened town without 



IxXXVi INDIAN HISTORY, 

delay, to serve as a scouting party. On the 2ist of June, it 
was ordered that ten men be impressed, armed and equipped 
and sent to Litchfield for the defense of that town against the 
enemy. As some of the proprietors of home-lots in Litchfield 
tried to escape from serving on the military watch, Capt. John 
Marsh was instructed to see that the law was duly executed 
upon all such persons. A line of scouts was established, ex- 
tending from Litchfield to Turkey Hills, curving around the 
most northerly and westerly settlements in Simsbury. Capt. 
Richard Case, of the latter town, was directed to employ ten 
men on his scouting party, to rendezvous at Litchfield. These 
men continued in the service until October. So serious were 
the apprehensions of attack and so threatening the danger, that 
some of the more timid of the Litchfield settlers deserted their 
new homes and sought refuge elsewhere. As the inhabitants 
who remained felt themselves greatly crippled by these deser- 
tions, they petitioned the Assembly for aid and it was ordered 
(October ii, 1724) that whoever had left the town because 
of difficulties which had arisen there on account of the enemy, 
and should fail within a month of the close of that session of 
the Assembly to return to the town to abide there, or else to 
send some man in his stead to perform military duties, should 
forfeit all his right and estate in the lands of the town. At 
the same session of the Assembly, it was ordered that the gar- 
rison soldiers at Litchfield be withdrawn and disbanded. But 
in the following April, tidings were brought "from Philip 
Schuyler of Albany, that the enemies were all come over the 
lake," and thereupon the soldiers in the several frontier towns, 
including Litchfield and Watcrbury, were ordered to " be in 
perpetual readiness to defend themselves and offend the en- 
emy;" and a constables' watch was set up in the towns. A 
company of twenty-one men was also raised and sent to Litch- 
field, " to be improved in scouting, watching and warding for 
the safety of said town." In May, 1725, the Assembly, "taking 
into consideration the difificulties of the town of Litchfield in 
this time of trouble with the Indians," ordered that non-resi- 
dent proprietors should pay and forfeit toward defraying the 
cost of defending the town the sum of thirty pounds each per 
annum, and pro rata for any time they should be absent with- 



THE FRENCH WAR. IxXXVli 

out permission ; " provided, however, that the right of Joseph 
Harris is saved from any forfeiture by force of this act." 

The stringency of these enactments shows that the General 
Court not only appreciated the great importance of defending 
the frontier rather than abandoning it, but anticipated a pro- 
longed and severe conflict. There is little trace, however, of 
further troubles until many years afterward. A quarter of a 
century passed away ere another French and Indian war broke 
out, and that was the last of the series. In 1752 the old allied 
enemies of the Colony were making encroachments on the 
northern and western frontiers ; those frontiers not having yet 
advanced beyond the present bounds of the country. In a 
historical sketch of the churches and ministers of that region, 
we read : 

" The times, circumstances and duties of these pastors were in some 
respects peculiar. Their location was in the frontier settlements, and 
open to the incursions of savages. Instead of directing their attention 
to Christianizing the heathen, they had, in common with others, to ex- 
ert all their influence to prevent their coming under the dominion of a 
persecuting Roman Catholic government. In the former part of this 
period, the great question was, Shall we continue to enjoy the blessings 
of civil and religious liberty, or fall under the domination of a colossal 
anti-Christian power?" 

In 1756 war was formally declared by England. The capture 
of Fort William Henry, in 1757, by the French and Indians 
under Montcalm, and the Indian atrocities connected there- 
with, aroused the colonies of Massachusetts and Connecticut, 
and a force was raised which was meant to arrest the further 
progress of the French, In 1759 the invasion of Canada was 
actually undertaken, and on the i8th of September, as every- 
body knows, Quebec was captured, the dominion of the French 
on the St. Lawrence was broken, and the New England colo- 
nies were delivered from further incursions of the hostile tribes 
of the north. 

In this war the towns of the Naugatuck valley were well rep- 
resented. Waterbury sent a company of thirty-five men, under 
the command of Captain Eldad Lewis, and besides these thirty- 
five, eighteen or twenty others are mentioned in the history of 
the town as having been engaged at one time or another in the 



Ixxxviii INDIAN HISTORY. 

war, including the Rev. Mark Leavenworth, who went as chap- 
lain. Another Waterbury man, Israel Calkins, played a part not 
altogether unimportant in shaping the course of events. When 
Fort William Henry, situated at the head of Lake George, was 
besieged, the English general, Webb, with an army of four 
thousand men, was at Fort Edward, fourteen miles away. In- 
stead of marching to the relief of the imperiled fort, General 
Webb wrote a letter to Colonel Monroe advising him to capitu- 
late. The messenger was interrupted by the Indian allies of 
Montcalm. But the French commander, thinking that the de- 
livery of the letter to Colonel Monroe would promote his own 
interests, forwarded it to its destination, and the surrender of 
the fort quickly followed. Now the messenger who carried the 
letter of General W^ebb was Israel Calkins of W^aterbury. 
After the surrender of the fort he remained in the hands of his 
Indian captors and was taken by them to Canada. Here he 
was " redeemed by a French gentleman," sent to France as a 
prisoner of war, and finally sent in a cartel-ship to England to 
be exchanged. He landed at Boston on the 6th of October, 
1758, and immediately petitioned the Legislature of Connecti- 
cut "for an allowance of wages during his captivity," and also 
a gratuity, in consideration of the severe calamities he had suf- 
fered, which, he affirmed, "were more than words can express 
or imagination paint." He speaks of his property as having 
been dissipated during his absence, and of his family as ex- 
tremely destitute, and "implores the pity and compassion of 
the honorable Assembly." His prayer was heard and thirty 
pounds were granted him. 

There is one more story belonging to the early history of 
Litchfield, which it is proper to record here. It illustrates, 
like other incidents which have been mentioned, the Indian 
mode of warfare, but at the same time brings to view some of 
the better traits of the Indian nature. It is taken, in a some- 
what abridged form, from the " Travels in New England and 
New York," of President Dwight of Yale College, who vouches' 
for its authenticity. 

Not many years after the settlement of Litchfield, a stranger 
Indian came one day to a tavern in the town, in the dusk of even- 
ing, and asked the hostess for some drink and a supper. He 



THE INDIAN AS A FRIEND. Ixxxix 

told her he could pay for neither, as he had had no success in 
hunting, but promised payment at some future time. The 
hostess refused him, called him a lazy, good-for-nothing fellow, 
and told him she did not work hard to throw away her earnings 
upon such creatures as he. A white man who sat by, saw in 
the Indian's face that he was suffering severely from want and 
weariness, and directed the woman of the house to feed him at 
his expense. 

When the Indian had finished his supper, he turned to his 
benefactor, thanked him, and assured him he would remember 
his kindness and if possible repay him for it. For the present 
he could only reward him with a story. "I suppose," said the 
Indian, " you read the Bible ? " The man assented. " Well," 
said he, "the Bible say, God made the world, and then he took 
him and looked on him, and say, ' It's all very good.' He made 
light, and took him and looked on him, and say, ' It's all very 
good.' Then he made dry land and water, and sun and moon, 
and grass and trees, and took him and looked on him, and say, 
' It's all very good.' Then he made beasts and birds and fishes, 
and took him and looked on him, and say, 'It's all very good.' 
Then he made man, and took him and looked on him and say, 
'It's all very good.' Then he made woman, and took him and 
looked on him ; and he no dare say one such word." 

Having told his story, the Indian withdrew, with a sly glance 
at the landlady. 

Some years after, the man who had befriended him, having 
occasion to go some distance into the wilderness between Litch- 
field and Albany, was taken prisoner by an Indian scout and 
hurried away to Canada. When he arrived at the principal 
seat of the tribe, on the southern bank of the St. Lawrence, it 
was proposed that he should be put to death ; but an old In- 
dian woman demanded that he should be given to her, that she 
might adopt him in place of a son whom she had lost in the 
war. He was given to her, and spent the succeeding winter in 
her family. The next summer, while at work alone in the for- 
est, an unknown Indian came to him and asked him to meet 
him at a place which he pointed out, on a given day. The cap- 
tive agreed to the proposal ; but before the day arrived, his ap- 
prehensions of intended mischief had increased to such a degree 



XC INDIAN HISTORY. 

that he determined not to keep the engagement. Soon after, 
the Indian found him at his work again, reproved him for break- 
ing his promise, and made another appointment with him for 
another day and hour. This time, the white man was true to 
his word. When he reached the spot, he found the Indian 
provided with two muskets, two knapsacks and ammunition for 
both. The Indian ordered him to follow him, and set off to- 
ward the south. Within a short time the white man's fears 
subsided, although his companion preserved a profound silence 
concerning the object of their expedition. In the day-time 
they shot such game as came in their way, and at night kin- 
dled a fire and slept by it. After a tedious journey of many 
days through the wilderness, they came one morning to an em- 
inence whence they beheld a cleared and partially cultivated 
country and a number of houses. The man knew his home; 
it was Litchfield ! His guide reminded him that some years 
before he had relieved the wants of a famished Indian at a tav- 
ern in that town, and said, " I that Indian ! now I pay you ! go 
home." Without another word he bade him farewell, and the 
white man hastened joyfully to his own house. 

The Indian looks out no more from any hill-top upon the 
cultivated fields of Litchfield, or any part of the valley which 
was once his own hunting ground. He is gone, and the suc- 
ceeding race is glad to be well rid of him. The only remains, 
except the title deeds and traditions to which reference has 
been made, are the few names of places which echo on the 
white man's lips the strange tones of their language, and the 
stone implements which are turned up by the plough in our 
fields. He is gone. But it is pleasant to think of him, the 
untutored child of the woods, and to reflect that he had much 
that was good in him, and not a little that is worthy of remem- 
brance. It may be hoped that what is here given will serve to 
interest us in his character and render us wiser and kinder in 
our estimate of those who bear the same name, who in the far 
West are still carrying on the same hopeless fight with the re- 
lentless forces of the Anglo-Saxon civilization. 



INDIAN NAMES. 



XCl 



INDIAN NAMES. 



The following Indian names are attached to deeds recorded 
in Derby, and three or four deeds in Stratford. Some of the 
different spellings are given : — 



Ackcutrout. 

Aennhe. 

Agonahog. 

Ahennosse, sagamore. 

Ahuntaway (Huntawa), sachem. 

Amonequon. 

Ansantaway (Ansantawa), sachem. 

Arkumi. 

Atownhood. 

Atrechanasett, Chetrenaset. 

Atterosse, sagamore. 

Caapatonce. 

Charles. 

Chawbrook (Chebrook). 

Cherakmath. 

Chesousamoke, sagamore. 

Chenamash. 

Chushamack, Cheshushumock, Cosho- 
shemack, Chushawmack, and prob- 
ably Momanchewaug alias Cush (or 
Chuse) at Pootatuck, sachem. 

Chetemhehu. 

Chickins. 

Chips. 

Cheroromogg. 

Cheshconeeg. 

Chuse, sachem. 

Cockapatana (Cockapatanay, Cockapa- 
tanah), sachem. 

Cockapatouch. 

Coskoske. 

Chubbs (Chupps). 

Creahore, brother of Puckwhompe, Cre- 
hero, Kehore (Kehow). 

Curens (Curex), 

Durgen. 

Hannah Tous. 

How.xon (Heu.xon). 

Husks. 

Indian Shot. 

Jacob. 

James. 

Johns. 

John Banks. 



John Cuckson, in 1731 (and John Cock- 
shure, in 1742. In a Waterbury 
deed, Cocoesen). 

John Howde, alias Towsowan, (the suc- 
cessor to Cockapatana). 

Ke Kesumun. 

Lyonson. 

Machet Numledge, Machetumhege. (Ma- 
chet means "bad.") 

Mamook. 

Manchero. 

Manomp. 

Mashekes. (Mashok-ees.) 

Matach (Mataret). 

Will Mashok. 

Mawquash. 

Melook Took (Tock). 

Meskilling (Skilling). 

Mohemat. 

Munsock. 

Musquatt. 

Nannatouse, son of Creahore. 

Nanavvaug (Nanawauk) sagamore. 

Nanatoush (Nanoques). 

Nasquero. 

Nebawkumme. 

Neighbor Putt. 

Nesinpas. 

Okenuck (Ochenung, Okenug, Okenac, 
Akenants, Ackenack), sachem. 

Oranquato. 

Oshoron. 

Pagahah. 

Pagasett James (Pagasite James). 

Papiscounos. 

Papuree. 

Pawanet (Paquonet) 

Peowse. 

Piunquesh. 

Pocono. 

Ponomskut. 

Poquanott. 

Pomuntock. 

Puckwhomp. 



XCll 



INDIAN HISTORY, 



Punwan. 

Pussecokes. 

Quoconoco. 

Raretoon. 

Rashkanoot (Rashkanute). 

Rawneton. 

Ringo. 

Robbin. 

Rowangasuck. 

Rourkowhough. 

Sagnett. 

Sasaoso (Sasaouson, Sassoughsough). 

Sashwake James (Susqua James). 

Sauquett. 

Sasepaquan (Sassapagrem, alias Piun- 

quesh). 
Sowsonnamon. 
Secochanneege. 
Shoot Horn. 
Shoran. 
Siacus. 
Sisovvecum. 
Squaw Sarah. 
Stastockham. 
Succuscoge. 
Suckcoe (Suckskow). 
Sui)kaquene. 

Tackamore, or Sackamore (Tatiymore). 
Tarshun (Tazchun). 
Tijackomo (Tisachomo). 
Thomassoot (Thomasseet). 
Towheag (Powheak). 
Tone. 



Toto. 

Jack Toto. 

John Toto. 

Will Toto. 

Tom (son of Cockapatana). 

Tom's Squaw. 

Totoquan. 

Towtanemo (Towtanamow, Towtanemoe, 

Tountonimo), sachem. 
Towsowwam, squaw. 
Untaguenock. 
Younkitihue. 
Yyou Pon (Yyouson). 
Wampegon, sachem. 
Wankascum. 
Warrashgonoot. 
Waskawakes, alias Tom. (Waskawases, 

possibly the same as Wasawas). 
Wasawas. 
Watakis (Wattaki). 
Watagunock (Wataquenock). 
Watiens. 
Waukacun. 
Wauwumpecum. 
Weepooks. 
Wequacuk. 
Weroces. 
Wesonco. 
Wetupaco. 
Will Doctor. 
Will Mashock, 
Winham. 
Wookpenos. 



The following names are found in deeds recorded in Water- 
bury, Litchfield and Farmington, relating to early sales of land 
in the upper Naugatuck valley. Some of them are included in 
the foregoing list, but are reproduced here because attached to 
a different series of deeds : — 



Alwaush, Awowas, Wawowas, Wowo- 

wis. 
Arumpiske, described as " Curan's 

squaw." 
Atumtacko, Atumtockquo (that is, Atum- 

patucko. He was the son of Pa- 

tucko). 
Aupkt, Abuck. 
Caranchaquo. 



Chere. 

Chusquanoag. 

Conquapatana (known as Konkapot). 
Cocapadous (that is, Konkapot-oos). 
Cocoeson. 

Corkscrew (elsewhere Coksure, Cotsure). 
Curan. 

Hachatowsock (elsewhere Hatchet Tou- 
sey .') 



NAMES OF PLACES. 



XClll 



James (Pagasset James). 

John a-Compound. 

Judas. 

Kehow, Kehore (elsewhere Creahore ?) 

Kekasahum. 

Mansumpansh. 

Mantow, Momantow. 

Maquash. 

Mattaneage. 

Mercy, described as " Sepus's squaw." 

Momantow's squaw. 

Nenapush squaw. 

Nesaheagun (perpetuated in the name 
of an Odd Fellows' Lodge as " No- 
sahogan " : the old style e was mis- 
taken for an o). 

Norkgnotonckquy. 

Notamunk, described as " Curan's sis- 
ter." 

Patucko, Patuckquo, Puttcko. 

Patucko's squaw. 

Petasus, described as "a [female] grand- 
child," probably of Awowas {^^ her 
mark"). 

Pethuzo. 

Poni. 



Quatowquechuck, described as " Tap- 
how's son." 

Querrimus, Queramousk. 

Quiump (elsewhere Aquiomp?). 

Sebocket (Aupkt, Abuck?). 

Sepunkum (elsewhere Wussebucome). 

Spinning Squaw. 

Suckquunockqueen (else where Wussockan- 
ockqueen; " Suckquunock's squaw" ?). 

Taphow. 

Tataracum. 

Tonhocks. 

Toweecume. 

Toxcronuck. 

Uncowate. 

Warun-Compound, described as " Nesa- 
heag's son." 

Wechamunck, described as " Cocoe- 
sen's sister." 

Wenuntacum. 

Weroamaug (elsewhere Waramaug). 

Werumcaske, described as "Cocoesen's 
sister." 

Wognacug. 

Wonposet. 



INDIAN NAMES OF PLACES. 



The following place-names, mostly in the Naiigatuck valley, 
are either of Indian origin or embody some reminiscence of 
the period of Indian occupancy. They are arranged geograph- 
ically, beginning at the lower end of the valley. 



POOTATUCK, POHDERTOKE, ETC. 

An ancient name of the (lower) Ousatunnock River ; also of a tribe of Indians ; 
also of a village on the same river; called later the " Pootatuck Wigwams'''' : at the 
present time it is the name of a brook which flows through the town of Newtown. 

Paugasuck, Pagasset, Pawgasett, etc. 

The original name of Derby, applied by Governor Eaton and others to the Ousa- 
tunnock River, perhaps also to the Naugatuck River. 

Squantuck, originally Wesquantook. 

A small place on the Ousatunnock, at the mouth of Four-Mile brook, in the town 
of Seymour ; the name also of the school-district in which it is situated. 

Hessekee Meadow. 

A meadow at Great Hill, about three miles below the village of Seymour. Hesse- 
kee Meadow Brook separates Seymour from Derby. 



XCIV INDIAN HISTORY. 

PUNKUPS. 

A small place on the Ousatunnock, at the mouth of Eight-Mile brook. Perhaps 
named after the Indian Puckwhoitip. 

Naugatuck, Nawcatock, etc. 

The original name of the spot where Seymour now stands; said to mean "one 
tree " — nequut tukh. At an early date it was applied to the River ("the river which 
Cometh from Nawcatock") by those in the lower part of the valley. The town to 
which the name is ftow attached was formed from Waterbury, Bethany and Oxford 
in 1844, and the "Naugatuck Railroad Company" was incorporated in 1845. 

Chuse-town. 

The name given to Seymour when it was the camping-ground of Joe Chuse 
(Joseph Mauwee/iti) and his band, and by which the place was known until it became 
Humphreysville. 

Indian Field and Indian Hill. 

Localities in the village of Seymour, a little north of the Falls. The Hill is on 
the south part of the Field. 

RiMMON Falls and Rock Rimmon. 

The Falls are at the centre of Seymour ; Rock Rimmon is the name of a bold 
and craggy hill on the east side of the Naugatuck, near Pines Bridge. The names 
are probably not of Indian origin. 

Jack's Brook. 

A tributary of Little River, in Oxford. It is supposed to have been so called 
after an Indian who bore the English name of Jack. 

Skokorat, originally Scucurra. 

A long hill or ridge to the east of the Naugatuck, about a mile back from the 
river, and lying parallel to it, and along Bladen's brook. Also called " Snake Hill" 
(the Indian for "snake " is askug). 

Nyumphs. 

A school district in the town of Beacon Falls, about two miles back from the 
Naugatuck. In a Stralford deed of 1659 the name Nayump is attached to a "small 
river " emptying into the Pootatuck, apparently some miles below Derby. 

Hockanum. 

A brook which flows southward and empties into Lebanon brook about a mile 
east of where the latter empiies into the Naugatuck, at Beacon Falls. (There is a 
Hockanum river that empties into the Cunneclicut at East Hartford.) The base of 
the name is Hocqican, meaning " hook-shaped." 

Toby's Rocks. 

A precipitous ledge on the west side of the Naugatuck, the northern extremity of 
which is now known as " High Rock." It extends about a mile southward from 
"High Rock Grove," at Sherman's brook. The name was derived from an Indian 
who was once the slave of Colonel Ebenezer Johnson, and to whom land was 
deeded by the town of Derby. 

Lopus. 

A plain in the north-west part of the town of Beacon Falls; also called Loper's 
plain ; probably not an lad. an name. 



NAMES OF PLACES. XCV 

TOWANTUCK, TOANTICK. 

A pond on the borders of Oxford. The name occurs, along with nineteen others, 
designating small parcels of land in the southern part of Mattatuck (the original 
town of Waterbury) in a deed of 1685. The other names, now obsolete, are as 
follows : 

Wecobemeas. 

" The land upon the brook or small river that comes through the Straight north- 
ward of Lebanon [at Straitsville ?], and runs into Naugatuck river at south end of 
Mattatuck bounds, called by the English Beacon Hill brook." 

Pacawackuck or Agawacomuck. 

Watapeck. 

Pacaquarock. 

Megunhattacke. 

Musquauke. 

Mamusquake. 

Squapmasutte. 

Wachu (the "mountain," probably Beacon Hill). 

These "nine parcels of land lie on the east side of the Naugatuck river, betwixt 
Beacon Hill brook and the hither end of Judd's meadow." (Deed of 16S5.) 

Sqontk, the same as Squantuck. 

This name, which has occurred before, is the name given in the deed to "the 
hither end of Judd's meadow." The ten names which follow, together with To- 
■wantiick, designate " eleven parcels of land on the west side " of the Naugatuck. 

suracasks. 

Petowtucki. 

Wequaruush. 

Capage. 

cocumpasuck. 

Megenhuttack. 

Panoetan (perhaps Panootan.) 

Mattuckhott. 

Cocacoks. 

Gawuskesucks. 

Achetaqopag or Maruscopag. 

These are the two names given in the deed of 1685 to the point at which the 
eastern boundary line crosses the Naugatuck. In both the name Capage, given 
above, reappears — which stands perhaps for ktippo-oke, meaning "narrow place" — 
possibly the narrows in the river at Beacon Hill. 

Mattatuck. 

The old name of Waterbury, designating a territory of much greater extent than 
the present town. It has survived until recently as a name of East Litchfield. In 
the earliest records it is Mattetackoke {Malta-tiihk-ohke), meaning perhaps "place with- 
out trees." 



XCVl INDIAN HISTORY. 

KiSSEWAUG. 

A name said to belong to Long Meadow Pond, which empties by Long Meadow 
Brook into the Naugatuck at Naugatuck village. 

Malmanack. 

A locality in Waterbury, lying south-west of the Town Plot, about two miles 
from the centre of the city. It is a high ridge or knoll, said to have been the site 
of an Indian camping-ground. 

Manhan. 

The spot known as " the Manhan," lies half a mile west of Centre Square, Water- 
bury, on both sides of West Main street. It was originally an island — whence the 
name. The name was taken some years ago by a manufacturing company. 

Oronoke (the same as Orenaug, Waronoco, etc.) 

A school district in the western part of Waterbury, extending from Westside Hill 
to Middlebury. 

Saul's Swamp. 

A swamp lying about half a mile from the Park Road, in the western part of 
Waterbury ; so named from Saul, one of the Indians who lingered in " the Park " 
until recent times. 

QUASSAPAUG. 

This beautiful lake can hardly be said to be in the Naugatuck valley, as it flows 
through Eight-Mile brook into the Ousatunnuck, but it is much visited by Water- 
bury people. Mr. Cothren, in his History of Woodbury, gives the meanings " Rocky 
Pond " and " Beautiful clear water." Possibly the name represents quunosii-paiig, 
that is " Pickerel Pond " (compare Mr. Cothren's reference to the fishing there). 

Abrigador. 

A high hill half a mile south-east of the centre of Waterbury, now a thickly set- 
tled district of the city. The name is sometimes supposed to be of Indian deriva- 
tion ; but it seems to be a Spanish word {abrigado) meaning " a place of shelter." 
The occurrence of a Spanish name in such a connection is remarkable, and invites 
investigation. There is a cleft rock on the south-west side of the hill which used 
to be called the Indian's House. 

Tucker's Ri.ng and Ptuckering Road. 

" Tucker's Ring " is a locality on the borders of Waterbury and Wolcott. It is 
so calltd from Po/ucko, one of the signers of the first Waterbury deed, who is said 
to have kindled a fire in the form of a large ring around a hill, in hunting deer, and 
to have perished within it. (It is at least a curious coincidence that in the Indian 
language /'//^/(•^/ means "round.") 

Jack's Cave. 

A large shelving rock, in the town of Wolcott, on the old Indian trail from Far- 
mington to Waterbury, where the Indians used to encamp at night. 

WOODTICK. 

A district on the borders of Wolcott, commonly supposed to have been so called 
from an insect of that name. (For the tradition, see Orcuti's History of Wolcott, 
note on p. 182.) As it is no special honor to a place to be named after an insect too 
insignificant to be mentioned in Web^tcr's " Unabridged," no harm will be done by 
suggesting that the name is of Indian origin. At all events, wudtuckqun, in Roger 



NAMES OF PLACES. XCVll 

Williams's " Key " means "a piece of wood," and in Eliot's Bible Wtittuk means a 
" branch " or " bough," hence " wood for burning." 

-Spinning Squaw's Land. 

A locality in the north part of Watcrbury, apparently well known in early times, 
and mentioned in one of the first deeds. 

Wigwam Swamt. 

Also in the north part of Waterbury, drained by a stream which empties into 
Hancock brook, and thus into the Naugatuck at Waterville. 

The Wigwam. 

The name given to a strip of land about a mile long, lying along the West 
Branch of the Naugatuck, which empties near Reynolds Bridge. It is said to have 
been the residence of an Indian in late years. The West Branch used to be called 

VVigwaiii Brook. 

Bantam. 

The original name of Litchfield, which still survives in Bantam River, Lake, 
Falls, and Village. There has been much discussion as to whether the name is of 
Indian derivation or not. Its origin is shrouded in mystery. 

Red Mountain. 

One of the hills of Torrington ; the southern end of the oblong hill which lies 
between the east and west branches of the Naugatuck. The name is said to be de- 
rived from the fact that, previous to the settlement of the town, a white man shot 
an Indian on this mountain. (See Orcutt's History of Torrington, note on p. 169.) 

Shawngum. 

The name of a hill and a valley in Torrington, above Wolcottville. The hill 
rises from a plateau between the east branch of the Naugatuck and Still River. 
The valley to which the name is attached lies along these two streams. " It was 
originally called the Shaiinigitvi valley after an Indian, or an Indian tradition." 

M 






^->^^^^^ (54,^>^^.^S 



HISTORY OF DERBY 




CHAPTER I. 

PAUGASUCK AND PAUGASSETT. 
1 642- 1 674. 

ERBY is situated at the junction of the Ousatonic 
and Naugatuck Rivers, nine miles by the old turn- 
pike road from New Haven and thirteen miles from 
Bridgeport on Long Island Sound. The land at this, 
place, lying between these rivers, is formed by high rocky 
bluffs on the Ousatonic, and, in the general, descends gradually 
towards the Naugatuck, and to the Point whereon is situated 
the village of Birmingham, and is one of the most beautiful 
locations for a city, in either the valley of the Ousatonic or 
Naugatuck Rivers. The land east of the Naugatuck rises 
eastward gradually, except at the lower portion where it is a 
liftle abrupt and culminates in what has been called, from the 
earliest settlement. Sentinel Hill,^ from which a most charming 
view of Long Island Sound and the surrounding country may 
be had. The portion of land between the rivers in the rear of 
Birmingham has been called the Neck from the first laying out 
of farms in that quarter. Northward of the Neck the territory 
of the original town is hilly, and Great Hill being the largest 
elevated portion was well named, and the most elevated part of 
it affords one of the finest views of the surrounding country 
and the Sound, that there is in the State. 

The course of the Naugatuck through the town is south, that 
of the Ousatonic, on the western boundary, south-east, and 
these rivers, after their union, form a beautiful water view, from 
Birmingham, of nearly three miles in extent, closed in on each 
side by wooded hills. 

1 The story that Sentinel Hill was so named from sentinels being stationed on it 
in the Revolution, to watch war vessels on the Sound cannot be true, since the name 
is recorded more than a hundred years before the Revolution. 



2 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

The territory of the town as granted by the General Court 
in 1675, and for which a satisfactory charter was not obtained 
until 1720, extended from Two Mile Brook on the south, twelve 
miles northward, and on the southern boundary, eastward from 
the Ousatonic two and a half miles, and on the northern bound- 
ary seven and a half miles, making an area of about fourteen 
thousand acres, in the original township. At present, however, 
the extent of territory does not equal half the original, by reason 
of parts having been taken to form other towns. 

In 1642, four years only after the settlement of New Haven, 
some workmen were employed by Mr. John Wakeman of New 
Haven^ within this territory, now known as Derby, but then 
called Paugasuck by the Indians, and afterwards named Pau- 
gassett by the English, and because thus employed, they were 
excused from standing on night guard for the protection of 
New Haven. The object of Mr. Wakeman in this work appears 
to have been the biiilding of a trading house for the establish- 
ment of direct mercantile relations with the Indians in the 
valleys of these rivers, and perhaps to secure trade with the 
Mohawk Indians also. 

This was the beginning of the Englishman's work on these 
hills and along these rivers, and the end to which this work lifts 
now come is to be the story of this book. The present number 
of inhabitants is about ten thousand ; in i860, it was 5,443, and 
in 1870, 8,027. 

At this mercantile enterprise at Paugasuck, the suspicious 
and eager Dutchman, holding the honorable position of gov- 
ernor of New York, took exceptions in 1646, and sent a charac- 
teristic letter to the governor of New Haven. The action of 
the New Haven court in regard to this deliverance is thus re- 
corded : "A protest from the Dutch Governor was read in court 
and an answer to the same sent, and directions given to them 
that keep the trading house. And it was fully and satisfyingly 
voted, that the court would make good their titles here, and at 
the trading house, and leave the issue of things to God, what- 
ever they may be."^ 

As these letters are in reality a part of the history of Derby, 

^New Haven Col. Rcc, I. 74. 
^Xcw Haven Col. Rcc, I. 265. 



THE TRADING HOUSE. 3 

the one containing remarkable geographical inaccuracies, the 
other, an illustration of pure Pilgrim independency and clever- 
ness, they are given in full. 

The protest came in Latin, and the reply was made in the 
same. 

THE governor's LETTER. 

'' We Willyam Kieft, General Director, and the Senate of New Neth- 
erland, for the high and mighty Lords the States of the United Belgicke 
Provinces for his excellency the Prince of Orange and for the most 
noble Lords the Administrators of the West India Company. To 
thee, Theophilus Eaton, Govenor of the place by us called the Red 
Hills in New Netherland, (but by the English called New Haven.) we 
give notice, That some years past, your's, without any occasion given 
by us, and without any necessity imposed upon them, but with an un- 
satiable desire of possessing that which is ours, against our protestations, 
against the law of nations, and against the antient league betwixt the 
king's majesty of Great Britain and our Superiors, have indirectly 
entered the limits of New Netherland, usurped divers places in them 
and have been very injurious unto us. neither have they given satisfac- 
tion though often required. And because you and yours have of late 
determined to fasten your foot near Mauritius River in this Province, 
an^ there not only to disturb our trade of no man hitherto questioned, 
and to draw it to yourselves, but utterly to destroy it, we are compelled 
again to protest, and by these presents we do protest against you as 
against breakers of the peace and disturbers of the public quiet, that if 
you do not restore the places you have usurped and repair the loss we 
have suffered, we shall by such means as God affords, manfully recover 
them, neither do we think this crosseth the public peace, but shall cast 
the cause of the ensuing evil upon you. 

'•'Given in Amsterdam Fort, Aug. 3, 1646, new styl. 

"WiLLVAM Kieft." 

THE REPLY. 

" To the Right Wor". Wm. Kieft, Govenor of the Dutch in New 
Netherland, 

"Sir: By some of yours I have lately received a protest under your 
hand dated August the 3, 1646. wherein you pretend we liave indirectly 
entered the limits of New Netherland, usurped divers places in them, 
and have offered you many injuries ; thus in general and in reference 
to some years past, more particularly to the disturbance, nay to the 



4 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Utter destruction of your trade, we have lately set foot near Mauritius 
river in that Province. 

" We do truly profess we know no such river, neither can we conceive 
what river you intend by that name, unless it be that which the English 
have long and still do call Hudson's River. Nor have we at any time 
formerly or lately entered upon any place to which you had or have 
any title, nor in any other respect been injurious to you. It is true we 
have lately upon Paugassett River, which falls into the sea in the midst 
of these English plantations, built a small house within our own limits, 
many miles, nay leagues from the Manhattoes, from your trading house 
and from any p;irt of Hudsons River, at which we expect a little trade, 
but can compel none ; the Indians being free to trade with you, us. 
Connecticut, Massachusetts or with any other, nor did we build there 
till we had first purchased a due title from the true proprietors. What 
injuries and outrages in our persons and estates, at Manhattoes. in 
Deleware River, &c., we have received from you, our former letters and 
protest do both declare and prove, to all which you have hitherto given 
very unsatisfying answers, but whatever our losses and sufferings have 
been, we conceive we have neither done or returned anything, even to 
this very day. but what doth agree with the law of nations, and with 
that ancient confederation and amity betwixt our superiors at home. 
So that we shall readily refer all questions and differences betwixt you 
and us, even from first to last, to any due hearing, examination and 
judgment, either here or in England, and by these presents we do refer 
them, being well assured that his majesty, our Sovereign Lord Charles. 
King of Great Britain and the Parliament of England now assembled 
will maintain their own right and our just liberties against any who by 
unjust encroachment shall wrong them or theirs, and that your own 
principal upon a due and mature consideration, will also see and ap- 
prove of the righteousness of our proceedings. 

*' New Haven in New England. 

"Aug. 12, 1646, old style. ^ T. Eaton." 



A FURTHER REFERENCE TO THE TRADING HOUSE. 

Van der Donck, as cited by O'Callaghan, History of New Nether- 
land, vol. I. 375, says, in allusion to this post: "The English of New 
Haven have a trading post on the east or south-east side of Magdalen 
Island, not more than six (Dutch) miles from the North River, for this 
island lies towards the upper part of the North River, twenty-three 



■•Xew Fiaven CV)1. Rec. I. 265-6. 



THE TRADING HOUSE. 5 

(Dutch) miles and a half higher up than Fort Amsterdam, on the east 
bank.'" 

Hence it may be concluded that hereafter it will be in order 
for the people of this locality to represent themselves as resid- 
ing either at Mauritius, or Magdalen Island, or Birmingham, 
whichever they prefer ! 

In this correspondence several items of history are estab- 
lished ; that, notwithstanding the error as to locality, there was 
a trading house in 1646, at Paugasuck on the "east side of the 
island" or Point, and that the New Haven court determined to 
maintain it, and make sure the title. No Indian deed of the 
sale of this land at that date is now to be found, but a purchase 
was made before 1646, as stated by Governor P2aton, "and it 
was fully and satisfyingly voted, that the court would make 
good their title at the trading house," or in other words, main- 
tain their rights. This house stood on the east side of Birming- 
ham point, and the vessels sailed up to it, for trading purposes, 
as the bed of the Naugatuck River passed close to the bank at 
that time. 

An Indian deed recorded in Stratford, dated 1671, says : 
" Who are right owners of one island in the great river Oante- 
nock where Mr. Goodyear had a trading house." Mr. Goodyear 
and Mr. Wakeman were partners in this trading post, and being 
referred to in so early a deed confirms the other writings copied, 
and determines the location, without any doubt, for no other 
trading house was established in this region nearer than Milford. 

Paugasuck, then, for this is the spelling adopted much of the 
time by the best writers in recording the acts of the place and 
town, was the name of the locality now called Birmingham, but 
afterwards was applied to the village east of the Naugatuck ; 
the Paugasuck River is now the Naugatuck, and the Pootatuck 
is now the Ousatonic. These items should be remembered in 
reading the Indian deeds. 

The work, and the trading house, and the mercantile enter- 
prise continued, probably, without interruption with some suc- 
cess, until April, 1654, when the record of the New Haven 
court was made as follows : " Mr. Goodyear was desired to in- 
forme those of Newhaven which have part of Paugaset with him, 



HISTORY OF DERBY. 

that the court expects an answer from them, at the general 
court in May next, whether they will put the said place under 
this jurisdiction or no."'^ But no report was made at the speci- 
fied time, and the matter passed until May, 1655, when inquiry 
was made concerning it, and "Mr. Wakeman one of the owners, 
. . desired a little respite before he gives answer. The gov- 
ernor informed the court that Richard Baldwin, if not some 
others of Milford, had been with him and desired liberty from 
the court to buy some land of the Indians about Paugaset, but 
the magistrate and deputies for Milford desired they might not 
have leave till they more fully understand the mind of their 
town, to whom they think it will be offensive if granted." 

Before the meeting of the Court in the next October, Richard 
Baldwin and others had purchased of Mr. Goodyear his claims 
at Paugasuck, and at that session of the Court the subject came 
up and Mr. Baldwin made reply, that they desired to inform the 
Court " that they arc thankful that the court will take that 
matter into their consideration, and that they are very willing 
and desirous to have it under this jurisdiction upon the consid- 
erations hereafter expressed." 

The conclusion of the Court was rendered in nearly the 
words of the considerations specified. They say, "that they 
had considered the several things propounded, and according to 
their desire they do accept him and the rest of the company, 
(whose names were now given)** and the place called Paugas- 
sett,^ under the jurisdiction, and from henceforward shall look 
upon it as a part thereof. 

"And first, the court gives liberty that if the place upon se- 
rious view be found fit for a small village, they grant them 
liberty so to be, without being under New Haven or Milford. 

"They do also condescend that they shall have liberty to pur- 
chase what lands they can of the Indians suitable to this village 
intended, provided it be without prejudice to these two planta- 
tions, or to the hindering of any other plantation that may be 
set up hereafter furthei- into the country. 



^New Haven Col. Rec. II. 77. 
•^Biit not recorded. 

"Hence the Knglish name is Paugassett, because so stated by the Court, but the 
Indian name was Paugasuck, as given by the best spellers for 100 years. 



NAMED PAUGASSETT. J 

" They are willing that one from among themselves, such as 
the court shall approve of, shall be entrusted with power and 
authority to call meetings, execute warrants, moderate in cases 
of difference, and take the best course he can to carry on things 
in an orderly and peaceable way. 

•' They are content that what estate they have wholly em- 
ployed at Paugassett shall be rate free for three years. 

" Which things were thankfully received, and Paugassett de- 
clared to be under and a part of this jurisdiction. 

" Richard Baldwin was now appointed to be the man to carry 
On the trust before mentioned, he also now declared that they 
did intend to purchase large tracts of land of the Indians, but 
when they had done they should submit it all to this court to 
allot them out such a proportion as should be thought meet for 
them."* 

Under such considerations and grants the village of Paugas- 
sett seemed prepared to grow into a prosperous plantation, and 
had there been no opposition just at that time when the spirit 
of enterprise was fresh and courageous, there might have been 
more progress made in ten years than was made in forty, as it 
was. The next spring the people of Milford, headed by their 
minister. Rev. Mr. Pruden, appeared at court and made remon- 
strance to the following effect : " The magistrate and deputies 
for Milford objected against it, and Mr. Pruden on behalf of 
their town declared that it would be very prejudicial to Milford 
several ways, so much as they could not comfortably carry on 
their occasions there by reason of the straitness of accommoda- 
tions for commonage for their cattle which they should suffer, 
by reason that Stratford river and New Haven bounds do so 
confine them to so narrow a compass, all which were duly con- 
sidered, as also that Richard Baldwin and others concerned in 
Paugassett did say, . . but after much time spent in many 
debates about it, the court saw that there was not like to 
be a comfortable closing betwixt them if the planting of Pau- 
gassett went on as had been intended, wherefore it was pro- 
pounded to both parties that those concerned in Paugassett 
would resign their purchase to Milford, they paying them for 



8N. H. Col. Rcc. II. 155-7. 



8 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

the same, and that the town of Milford would accommodate 
those of their town, that did intend to sit down at Paugassett, 
with comfortable accommodations for their subsistence." 

It will be seen by these records that Milford makes no claim 
of property right in the land then owned by Richard Baldwin 
and his company at Paugassett, but that Milford needed it for 
general accommodations, and that the town would purchase it, 
and it is probably true that Milford never owned a rod square 
of the territory granted by the Legislature to constitute the 
original town of Derby. 

In those days cattle constituted a large part of the wealth of, 
and subsistence for, the people, as will be hereafter seen, and 
the meadow lands and Indian fields of Paugassett offered large 
assistance in sustenance for the herds, and this was one reason 
why the establishment of a village was proposed at that time ; 
for such an enterprise could much more easily succeed where 
there were meadows already cleared and supplying quantities 
of grass. 

This question came up again in court in the spring of 1657, 
when the Paugassett company had offered to deliver their in- 
terests to Milford on terms which seemed to be reasonable, but 
which had been rejected, upon which the court desired to know 
the terms, and they were presented in writing, "which the court 
considered of, and thought them reasonable, with something 
added which they acquainted him [Mr. Baldwin] with, and to 
which for himself and the rest he consented, and therefore upon 
the terms hereafter expressed, they desire Milford and they 
may join in a loving \vay, but if Milford refuse, it is likely New 
Haven will accept them." 

First, that they have liberty to buy the Indians' land behind 
them (that is over Naugatuck river" and not toward New 
Haven bounds, and also above them northward up into the 
country). 

Secondly, that according to the number of persons there in- 
terested, they shall bear their equal share of men which shall 
be pressed to any public service. 



^All the land owned by Baldwin's company at this time lay east of the Xaugatuck 
River. 



PLAN OF UNION. 9 

Thirdly, that they be free from all such rates which particu- 
larly concern the town of Milford, paying the jurisdiction rates 
and to the maintenance of the ministry at Milford so long as 
they enjoy the same, and a share toward the magistrate when 
Milford shall agree upon any allowance to that end, and their 
part of common charges about the meeting-house for the future 
while they stand a part of Milford, and to bear their share 
toward the killing of wolves and foxes, and if there be any 
other questions hereafter which is not now thought of and de- 
termined, it shall be considered and issued by this general 
Court, as also how long they shall continue a part of Milford or 
New Haven, and when it is fit they should be a village of them- 
selves." 

At the same time it was ordered concerning the boundaries, 
that, "The bounds of their land with reference to Milford is 
agreed, that toward Milford, betwixt their purchase and a brook 
now called Steephill brook, runing into Paugassett river, a 
division be equally made runing a line eastward, the one-half 
next Milford to lie to Milford common, and the other half next 
their purchase, to go to them for common ; also to run a line 
from their purchase, thereabout where their houses stand, cross 
to the line betwixt New Haven and Milford where it is con- 
ceived it will meet with Paugassett path, or thereabout, and 
then divide it in the middle north and south, and leave that 
part to Milford common next to New Haven line, and that part 
to Paugassett that is next them."'" 

These boundaries give us important information, namely 
that at this time, March, 1657, there were "houses" on this 
land standing at what is now known as Riggs Hill. The 
record says : " a line from their purchase " [the northeast 
corner of it,] "thereabout where their houses stand, cross 
to the line betwixt New Haven and Milford, where it is con- 
ceived it will meet with [coinside with] Paugassett path," which 
as we shall see was at that place. Dividing this territory 
as proposed, from north to south would leav.e a strip of land on 
the east side o£ the Naugatuck river about two miles long and 
two miles and a half wide, and the river meadows. This truly 



»N. H. Col. Rec. ii, 222. 



lO HISTORY OF DERBY. 

would have made a "village" of the whole plantation, and a 
small one at that, covering one hill on the east bank of the 
river. This indicates the restricted opinions those people had 
of the territory necessary for the support of a few families, by 
the cultivation of the soil. Send ten old farmers, such as 
Derby had a hundred years later, to consider such a proposition 
of planting a colony on such a garden patch and they would 
throw up their hats and laugh the thing to scorn, with a relish. 

The truth is, these men were practically merchants and 
tradesmen, and knew very little about farming, as all their work 
shows. Doctor John Hull, who, thirty years later on removing 
to Wallingford, received a little friendly present of over a mile 
square, or seven hundred acres of land, nearly one-fourth of 
the size of this proposed Paugassett wilderness garden patch ! 

And what kind neighbors these Paugassett planters had ! If 
Milford would not accept of this big slice instead of the whole, 
New Haven would, especially if she could secure in the same 
bargain those who would live on the borders and kill the 
" wolves and the foxes ! " 

However, these delays and baitings did not entirely subdue 
the spirit of enterprise and activity, for, while Milford was 
dreaming about this matter, and New Haven was waiting for 
her to wake out of sleep, Lieut. Thomas Wheeler of Stratford 
makes a purchase or rather accepts a gift of land, in May, 1657, 
on the point where Birmingham now stands, and thereby com- 
pletely disarranges the plans and dispels the dreams of Paugas- 
sett's loving neighbors. No skillfully planned campaign of a 
great war general could have perfected the defeat of a contend- 
ing army more decidedly than did this Lieutenant Wheeler, 
wheeling into the Great Neck, at this time, the counsels of 
Milford and the New Haven court. His deed received from 
the Indians reads in part as follows, it being the first Indian 
deed given that is now to be found of lands in Derby : 

" This present writing" witnesseth that I Towetanome Sagamore att 
pagaset & Raskonate with y* consent of all Pagaset indians Doe frely 



"There are given two or three specimens of the spelling and manner of writing, 
but beyond that, while the words of the original will be carefully given, all else will 
be in modern stvle. 



FIRST INDIAN DEED. II 

& fully make over from us our Heirs & asigns & Doe freely give 
apercell of land lying bee Twene Poodertoke River & Nagatuck River, 
Podertoke River bounding it on the Southwest, Nagatuck River north- 
east; & Bounded on y'' northwest with trees marked by ourselves & 
other indians ; To Thomas Wheeler of Stratford his Heires & asigns for 
ever quiatly to possess it & doe ffree y* said land from all claims of 
any indian or indians ; & this afore said land wee doe freely give to the 
afore said Thomas Wheeler & his Heires for ever upon condition that 
hee come to live on it himself; & if the said Thomas Wheeler seles 
the said land it must be to such a man as wee like ; in witness here of 
we have sett toe our hands ; May, 1657. 

In presents of Towetanamow, his mark 

Ruth Wheeler, her mark Raskenute, his mark 

Timothy Wheeler. Waampegon, his mark 

Manomp, his mark 

James, his mark" 

This same land with these precise words of boundary was again 
deeded to Thomas Wheeler " to have it recorded to him and his heirs 
according to the laws and customs of the English . . this 20th of 
April, 1659. 

Subscribed in the The mark of Towtanamow, 

presence of us Pagahah, his mark 

John Wheeler Pagasite James, his mark 

Richard Harvee Munsock, his mark 

Thomas Uffott Sasaouson, his mark " 

John Curtiss 
John Minor. 

In May, 1658, Thomas Wheeler applied to the New Haven 
court to have this land taken under that jurisdiction, "upon 
the same terms which those other proprietors, at or near Pau- 
gassett were received," to which the court answered that they 
" do incline to his motion, but desired first to speak with Lieuten- 
ant Wheeler himself, before they give a full answer in the 
case." At the same time the court having some information as 
to questions about the taxes ordered that, "for the cattle which 
are for the most part at Paugassett, belonging to the settled in- 
habitants there, rates are to be paid to ye jurisdiction only," 
and Lieutenant Treat and Ensign Bryan of Milford were re- 
quired to send a list of them to the treasurer at New Haven ; 



12 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

the which list if only it had been preserved would furnish us 
with the names of those settlers then there. 

What were the precise relations of Paugassett for several 
years is not stated in the records. It had been regularly ac- 
cepted as a village or plantation by the New Haven court, and 
then that decision informally suspended and negotiations en- 
tered, to make some new combination, but the language of 
Thomas Wheeler in the above application indicates that he sup- 
posed they were a separate plantation under the New Haven 
jurisdiction. 

In May, 1659, Edward Wooster desired to know where and 
of whom he should receive pay for seven wolves he had killed 
at or near Paugassett. He was told that " if Paugassett stand 
in relation to Milford as a part of them, then he is to receive 
his pay there, but if they stand as a plantation or village of 
themselves, then they themselves must bear it ; nevertheless, 
it being thought by some that both New Haven and Milford 
have benefit by killing wolves at Paugassett, it was agreed that 
it should be recommended to both the towns to see what would 
be freely given him in recompence of his service in thus doing." 

"Edward Wooster was also told [by the court] that the en- 
couragement given to the proprietors at Paugassett was in 
reference to a village to be settled there, which the court now 
saw no likelihood of, and in the way they were in they saw not 
how they could attend their duty in reference to the Sabbath, 
being at such a distance from the means, which the court would 
consider of ; which being debated and considered, it was or- 
dered that if the place called Paugasset become not a village to 
the purposes formerly expressed by the court, betwixt this and 
the General Court in May next, that the place shall be deserted 
in reference to settled habitation." 

But Edward Wooster was not the man to be discouraged by 
the high authority of New Haven court, any more than to be 
frightened at the wolves on Sentinel hill or those other gentle 
cubs from Bear swamp. He intended a life work of honor and 
success, and being on the ground had no thought, apparently, 
of leaving. So also was Richard Baldwin, although residing at 
Milford, struggling manfully against great odds, but was making 
progress, slowly. The court had done the most discouraging 



NEW HAVEN COURT. I^ 

thing that could have been done, by suspending its decree of 
independency and protection, at the moment when the courage 
of the company was most enterprising and hopeful, but now it 
saw fit to complain of these men. Especially was this true the 
next May (1660), when Richard Baldwin, having made another 
purchase, desired it to be connected with Paugassett, " where 
some further preparations had been made this winter by fenc- 
ing, for the carrying on a village which they intended to pursue." 
This application Milford opposed, " since it would straiten 
their plantation if that should be granted." This w^as about 
Hog meadow, and to Milford Mr. Baldwin replied " that either 
it be an appendix to Paugassett, or as he is a planter at Milford 
he may enjoy it, or if Milford have it he may have a valuable 
consideration for it." Upon which the most frank and honest 
clerk of the New Haven court recorded, " Concerning which 
meadow the court did nothing at this time, but the order made 
(in 1658) was read and they were told that this matter of Pau- 
gassett had been four or five years under consideration, and 
that the court had been often exercised with it, and it was now 
expected that they should have heard that Paugassett had been 
in a settled way to the ends propounded, before this time ; but 
when the return is given they only say, they have done some- 
thing about fencing, and so it is delayed from court to court 
and held in a dallying way for four or five years together." 
Nobody had been " in a dallying way " but the court ! The 
misfortune is that that was not the last old granny court that 
ever sat in America ! To this wonderful eloquence of the court 
Sargent Baldwin replied, " that he was hindered by obstruc- 
tions he had met with by the ordinary [tavern] at Milford and 
by sickness the last summer." Whereupon the court declared, 
"that they would make trial one year more, but if Paugassett 
become not a village by that time, what was ordered last year, 
they expected to be attended, and that if the work go not on 
in the meantime to the satisfaction of the court of magistrates 
in October next Edward Wooster, with any other that is there, 
shall be removed and not suffered to live in such an unsatisfy- 
ing way as now they do." While making this wonderful de- 
liverance, the court must have forgotten all about the seven 
wolves, besides foxes and bears that Edward Wooster was kill- 



14 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

ing per year, " to the benefit " of other people, while living 
alone ten miles in the wilderness ! 

From 1660 to 1664, Paugassett taxes were received separately 
from Milford or any other place. The amount of these taxes for 
three years was, in 1660, jQi 8s. 8d. ; in 1661, ;!{^i 6s. 2d. ; in 
1662, ^i 1 8s. 5d. 

On the second of March, 1660, another flank movement was 
made by which Richard Baldwin secured advantage to his com- 
pany, as will be seen by the following deed : 

"At a meeting of Towtanimoe, Sagamore of ' Pawgasutt ' together 
with some other Paugassett Indians his subjects, at the house of Kich- 
ard Baldwin of Milford, Mar. 2, 1659-60: The said Sagamore did 
grant . . the meadow known and denominated by the name of Hogg 
meadow . . unto Richard Baldwin, . . agreeing also to sell other 
lands when Paugasuck should become settled. And likewise doth en- 
gage in the meantime not to make over, sell or dispose of any land . . 
between the west branch of Milford Mill river and Pootatuck river east 
and west, and from the little river on the north side of Grassy hill and 
so northward unto the hither end of the place commonly called Deer's 
Delight, unto any other persons whatsoever. 

Towtanimoe, his mark. Secochanneege, his mark. 

James, his mark. Sassaughsough, his mark. 

Chub, his mark. Wauwumpecun, his mark. 

Succuscoge, his mark." 

In September, 1661, Richard Baldwin made another purchase 
of "all the upland adjacent to Hogg meadow."'- This purchase 
completed the Paugassett territory eastward and made the plan- 
tation of some considerable extent. 



i2Sept. 6, 1661, 
Towtanimoe deeded to Richard Baldwin, "all the upland adjacent to Hogg 
meadow, to begin at Milford line on the south side, and the north side goeth up 
to the path which goeth from Pagasett to New Haven ; and the west side from 
Milford line where the cartway now is that goeth over the brook which is on the 
north side of Grassy Hill, and so broad as it is there, to Milford Mill river, the same 
breadth it is to run from the said Mill river at Pagasett path on the north side to- 
wards Pagasett; also all the great swamp that lieth on the east side of said Mill 
river from Milford line northward and eastward, unto the utmost bounds of it. 

Towtanimoe, his mark. 

Younkitihue, his mark. 

Towheage, his mark." 



BIRMINGHAM POINT. I 5 

Another deed, given to Thomas Wheeler, was executed as 
follows : 

"April! 4, 1664. This may certify that I, Okenuck, Sachem of Pau- 
gassett, have sold Thomas Wheeler of Paugassett an Island lying in the 
river called ' Podertock ' river, lying before his house, southward from his 
house, containing three or four acres. The said Thomas Wheeler, in 
consideration is to pay me two yards of cloth and two pair of breeches 
" Witness the mark of 

Okenuck, Sachem. 

Ansantaway, his mark. 
Agonahog, his mark." 

Lieut. Thomas Wheeler settled on his land on the Point, 
probably in the spring of 1657, and remained there until the 
winter or spring of 1664, when he removed to Stratford, and in 
the following June sold this farm, containing as the deed says, 
"about forty acres," to Alexander Bryan of Milford, and was 
none the poorer for the adventure as indicated by the deed of 
sale ; he having received it as a gift and sold it for ^200.''' 

This was the parcel of land deeded to Mr. Wheeler \)y Tow- 
tanimow, which the author of the History of Woodbury sup- 
posed to be nearly as large as Litchfield County. It contained 
"forty acres, more or less." And this deed is recorded in close 
proximity to the Indian deed of this same land, which he copied, 
bounded in the same words. The same author errs when he 
says this " seems to have been the last sale of lands by the 
Derby Indians ; " since there were over twenty afterwards. He 
errs again when he says "their right to sell the land at all, seems 
somewhat doubtful, as the most of the territory sold, was occu- 
pied by the Pootatuck Indians." No evidence has been seen 
indicating that the Pootatucks occupied separately any land 
east of eight mile brook and the Ousatonic River, but they 
signed deeds with the Paugasucks. 

The Pootatuck sachems signed live or six deeds with the 



1^" Jan. 6, 1664. Lt. Thomas Wheeler for a consideration of ;i^200 in hand paid 
hath granted and sold . . to Alexander Bryan one parcel of land and houses where- 
in he now liveth and occupieth, it being as followeth : bounded with Pootatuck river 
south-west, Naugatuck river north-east, and on the north-west with trees marked by 
Towtanimow, sachem. This land containing forty acres more or less. 

Tom: Wheelkr." 



l6 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Paugasuck Indians, and the Pauf^asucks signed several deeds 
with the Pootatucks, as will be seen by a glance at the names 
attached to the Indian deeds of Derby and Woodbury. The 
very close relationship of these two tribes is given in part on 
page twenty-two o'f Woodbury history, and indicates that the 
Paugasucks had as much right to sell Derby soil as the Poota- 
tucks to sell Woodbury territory. The same author says again : 
"It is certain that Aquiomp, sachem of the Pootatucks in 1661, 
was independent of the Paugassett sachem, and that his succes- 
ors in the sachemdom, after that date, made numerous grants to 
the English." Rut every deed thus given, after that date, as 
represented in Woodbury history, was signed by Paugasuck 
Indians, with the Pootatucks, 

The truth is, that both these clans descended from the Mil- 
ford Indians, and removed up the rivers before the incoming 
English ; and while living in different clans or families, were 
one in descent, and the claims of ownership in the lands, by 
both parties, arc recognized by the P2nglish, from the first to 
the last. The sale of a tract of land lying on the Pequonnuck, 
in Stratford, in 1661, confirms this opinion, and also indicates 
that the Paugasuck Indians were regarded as having superiority 
over all others ; else they could not have given a deed of land 
occupied by the Pootatucks as they did. It is quite evident 
that the Paugasucks living in Derby territory were twice the 
number of the Pootatucks from 1650 to 1680; at which last 
date the former began to join the latter in considerable num- 
bers, at the mouth of the Pomperaug. 

It was in consequence of this ^ift of land to Lieut. Wheeler 
that the planters had some misgiving about the validity of the 
title, and \\\)o\\ the death of Tovvtanimow a bond'* was given by 
the Indians in the sum of five hundred pounds not to molest the 
possessors in regard to this title. 

'••"June 27, 1664. This present writinp; witncsscth that I, Okemich, .Sachem of 
Paugassett and Ansantaway living at Paugassett, considerations moving us hereunto 
do bind ourselves joyfully and severally . . in a bond of five hundred pounds, that 
we will not molest or trouble Thomas Wheeler, now or late of Paugassett, nor Mr. 
Alexander Bryan of Milford . . about a parcel of land that was given to said 
Thomas Wheeler by Towtanimow, sachem then of Paugassett. 

Akenants [()kciiuck| his mark. 

Ansantawav, his mark." 



A NKW HEED. 17 

On June 14, 1665, Alexander Bryan sold this farm of forty 
acres and the island to Joseph Hawkins of Stratford, and John 
Brown of Paugassett, and on the twentieth of the next July Mr. 
Bryan passes over to Joseph Hawkins " his part of the farm at 
Paugassett, to be paid eighty pounds a year for three years," 
making a profit to himself of forty pounds, if this was the same 
land he bought of Mr. Wheeler, in which case the sale to 
Hawkins and Brown was a failure. Afterwards this land was 
passed to the town, and Joseph Hawkins received another 
allotment. 

At this time, Mr. Richard Baldwin, desirous of securing a 
perfect title to these lands, and a united jDlantation, obtained a 
deed from the Indians covering all other deeds heretofore re- 
ceived, which was a statesman-like policy, on not a very ex- 
tended scale, although of very great importance. This deed 
has been relied on hitherto, very much by writers, as the com- 
mencement of the enterprise that finally issued in the town of 
Derby, and so far as it relates to the boundary of the town is of 
importance. ^'^ It takes in no new land and covers only the forty 
acres on the Great Neck. It is not certain whether the old 
trading house went with the forty acres or not. Mr. Wheeler 
.may have converted it into his dwelling house, or continued it 
as a store or trading house, for there are certain indications that 
Alexander Bryan, with others, perhaps, kept some sort of a 
trading house from the time Mr. Goodyear sold his interests 
there (1654), until after the plantation became a town. After 
he had sold the Wheeler farm on the Point, he is still said to 
have land there, and what or where it could be except at the 
trading; house it is difficult to conceive. 



^^"Know all men by these presents bearing date Sept. 15, 1665, that I Ockenunge 
the sole and only Sagamore of Pagassett together with all the Indians my subjects 
and proprietors at Pagassett aforesaid, . . do sell unto Richard Baldwin and his 
company, a tract of land bounded as herein expressed ; bounded north with the pres- 
ent ])ath that goes between New Haven and Pagassett, on the south with the bounds 
of Milford town, on the east with the Mill river of Milford, and on the west with the 
Great river at Pagassett. I do sell the above said tract of land, except what was 
formerly sold particularly to Ricard Baldwin or granted upon considerations whatso- 
ever, . . for and in consideration of full satisfaction already by me receved. 

Ochenunge, his mark. 

Chupps, his mark. 

Nehawkunnnc, his mark." 



18 HISTORV Ol" DICKIiV. 

At this time Abel Gunn, a young, unmarried man came to 
the place, and being a good writer, with a talent and disposition 
for business habits, obtained a book and commenced keeping 
accounts and records in behalf of the company, and this book 
has now the high honor of being A number one of the Town 
Records of Derby ; never having had the ornament of being 
dressed in a cover of any kind. Many thanks to Abel Gunn, 
well named [Able], and of great service an'] honor to old Derby ! 

The first record made in this book is without date, but from 
various circumstances there is evidence that it was written in 
January, 1665-6, when he first obtained the book. This entry 
gives us important information : 

"Item. Mr. Goodyear, Mr. Wakenian and Mr. Gilbert of New 
Haven hath bargained and sold to 

Richard Baldwin, John Burwell, 

Edward Riggs, Samuel Hopkins, 

Edward Wooster, 'J'homas Langdon, 

John Brown, Francis French, 

Robert Denison, Isaac Platt, 

of Milford, a tract of land at a place called Paugasuck, and by these 
men above named put under New Haven jurisdiction in the year 1655. 
the bounds of which tract of land is as hereafter followeth, namely, with 
Naugatuck river west, a small rock south, with a swamp on the east, 
and a little brook or spring that runs into the Beaver river north." 

The next record made gives some idea of the location and 
the work then being done to make the beginning of a settle- 
ment : 

" Paugasuck Inhabitants reconed with Edward Wooster this 2d of 
January 1665-6 and they are indebted to him as follows : 

For the grass land so called i^i 5 o 

For the middle island so called ;^3 o o 

For the two mile island so called £2 14 o 

" They have further agreed this 2d of January that he is to stay for 

this money till he hath had the sum by their purchasing their lands or 

other common works belonging to the place. 

"They have also renewed upon Edward Wooster a former grant of 
land, namely, the Long lot so called, only there is to be a sufficient 
cart wav through it, and the fishhouse island so called, and the two 



FIRST ACCOUNTS. 1 9 

mile island so called ; the above said Edward VVoosterhath three grants 
conferred upon him ; also these conditions as followeth. namely, present 
security that he is not to drive any cattle through the meadow without 
it be where it is common ; and that he is not to common in the meadow 
but proportionally according to his lands. 

" Dehts due to the company as followeth, Edward Riggs^'o 7s 2d. 
The company is indebted as followeth 

2:11: 65, John Brown 

7:12: 65. Joseph Hawkins for going to Stratford ^o 
Work done upon the general account April 1666 

Samuel Riggs three days and a half 
John Brown three days and a half 
Francis French two days 
John Brown one day 
Samuel Riggs one day 

John Brown and his son Joseph each half a day 
Francis French half a day 
Joseph Riggs half a day 
John Bruer for goodman Wooster half a day 
Francis French one day 
Joseph Riggs one day 
1667. Work done on the general account 

Setting up that fence which was bought of Samuel Riggs 

s. d. 
Francis French 3 days and a half ^o 8 9 

Samuel Riggs ^ ''''*' *' 89 

Abel Gunn 3 " " '' ^' 89 

Francis French i day more 2 6 

Samuel Risrgs j «' •« 26" 





s. 


d. 


;^o 


I 


3 


£0 


5 






s. 


d. 


£0 


07 


06 





07 


06 





05 


00 





02 


06 





02 


06 




01 


08 




1 


03 




I 


03 




I 


03 




2 


06 




2 


06 



'tee>- 



It is probable that in the spring of 1667 was made, among 
the ten proprietors, 



THE FIRST DIVISION OF LAND. 



It is stated as preliminary to the division that John Burwell 
sold his right to Thomas Hine, and he to Henry Lyon, and he 
to Henry Botsford. Also that Samuel Hopkins, one of the 
ten, sold his to John Smith, and then the division was made. 



20 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

"The laying out of this tract of land above mentioned, and the 
number of acres both of upland and meadow : 

Home Lot. Upland. Meadow. 

John Brown i 1-2 acres 4 acres. 3 acres 

Isaac Piatt i 1-2 " 4 " 3 •' 

Edward Rijigs i 1-2 " 4^3 

Richard Baldwin 2 "and a rod 6 " 4 1-2 " 

Edward Wooster i 1-2 " 4 " 3 " 

Francis French i 1-2 *' 4^3 " 

Henry Botsford i 1-2 " 4 " 3 " 

Robert Denison i 1-2 " 4 " 3 " 

John Smith 112" 4 " 3 " 

Thomas Langdon i 1-2 " 4 " 3 " 
Thomas Langdon hath his home lot where his house stands." 

After this plan was adopted and before the land was laid out, 
it was recorded that Alexander Bryan had bought of Thomas 
Langdon all his right at Paugasuck, and Edward Wooster had 
bought the same of Mr. Bryan ; upon which Thomas Langdon 
seems to have removed from the place. 

The description of the laying of these lots is important in 
order to know where the settlement first began, and thereby to 
know many other things which transpired in the town. 

" At the laying out of the meadow, Edward Wooster accepted the 
lower end of the meadow, for his meadow lot, bounded with Richard 
Baldwin north, with Naugatuck river west, with a creek south and a 
creek east. 

" Richard Baldwin hath a piece of meadow bounded with Edward 
Wooster south, Naugatuck river west, and Francis French north, and a 
creek running under the hill east. 

" Francis French hath his meadow lot bounded with the foot of the 
hill east, with Richard Baldwin south, with Naugatuck river west, with 
Edward Wooster north." 

In this manner they continue to measure out the meadow lots 
until they came to John Smith, the last of the ten, when they 
declare that his meadow and upland are joined together, (as in 
the accompanying plan), that is, his upland joined the east end 
of the meadow and then went up the hill east, making the 
southern boundary of the village as then arranged at the place 
known now as Up Town or Old Town. 



FIHST VILLAGE PLOT. 



21 



Meadow I.and. 



Upland. 



John Smith, 4 acres. 



Creek. 



Ed. Wooster, 



Richard Baldwin, 4^. 



Francis French, 



Edward Wooster, 3. 



John Brown, 3. 



Isaac Piatt, 3. 



Edward Riggs, 3. 



Robert Denison, 3. 



Henry Botsford, 3. 



John Smith, 3. 



Henry Botsford, 
4 acres. 



Rich'd Baldwin 
2 acres. 



Highway. 



Ed. Wooster, 
4 acres. 



Isaac Piatt, 
4 acres. 



Rich'd Baldwin, 
4 acres. 

Ed. Wooster, 
4 acres. 

Tree and swamp. 



John Brown, 
4 acres. 



Francis French, 



Highway. 



Rob't Denison, 
4 acres. 



Francis French, 
4 acres. 



Edward Riggs, 
4 acres. 



22 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

A portion of the Nauojatuck river at that time came down 
along the eastern bank a short distance below the old burying 
ground, then turning to the right, as is still apparent by the 
trees and the depression in the meadow, passed over to the 
Great Neck (or I^irmingham) and then down by the old trading 
house. Hence the meadow land was bounded "west with 
Naugatuck river," and at the east a little way " with a creek," 
or the water flowing u\) by the tide, and after two lots, the 
others were bounded on the " east with the foot of the hill," 
there being no creek there. The confirmation of this river 
course will be quite clearly established hereafter. 

Of the upland lots, five of them are bounded on the west 
with Naugatuck river, and east with a highway ; the other tier 
are bounded on the west with a highway and on the east with 
the foot of the hill. 

This was the first formal laying out of land by the company. 
Edward Riggs had selected him a farm on the hill, and Francis 
French also. Edward Wooster and Thomas Langdon had 
built their houses, at this place, near the river, but all this was 
done without a formal division of land. When this division 
was made Edward Wooster and Thomas Langdon received lots 
where their houses stood, and these houses were probably 
built in 1654, and Edward Riggs built at the same time on the 
hill. Francis French built his later, that is, in 1661, when he 
was married. 

Soon after this division was made Richard Baldwin died and 
his widow sold all her interest in Paugassett to Alexander 
Bryan, and then followed an interesting time in buying and 
selling lots as in many other real estate enterprises since that 
day ; the most important of which was that of John Brown, 
who sold all his land on the east side of the river and with 
Joseph Hawkins bought the Wheeler farm, on the point ; but 
which purchase Mr. Brown soon gave up and removed to New- 
ark, N. J. 

Here then was the village of Paugassett as laid by authority 
in 1665-6, containing two houses, perhaps more, inhabited, 
and the house on the Wheeler farm ; and Edward Riggs's and 
P^ancis P^ench's houses on the hill east. Edward Wooster s 
house stood on the lot laid at the north end of the plot, as it is 



MKSSRS. GOFF AND WHALLKV. 23 

said the road bej^an "at liis gate," and then went south between 
the two tiers of lots. Mr. Wooster was a farmer and made a 
specialty of hop raising in Milford, as indicated by the follow- 
ing town record : "A General Court, Oct. 24, 165 1. Consid- 
ering the pressing need of hops, the town grants to I'2dward 
Wooster an acre, more or less, lying up the Mill river, to be 
improved for a hop garden, according to his request. This is 
not to pay rates while improved for hops.""^ It is probable 
that the raising of hops on the meadow land at Paugassett was 
a leading object in Edward Wooster's settling here in 1654, as 
he did. 

Edward Riggs was one of the first settlers in 1654, being 
one of the original ten proprietors, his house standing on the 
place still known as the Riggs farm on the hill a mile east of 
Old Town, or the first village lots laid out. In his house two 
remarkable men found shelter and protection ; they were 
Messrs. Goff and Whalley, judges of Charles the First of Eng- 
land. President Stiles, in his history of these men and the 
place of their resort called The Lodge, says, " They left it 
and removed to Milford, August, 1661, after having resided in 
and about New Haven for near half a year, from 7th of March 
to the 19th of August, 1661. During this time they had two 
other occasional lodgments in the woods ; one at the house of 
Mr. Riggs, newly set up in the wilderness at Paugassett or 
Derby, another between that and Milford." The same author, 
speaking of two houses near West Rock a little out of New 
Haven, says, "these were the only two houses in 1661, west- 
ward from New Haven, between the West Rock and Hudson's 
river, unless we except a few houses at Derby or Paugassett. 
All was an immense wilderness. Indeed, all the environs of 
New Haven was wilderness, except the cleared tract about 
half a mile or a mile around the town." 

In another part of his book, President Stiles gives the follow- 
ing important information : 

"The judges might have some other secret retreats and temporary 
lodgments ; I have heard of two more within ten miles around New 
Haven, but not with so perfect certainty. The one about four miles 
from Milford, on the road to Derby where an old cellar remains to this 

I'^Lamliert's History '>f Milford. 



24 IIISIORV ol" DlikliV. 

day [1794], said to have been one of their recluses. This is called 
George's Cellar, from one George who afterwards lived there. The 
other at Derby on the eastern bank of the Naugatuck river at a place 
then called Paugasset and near the church. Madam Humphreys, con- 
sort of the Rev. Daniel Humphreys, and the mother of the ambassa- 
dor, was a Riggs, and a descendant of Edward Riggs, one of the first 
settlers of Derby between 1655 and 1660. She often used to speak of 
it as the family tradition that the judges who sometimes secreted them- 
selves at the cave and Sperry's farm, also for some time secreted them- 
selves at Derby, in the house of her grandfather, Mr. Edward Riggs ; 
whose house was forted or palisadoed. to secure it from the Indians ; 
there being, 1660, perhaps fewer than half a dozen English families 
there in the woods, ten or a dozen miles from all other English settle- 
ments, and they all lodged in this forted house. They mi^ht probably 
shift their residences, especially in the dangerous summer of i66r, to 
disappoint and deceive pursuivants and avoid discovery. This tradi- 
tion is preserved in the Riggs and Humphrey families to this day."'^ 

Here we have the information that Edward Riggs's house was 
fortified, or made like a fort, in 1661, and that all the families 
[in times of danger] "lodged in this forted house." This in- 
formation is reliable, because Madam Humphreys lived several 
years cotemporary with her grandfather. Ensign Samuel Riggs, 
(not Edward, as Dr. Stiles has it) ; she being the daughter of 
Capt. John and not of Ensign Samuel. 

Erom the fact that these men were protected at Mr. Riggs's 
home, we learn that the family were residing here at that time, 
and if so, they probably did not return to Milford after their 
first settlement in 1654, that is, Edward Riggs's family ; Samuel 
Riggs was not married until 1667 ; and we have confirmed an- 
other supposition that there were no dwellings between West 
Rock, New Haven and the Hudson river, so far back from the 
Sound shore. Such was the loneliness of the place where three 
or four families resided about ten years. 

Francis French was another of these settlers of 1654, but was 
not married until 1661. His house, no doubt, was built on the 
hill half a mile east of the village, and it is probable that his lot 
as laid in the village, joined at the foot of the hill, his land on 
the hill. 



I'Stiles's Judges, 1 13. 



FIRST si':rTLP:KS. 25 

Thomas Langdon was living in his house mentioned in bound- 
ing the lots first laid out, and being 'one of the original pur- 
chasers, may have resided at this place some of the time since 
the first settlement, but how much we are not certain. 

JoJin Broivii was here and did work, and land was laid to 
him, and it appears that he resided here, but of it we are not 
certain. He soon removed to Newark, N. J. 

Henry Botsford may have resided here, but it is very doubtful. 

Isaac Piatt and Robert Denison sold their rights and never 
resided here so far as is known. 

JoJm Smith did not settle here, but his son, Ephraim, did, in 
1668 ; and he may have worked here as a single man, some 
years before. 

Richard Baldwin did not reside here, probably, but his de- 
scendants did some years afterwards. 

There was a John Brewer working here, but the name is not 
seen again on the records in many years. 

Joseph Haivkins purchased land on the neck soon after the 
village lots w^ere laid out, but was not married until 166S ; his 
father, Joseph, senior, did not settle here. 

The best information thus far obtained leads to the conclu- 
sion that the first settlers came in 1654, and were Edward 
Wooster, Thomas Langdon, located at Old Town ; Edward 
Riggs, located on the hill east ; and Francis French on the hill 
in 1661 ; Lieut. Thomas Wheeler lived on the Point from 
1657 or 8 to 1664, and returned to Stratford. 

That there was a settlement made here in 1654, is without 
doubt, since they made application in the spring of 1655, and 
were admitted by the New Haven court into the jurisdiction as 
a village, which could not have been if there had been no settle- 
ment. 

It has been entertained that the first settlement was wholly 
at Squabble Hole, where the first meeting house was built, but 
that house was built twenty-seven years after the first settlers 
came, at which time the settlement had extended over Sentinel 
Hill ; and the people evidently thought a large proportion of 
future settlers would be in that part of the town, but found 
themselves quite mistaken after a few years. 

In the autumn previous to the laying out this first land, the 

4 



26 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

colonies of New Haven and Connecticut were united, and the 
General Court put on a different face towards the little planta- 
tion in the Naugatuck valley.'^ 

" This court upon the petition of the inhabitants of ' Paugasuck ' do 
declare that they are willing to afford the best encouragement they can 
to promote a plantation there and if there do a sufficient number ap- 
pear betwixt this and October next that will engage to m;ike a planta- 
tion there, to maintain an orthodox minister among them, that they 
may be in a capable way to enjoy the ordinances of God and civil order 
amongst themselves, then the court will be ready to confer such privi- 
leges as may be for their comfort, so they do not prejudice the town of 
Milford or New Haven in their commons. Oct. 12, 1665."^" 

THE englishman's HOGS AND THE INDIANS. 

Although from first to last the English and the Indians pre- 
served great friendliness and fidelity, there were some differ- 
ences of sentiment and manner of living, especially in regard to 
the cultivation of the soil. The Paugasuck Indians at this time 
dwelt on the Great Neck, a little back of Birmingham, and 
down by the side of the Ousatonic river in the vicinity of the 
present dam. The Pootatucks dwelt on the west side of the 
Ousatonic where the village of Shelton now stands, and below 
towards the narrows. Some few Indians may have been dwell- 
ing at Turkey Hill, although it was after this or about this time 
that the Milford Indians as a body took their abode on that hill, 
just south of the boundaries of Derby ; a few may have been 
living at the narrows. 

The Indians made no fences around their cornfields, or very 
few and poor ones ; the English did about theirs, and desired to 
allow their hogs and cattle to run in common in the woods ad- 
joining the fenced fields and meadows, but if this was allowed, 
the animals, not discerning the difference of ownership, would 
go into the Indians' corn, and especially when led by the red 
man's creatures, which though few, always roamed at large, so 
that the Indians' corn was sometimes nearly annihilated by his 



18 Very particular attention and study has been given to these items of the first set- 
tlement, since the traditions and public prints differ concerning them. A careful 
examination of the town records will verify what is here written. 

"Conn. Col. Rec. i. 



ENGLISH AND INDIANS. 2/ 

own animals, with a strong inclination in their owners to lay 
the damages upon the English. This seems to have been about 
the only trouble that ever occurred between the Derby people 
and the Indians. It was in view of this difficulty that Lieuten- 
ant Wheeler of Stratford, two years before, when of Paugassett, 
had requested advice of the New Haven court, and that body 
ordered the people of Paugassett and the Indians there and at 
Milford, to meet the court in the autumn session at Milford 
and have a hearing from both sides. Mr. Wheeler in his re- 
quest stated " that he found some annoyance by the Indians 
planting so near their borders and not fencing anything like, 
but their creatures may go in as they will, that he can keep no 
hogs but in pens ; and how far their duty was, and the Indians 
in reference to fencing he desired to be informed." 

Hence, "At the General Court, May, 1666, a committee as 
follows : Capt. John Nash, Mr. Banks, Mr. F'airchild and En- 
sign Judson or any three of them are desired and appointed to 
view a tract of land that Towtannamo hath made over to Rich- 
ard Baldwin of Milford, and to consider what the nature and 
quantity is of meadow and upland and swamp, and also to hear 
a difference between the Indians and English at Paugassett 
and the Indians at Pootatuck and also to view the land at Pau- 
gasuck whether it may be fit for a township."-'" 

What difference there was between the Pootatucks and the 
English, if any, is not suggested anywhere in the records, but 
one of the greatest annoyances the English endured was the 
manner of the Indians in coming into their houses without giv- 
ing any notice or warning, and this would have been endurable 
if they would stop when they had entered, but this they would 
not do. The Indian must see everything in the house, in all 
the rooms, upstairs and down cellar, in the pantry, the pork 
barrel — anywhere and everywhere unless hindered by the bar- 
ring of doors or peremptory commands by those who had 
strength to execute their orders. The toiling housewife, going 
out to hang the washed clothes on the line, would return to 
find a not very tidy squaw peering through the cupboard, hand- 
ling the dishes, the meats, vegetables, breads — no matter 

»^ I Col. Rec. 1665-77. 



28 HISTORY OF DERBV. 

what nor how, only that the marvelous curiosity should be grat- 
ified. And, the most trying of all, any amount of gentle re- 
monstrance or otherwise would be met with that cold, indefina- 
ble, meaningless look that nobody could exhibit but a squaw, 
not even an " injun," that patience would seem no longer to be 
a grace, and yet any other grace would be risky, unless a large 
amount of force was near at hand in case of need. Therefore, 
between the trouble of the Englishman's hogs in the red man's 
corn and the Indians in the white man's houses, there was so 
little choice as to challenge the wisdom of the General Court 
and the ingenuity and endurance of the planters and the In- 
dians to the utmost extent. How Lieutenant Wheeler's family 
endured six years on Great Neck, the only English family there 
or within reach without crossing a river, close to the thickest 
of the Indian settlement, is a marvel, almost beyond belief in 
the present day. He made seven thousand dollars, apparently, 
by the enterprise ; his wife should have had twice that amount 
as her part. No wonder they returned to civilization before 
they could sell the farm ! 

Then Edward Wooster's and Thomas Langdon's families at 
Old Town several years, and not another family within eight 
miles, except Edward Riggs's on the hill and Thomas Wheeler's 
on the Neck, and in one respect Wheeler was favored, the In- 
dians protected him on the north from the wolves, but not so 
with Wooster and Langdon ; they alone must kill the wolves 
or the wolves would clear their barn-yards to the last pig, and 
not be very delicate about the little ones of the family. Prob- 
ably W\)oster's seven sons had about as many wolf stories in 
which they were actors as was agreeable, without reading any 
romance of that character. It is not all romance, however, 
when we read as we do, a little later, of Samuel Riggs's wolf 
pit probably half a mile north-east of Wooster's dwelling and 
the Bear swamp ; they were realities uncomfortably near to 
those solitary homes. It is not much wonder that the New- 
Haven court threatened to remove Edward Wooster to the 
abodes of Christian people if Christian people would not go to 
him. 

Nor is it surprising that the General Court had the opportu- 
nity of recording this request in May, 1667, "Edward Woos- 



HAKX'KSriNG CORN. 29 

ter, in behalf of some in Paugassett, petitioned for the privilege 
of a plantation and a church," and the court gave them two 
years to increase their number so as to be able to maintain a 
minister, but it is surprising that the court would not allow 
them to admit any inhabitants except such as might be ap- 
proved by Mr. Bryan, Mr. Bishop, Me. Fairchild and Mr. John 
Clarke, all of Milford, and in the meantime should pay rates at 
Milford, thus placing them wholly at the pleasure of that peo- 
ple. And upon his petition at the end of two years, the court 
condescended to continue their privileges and encouragement 
on the same conditions as at this time, that is, two years more 
of hope and delay. But the court did take one .little step for- 
ward, so gently as not to hurt any one, by appointing Edward 
Wooster constable for the year 1669; Mr. Bryan to administer 
the oath to him. This was really the first officer with which 
the plantation had been honored, and it was properly bestowed 
on Edward Wooster, the wolf-killer, and for living so long 
alone in the wilderness, the Lion-hearted. Hence they en- 
dured long, and some of the wonderfulness of that endurance 
we shall see in the progress of this history. 

Trouble and difficulty in saving their corn in the autumn af- 
ter it was grown, led to the following 

AGREEMENT. 

" Paugasset inhabitants met together and have made the following 
agreement to secure their corn which was as followeth, that they were 
to measure their fence to the mouth of the creek that goeth into Nau- 
gatuck river and set so much upon the hill, and Joseph Hawkins and 
John Brown is to measure theirs (or as much) and set it upon the hill, 
and if any be wanting of their railing they are ail of them to join to- 
gether and make it up and then to divide it equally. They have also 
agreed that every man's yard shall be a pound and that any cattle that 
are found in the meadow without a sufficient keeper shall be poundable 
except when the meadow is common ; and it shall not be laid common 
without a joint consent ; and if any swine come into it and take the 
corn, the owner of them shall shut them up and keep them up after 
they have warning till the meadow is common ; and if any man shall 
willingly put in any beast, horse or any other beast into the meadow he 
shall forfeit five shillings for every such offence. This agreement is to 



30 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Stand authentic till we see cause to alter it." This agreement was 

made " this 4th of Sept., 1667. 

John 15rown-^ Ephraim Smith 

Francis French Abel Gunn 

Samuel Riggs Joseph Hawkins 

Edward Wooster." 

The fence was built around the meadow land lying below 
Ansonia, and between the hills on either side of the valley. 
The fence was outside, leaving the river inclosed with the 
meadow, for i^ set inside the floods would have swept it away 
every year. The fence being removed back on the hill for a 
distance on either side would make two small fields, secure 
from the water, and yet fenced in from the cattle that roamed 
in the adjoining woods. It is said, and there are many evi- 
dences confirming it, that the main bed of the river was on the 
west side of this lot, where the railroad now is, but after the 
settlement of the place the river went to the east side of the 
valley, as now, while considerable water continued on the west 
side and was called the Old river and the other the New. 

A gentleman (Mr. William B. Lewis) recently deceased, at an 
advanced age, a native of the town, an old school teacher, quite 
intelligent and reliable in all he said, and given also to scientific 
investigations, gives, in a letter to Dr. A. Beardsley, an account 
of the change of the river bed in this place. 

"When our ancestors came to Paugassett the Naugatuck 
pursued a different course through the meadow from the pres- 
ent one. PVom near the present Birmingham dam, south of 
the Ansonia bridge, the stream continued down the west side 
of the valley, not so direct as the race now is, but sometimes 
closing up to the bank, at others inclining eastward, entering 
the Ousatonic where the race of the Iron and Steel Works and 
Foundry now does, leaving a narrow strip of meadow attached 
to the Point House farm, on which our regimental traininjrs 
were held before Birmingham was built. 

"A continuation of the Beaver brook wound through the 
meadow along the east side, carrying the drainage of that side 
of the valley, and entering the Ousatonic through the creek 



'■^iThis is the last appearance of John Brown's na:ne on the records. 



THE OLD NAl'GATUCK. 3 I 

south of the causeway which now makes an island of the south 
part of the meadow, which then joined the Paugassett shore. 
This alluvial bottom land, being mostly clear of trees and cov- 
ered with grass suitable for hay, was found to be of great value 
to the new comers before they had opportunity to clear and 
cultivate artificial meadows. The upper end of this meadow, 
being rather dry and sandy, Mr. Wooster undertook to irrigate 
by plowing and digging a trench from a bend in the river, and 
flowing the meadow ; in which he succeeded admirably for the 
first summer. But, neglecting to close his ditch in the fall, and 
old Naugatuck being unusually swollen at the following spring 
freshet, found it a very convenient means of disposing a part of 
its surplus waters, and thus in a few years the main body of 
the river passed down the east side of the valley, forming what 
was then called the New river ; the west branch which con- 
tinued for a long time to carry a part of the water, being called 
the Old river. The southern portion of it continued to drain 
the west part of the meadow and its adjacent bank after it had 
been closed above at the building of Hull's mills, which was 
done to connect their race with the creek from Beaver brook, 
as that gave a better outlet. The restless Naugatuck being 
dissatisfied with the monotony of the east bank, has, within the 
last sixty years, seceded from it and gone into the meadow 
westward, and filling up the channel on the east side so that 
cultivated fields and timbered land now occupy the place where 
vessels were built and launched, before the bridge and cause- 
way were built. 

"The south part of the Old river was formerly famed for fish. 
Eels were abundant ; large numbers of the delicious smelt were 
caught in a deep hole or enlargement of the stream a few rods 
east of the present waste-weir which is not yet quite filled up, 
notwithstanding the erasive effort of the annual flood. Ros- 
well, the aged colored man of Ansonia, was celebrated when a 
boy for skill in taking trout from the. Old river. He was often 
secretly watched to learn his art, but was never excelled. The 
Derby boys once saw his two little brothers stirring up the mud 
up stream, and felicitated themselves, like Deliah and the Philis- 
tines, but a repetition of the experiment proved its fallacy and 
Roswell bore the palm alone." 



32 IIISTOKV OF DKKHV. 

This description agrees with all terms used in the records of 
the town, except that for a time the New river, on the east 
side, did not continue close to the bank as far down as the pres- 
ent Derby bridge, but when a little below the old burying 
ground it crossed the meadow to Birmingham side into the old 
river, and afterwards cut the channel by Derby village where 
the vessels were built. That may not have been long after 
1665, at which time in laying the meadow lots at that place 
they are bounded on the east by the hill and not by the river, 
which must have been if it were there. The Indian field, spoken 
of frequently in the records, consisted of the upper part of this 
meadow land, extending down to about the present New Haven 
road, crossing the valley ; and the Long lot extended from that 
road south, or down the valley, to where the river crossed from 
a little below the old burying ground south-westerly to the 
Point, now Birmingham. Some years later the whole valley 
from Ansonia to the causeway, or a little below, was probably 
in one lot, as the fence on either side measured about two miles 
long, as recorded. 

In 1665, the General Court required that the owners of 
Paugasuck''" should jnuxhase no more lands until they had be- 
come a separate plantation, and for three years they gave heed 
to the injunction, but the temptation was too powerful, there 
being so much land to be had, and the Indians being charmed, 
almost to a frenzy, with the possibility of selling land and 
receiving pay. The latter seemed to have no idea that such 
sales would ever necessitate their removal from the community, 
but only that they should thereby obtain such things as the 
P^nglishman had, guns, dogs, clothing, ornaments and drinks. 
The Indians afterward complained that the white man had 
taken away their lands for inconsiderable considerations, but 
every circumstance of the sale of the lands here, indicates most 
unmistakably that they were urged upon the English over and 
over, and upon various parties under a diversity of circum- 
stances, some of which indicate debts that- would not otherwise 
have been paid. 

At this time Mr. Joseph Havvley and Henry Tomlinson of 



"In the Conn. Col. Records, this nmne for sonic vears is spelled mostlv Pawgasiick. 



NEW PURCHASES. 33 

Stratford, (they not being proprietors of Paugasuck,) purchased 
a piece of land on the Great Neck, north of any owned by the 
English, and opened anew the real estate enterprises of the 
wilderness. '^^ 

" Be it known . . that I, Puckwomp, by virtue of full power unto me 
given . . by my brother Kehore. now living in Hartford, who hath 
sent his son Nanatoush to join with me to sell to Joseph Hawley and 
Henry Tomlinson, both of Stratford . . all that tract of land lying 
upon Great neck near unto Paugassett, bounded by the Great river on 
the south-west, north and north-west by a small river and the south end 
of the Great hill. South and south-east by marked trees ; all which land 
. . reaching into the middle of the neck, for which land we do confess 
to have received now in hand . . in several goods to the just value 
of five pounds sterling. 

Subscribed i6th Aug., 1668. 
Atterosse, Sagamore, his mark, Poquonat, his mark, 

Nanatoush, his mark, Cherakmath, his mark, 

Kehore, his mark, Chesusumock, his mark, 

Rourkowhough, his mark, Machetnumledge, his mark." 

Mr. Alexander Bryan the merchant of Milford, followed, by 
a purchase on the east side, (the Indian deed of which has not 
been found,) and sold Dec. 17, 1668, to John Hulls and Jabez 
Harger of Stratford, " a tract of land at Paugassett called 
Pequacs plain, with meadow adjoining called by the name of 
James meadow, with all privileges." . . This land lay north 
of any covered by former deeds, which left its owners unpro- 
tected by any grants already made to Paugassett ; they agree- 
ing to inhabit and fence this land and these improvements to 
stand as security to Mr. Bryan for the sum of twenty-four pounds 
in current pay at or before the first day of March in the year 
1668, or the next March, as they then divided the year. 

These were new men and both settled in the place, but Mr. 
Hulls not until some years later, and their descendants are still 
residents of the old territory as well as being numerous and 
scattered in all directions through the land. Doctor John Hulls, 
after being in Stratford a short time, settled here and became 



■■^'*A part of this and other Indian deeds are given in order to preserve the local 
names; names of the Indians, and to indicate the progress of the settlement. 



34 HISTORY OF DEKBV. 

a prominent man ; remained about thirteen years and removed 
to Wallingford, where he deceased. Jabez Harger married in 
1662 the daughter of Henry Tomlinson, who had now (1668) 
made the purchase on the west side with Mr. Hawley, and 
made his home here in 1668-9. 

Abel Gunn made two entries in his book about this time that 
are a little too much abbreviated as to dates to give perfect sat- 
isfaction : 

THE FIRST ENTRY. 

"March 15, 166, 70: The Trew And Right Proprietares of Pagaset, 
That Have the sole Dispose of all Lands That are By Them Pur- 
chased, They Are as Foloeth, Mr. Haly [Hawley]: Ed. Wester: 
Frances French : Samuel Rigs : Abell Gun : Ephram Smith : Joseph 
Hawkins: Hen. Boxford." 

THE SECOND ENTRY. 

''March 15, 166, 70. The inhabitants of Pagaset are as followeth : 
Ed Wester : Francis French : Joseph Hawkins : Samuel Rigs : Ephram 
Smith : Abell Gun : Stephen Person : Jeremiah Johnson." 

The one entry was made probably in 1667 and the other in 
1670, as the latter gives us two new names, Stephen Pierson 
and Jeremiah Johnson, who became settlers in that year (1670). 
Mr. Pierson came here from Stratford where he had married 
Mary, daughter of Henry Tomlinson. 

Mr. Johson was from New Haven with a family, and was the 
grandfather of Bennajah, the early settler at Beacon Falls, and 
his father, Jeremiah Johnson, Sen., was with him. 

Why Doctor Hull and Jabez Harger are not mentioned 
as proprietors is supposed to be, because they were not " of 
Pagaset " or of the territory recognized by the court ; the' rea- 
son why Mr. Hawley is mentioned as a proprietor and Mr. 
Henry Tomlinson as not, is unexplainablc, unless the former 
retained something of the jiurchases made previous to this last. 

In the first of these enumerations the persons are called pro- 
prietors, some of whom resided elsewhere ; in the other they 
are inhabitants. Samuel Riggs had married the daughter of 
Richard Baldwin, June 4, 1667, and she was without doubt the 
second bride in I'augassctt, or the town of Derby. Abel Gunn 



Cliildren. 


Families. 




Children. 


9 


Ephraim Smith 




O 


5 


Abel Gunn 




O 


2 


Stephen Pierson 




2 


I 


Jeremiah Johnson 


Jr. 


4 



THE IIAWLEV PURCH.\.SE. 35 

married the .sister of Ephraim Smith Oct. 29, 1667, the third 
bride in the place ; about which time, probably, Joseph Haw- 
kins, Jr., married, April 8, 1668, a sister to Ebenezer John- 
son's second wife, and settled on the Neck. The result of the 
settlement at the end of si.xteen years as to resident families 
and number of persons may be supposed as follows : 

Families. 

Edward Wooster 
Francis French 
Joseph Hawkins Jr. 
Samuel Riggs 

In all thirty-nine persons besides servants and help employed ; 
which was quite an improvement on the lonely habitation of 
Edward Wooster a few years previous. 

In May, 1670, Alexander Bryan received another deed-* of 
land on the Neck, lying north of the one he had sold recently 
to Hawley and Tomlinson, and sold the same to John Brins- 
made, Sen., Henry Tomlinson, and Joseph Hawley [.senior] of 
Stratford, completing a belt of land from the Ousatonic to the 
Naugatuck river, extending north to the four mile brook and 
the brook coming into the Naugatuck at West Ansonia, con- 
taining, as we afterwards learn, about five hundred acres. This 
land, with the other sold to Mr. Hawley, is afterwards for many 
years called the Hawley purchase. 

At this time {spring of 1671) the Paugassett company ac- 
cepted the Hawley purchase, if it had not been previcnisly, as 
company property ; and divisions were made to those of whom 
the tracts of land had been received. For the Hawley piu-- 



'^* " A tract of land lying in the Great Neck, between Paugassett river and Poota- 
tiick river, bounded with Pootatuck river on the west side, with a little brook and 
the English purchase on the south, with a brook that runs from Naugatuck river to 
a brook called the four mile brook, . . and Naugatuck east, . . to Alexander 
Bryan . . in consideration of the sum of seventeen pounds in hand received. 



Chubbs, 


his mark 


Coshoshemack*, 


his mark 


Ke Ke Sumun, 


his mark 


Wataquenock, 


his mark 



Wasawas, 


his mark 


Atrechanasett, 


his mark 


Johns, 


his mark 


.Sasaoso, 


his mark 



*Tliis is Chusumack,— and probably Momanchewaug alias Cush (or Chusc) of Pootatuck, of 
Mauwee, whose son or grandson was Old Chuse, of Chuse Town. Everything in the several deeds 
indicates this relation of these families. 



36 HISTORY OF DKRBY. 

chase Abel Gunn and Samuel Riggs gave their bond to Alex- 
ander Bryan for thirty-four pounds, and afterwards the follow- 
ing persons bound themselves with the former to pay the sum : 

Edward Wooster. Francis French. 

Joseph Hawkins. Ephraim Smith. 

Ebenezer Johnson. Jonas Tomlinson. 

John Tibbals. Moses Johnson. 

The reason for this leading of Abel Gunn and Samuel Riggs 
is, probably, that they were the most energetic business men in 
the place, and hence were more ready to run a venture than the 
others, but there was another one coming, yea, already at their 
doors, they knew it not, who was, by his marvelous endurance 
and energy, destined to surpass them all so far as to scarcely 
allow friendly comparison ; the marvelous Ebenezer Johnson. 

From this time for many years the question of dividing lands 
was most important and most difficult. Those persons already 
in the company must be made equal in proportion to the money 
invested. New-comers were in the plantation and others pro- 
posing to come, and to encourage those without to come, they 
entered upon a plan of making appropriations gratis, upon con- 
ditions that the individuals should build themselves houses and 
fences, and with their families become residents of the place. 
They were to come within two years and stay four, or the ap- 
propriation should revert to the company. 

Under this plan grants were made in 1670 to John Tibballs, 
Stephen Picrson, and to those already in the place various 
grants were made that year; and in April, 1671, to Ebenezer 
Johnson a lot bounded on the north with the common, on the 
west with the Great river, on the south with the Devil's Jump, 
so called, and on the east with common land. ]\Ir. Johnson 
had been in the town probably a short time, and in the next 
November married Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Edward 
Wooster, and fullfilled his engagement to settle on the land 
granted him. The Devil's Jump was a narrow, deep ravine a 
little north of the mouth of Two-mile brook. 

Whether this land extended so far east as to include that 
whereon afterwards his house was built", a mile east of the nar- 
rows, is not known, but soon after this date he received other 



rKOFOSlil) BOUNDARIES. 37 

grants of small pieces on the " east side of Sentinel hill," and 
made a purchase of land in the x'icinity, so that he became very 
early a large land-holder, for that day ; and on it built a fine 
estate, noted for many years. 

In February, 1672, it was " voted that Francis French, Sam- 
uel Riggs, Henry Botsford, Fphraim Smith, Abel Gunn, Mr. 
Hawley, are to be made up equal in lands with Edward Wooster, 
according to proportion. Edward Wooster gave in his land 
which he had more than those above mentioned, and he gave it 
in as twenty acres of sizable land, and it was agreed that those 
men should have forty acres of sized land on Sentinel hill ; 
they are to have ten acres for one ; forty for a double share 
and twenty for a single share ; and they are to take this land 
upon Sentinel hill where they see cause, provided highways be 
not obstructed." There was already a fenced lot on Sentinel 
hill inclosing lands laid out to ten persons, the older owners. 

Circumstances and toil having brightened somewhat, the ap- 
pearance of success and the subject coming up in the May 
court, that body seemed to wake out of sleep, as to this corner 
of their vineyard, and issued their encouragement in a tone so 
spirited as to put new life into the whole enterprise. 

"Whereas this Court have manifested themselves ready to encourage 
a plantation [at] Paugasuck provided the people there may be in a 
capacity to maintain an orthodox minister amongst them there, which 
this Court cannot see it will be capable unless there may be thirty fam- 
ilies entertained ; and for the encouragement of such as shall see cause 
to plant there, this Court are willing and do hereby grant that their 
bounds shall be on the south on Milford bounds, on the west on Poota- 
tuck river, and from their South bounds into the north, twelve miles ; 
and that they shall have liberty to improve all the meadow lying on 
Pompawraug river, although it be out of their bounds, till the Court 
shall see cause otherwise to dispose of it." 

This deliverance gave confidence to every movement, and a 
warrant of success, and the only wonder is that it was not said 
years sooner. 

"April II, 1672. The inhabitants of Paugasuck being lawfully 
warned, met, and voted that all that now are or shall be to the number 
of thirty, shall pay to the purchasing of the minister's lot, every man 
alike, and . . all inhabitants shall go equal in all purchases that here- 



38 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

after shall be made by them, and shall have alike in all divisions, to 
the number of thirty inhabitants ; only those that shall come after the 
making of this order shall be made up equal in lands with those that 
are the last comers to the place, as Ebenezer Johnson, Mosos Tomlin- 
son, John Tibballs, Stephen Pierson and Joseph Hawkins." 

They also agreed, a little later, that no inhabitant should be 
admitted without the lawful meeting of all the inhabitants ; 
and that no land should be granted except on a vote of two 
meetings. 

In 1670 a division was made to Joseph Hawkins of quite a 
tract of land, which seems to indicate that he surrendered to 
the town his part of the Wheeler farm, although no deed to 
this effect has been seen. The boundaries to Mr. Hawkins's 
grant reads : " bounded with the present fence east (along the 
west branch of the Naugatuck) with the channel of Poota- 
tuck river west, with the land between Mr. Alexander Bryan 
and Joseph [Hawkins] on the south, and with the present path 
that goes to the old fort and the brook on the north. The 
terms are as followeth. that no highway convenient for Mr. 
Alexander Bryan shall be hindered, and that the company shall 
take up land elsewhere according to proportion." Here it is 
clear that Mr. Bryan was still in the possession of the Wheeler 
farm on the point; and if so, was probably engaged in building 
ships, as the reason why special care is taken not to obstruct 
the highways to his injury. And it is probable also, that, mer- 
chant as he was, he had some kind of store or trading house 
here, which he and his son Richard continued some }ears later 
and which was passed into the hands of Mr. Joseph Hawkins, 
probably about 1685, or a little earlier. 

Alexander Bryan was a very energetic business man, a mer- 
chant, not only at Milford where he resided but also at Paugas- 
sett. He was a member of the court at New Haven a number 
of years, and also of the General Court at Hartford. He was 
selected by the New Haven court in 1655 to send the laws of 
the Colony to England to be printed and to ship as a merchant 
the provisions to Barbadoes to procure the money to pay the 
bill for printing, thus indicating that he was the most extensive 
trader in the Colony. As early as 1640 he "sent a vessel to 
the Bay [Boston] laden with beaver, otter, and other precious 



MR. ALi:XANI)KR BR\AX. 39 

furs," and in return brought such goods as were desired at Mil- 
ford and the region. And it may have been that those furs 
were, a considerable portion of them at least, obtained in the 
region of Paugassett, and became the occasion of stirring Mr. 
Wakeman of New Haven to build here the trading house in 1642. 

In 1675, Mr. Bryan, his son Richard, also a merchant, and 
William East of Milford, merchant, owned two brigs and one 
sloop, which they kept engaged in trade to the West Indies and 
Boston, and his vessels, most probably, brought to Derby most 
of the goods imported, and carried out the surplus provisions, 
iurs and staves that were provided for the market. His credit 
is said to have stood so high that his notes of hand were as 
current in Boston as bank bills at any time. 

A large proportion of the deeds from the Indians of Paugas- 
sett lands, passed through his hands as the real owner, and his 
friendly and constant help in this matter was of very considera- 
ble advantage to the plantation. A grant of land was made to 
his son Richard, "merchant," in 1680, to become an inhabitant 
of Derby, and after a short time the grant was renewed with 
special inducements mentioned, showing that there were nego- 
tiations for such an end entered into by him, but the matter 
failed, and soon after he passed from his earthly work and his 
father settled his estate property here. Richard Baldwin was the 
first father of the plantation, Alexander Bryan was the second. 

In May, 1673, Nicholas Camp and John Beard were accepted 
as inhabitants, and a grant of land lying near to the new Indian 
fort was granted them under the rules established, but they do 
not appear to have settled in the town, unless some years later. 
This same year, also, Alexander Bryan purchased the western- 
most island'-'^ in the Ousatonic River in front of Birmingham, 
and delivered it to the town, probably soon after. This deed 
was signed by the name Chushumack, who is probably the 

^^"All my island in the (heat River called Pootatuck . . l)einj!; situate against 
the Indian field, which formerly I sold to Mr. Alexander Bryan, senior, and against 
the Indian fort . . in cousideriition of a guu and other good pay in hand received. 
This 5th of June, 1673. 

Chushamack, Sachem, his mark. Ponomskut, his mark. 

Robbin, his mark. Pawanet, his mark. 

Amonequon, his mark. Chawbrook, his mark." 

Kchow, his mark. 



40 HISTORY OF DICKHV. 

grandfather of the Chuse who was chief at Seymour some years 
later. He signed the deed given to Joseph Hawley and Henry 
Tomlinson, in 1668, of land above Birmingham. This is the 
more probable as the gathering of the Indians at Chuse-town was 
made of the remnants of those who had dwelt lower down on 
both rivers, the Pootatuck and Paugassett. The name Cliiise, 
therefore, may have been an abbreviation of his full name, which 
was a very fashionable custom in those days for English as well 
as Indians, and not the result of Indian accent in pronouncing 
the word choose. 

Another deed of lands partly in Stratford and partly in Derby 
was signed by this same sachem and fourteen Pootatuck In- 
dians, which included a tract of land larger than the present 
town of Derby, covering a large portion of the Great Neck.'^^ 

In the next year (1674), in March, two parcels of land were 
deeded, one to Jabez Harger, and the other to Jonas Tomlinson, 



2^" Be it known to all Christian people, Indians and others whom it may con. 
earn, that I Pocona and Ringo and Quoconoco and Whimta who are right owners 
of one Island in the Great river Oantenock where Mr. Goodyear had a trading house 
and also the lands on both sides of the river, we do by this present writing grant 
. . unto Henry Tomlinson of Stratford the above mentioned island and the land on 
both sides the river three miles down the river southeast and the land on both 
sides the river upward northwest, which amounts to seven miles in length and ac- 
cordingly of each side the river three miles in breadth which amounts to six miles 
in breadth; all which tract of land and island, to have . . We confess to have re- 
ceived one piece of cloth and other good pay to our satisfaction. April 25, 167 1. 

Pocono, his mark. Tone, the second son of 

Ringo, his mark. Mataret, his mark. 

Quoconoco, his mark. Toto, his mark. 

Ocomunhed, his mark. Mohemat, his mark. 

Cheshushamack, Sachem, his mark. Chetemhehu, his mark. 

Wookpenos, his mark. Oshoron, his mark. 

Wesonco, his mark. I'apiscounos, his mark." 

Pomuntock, his mark. 
Mataret, the Sachem's 

eldest son, his mark. 

"Be it known unto all men to whom this present writing shall come that we whose 
names are hereunto subscribed being Indians belonging to Paqunocke that whereas 
we have had formerly interest in those lands lying within the bounds of Stratford ; 
the afores<* lands being made over by our predecessors when the English came first 
to sit down in these parts; we do therefore for our parts jointly and severally 
confirm, etc., forever, all that tract of land afores** being bounded on the west with 



KKLKASE OF .STKATI'C )K I ) LANDS. 4I 

his brother-in-law, in the vicinity of Horse hill,-' and in the fol- 
lowing April another piece to Samuel Riggs and Abel Gunn, 
extending the plantation to the north side of Horse hill and to 
Beaver brook. -^ 

Jabez Harger was the first settler in this vicinity east of Sam- 
uel Riggs, and Dr. John Hulls the next, but apparently did not 
remove his family thither until 1673 or later. The Weeds, 
spoken of by Mr. J, W. Barber as among the first settlers in 
this vicinity, came after 1700, and if here, then were they 



Fairfield bounds, . . the north liounds Ijeing the Halfway river, the east bounds 
being the Stratford river, and the south hounds the sound or sea. 
May 25, 1 67 1. 

Sucskow, his mark. Musquatt, his mark. 

Susqua James, " " Nesinpaes, " " 

Peowse, " " Sasepaquan, " " 

Totoquan, " " Shoran, " " 

Tatiymo, " " 

This deed was confirmed in 16S4, by the following: 

Papuree, his mark. Chickins, his mark. 

Ponamscutt, " " Sashwake James, " " 

Aennhe, " " Crehero, " " 

Robin, " " Nasquero, " " 

Matach, " " Cheroromogg, " " 

Siacus, " " 

Oct. 8, 1671. A receipt was signed by the following in full acknowledging the re- 
ceipt of " 20 pounds of lead, five pounds of powder, and ten trading cloth coats, the 
which we acknowledge to be the full satisfaction for all lands lying within the bounds 
of Stratford. 

Musquatt, his mark. Sassapagrem 

or Piunquesh, his mark." 

^"poi- and in consideration of one Indian coat in hand paid by Jabez Harger of 
Pagasett and other considerations . . one parcel of land . . adjoining to the said 
Hargers land and John Hulls, south and east, bounded with a rock north as high as 
Plum meadow, and bounded with the west side of Horse Hill. 

Also to Jonas Tomlinson ten acres lying on the south of Horse Hill. 

Indian witness, Okcnug, his mark. 

I lusks, his mark. 

•28 "J okenuck, sole and only sagamore of Pagasett do sell . . to Samuel Riggs 
and Abel (runn . . a parcel of land called . . Horse hill, bounded on the south 
with a brook, and on the east with a swamp and the Indians land, on the north with 
a brook, and on the northwest and southwest with two brooks called Beaver brook 
and Horse Hill brook ; for and in consideration of one blanket by me. 

April 20, i(')74. Okennck, his mark." 

6 



42 mSTOKV OF DKRBV. 

scarcely settlers at Derby Landing as represented by the same 
writer. 

In the autumn of 1673. as indicated by the following record, 
a very important enterprise was planned and put in form to be 
executed in due time, with a precision becoming the dignity of 
what was regarded in those days, the great component part of a 
plantation. Abel Gunn wrote the record with the most careful 
definiteness, ornamenting the commencement of every line with 
a capital letter, and although it may appear odd, there is about 
as much propriety and beauty in it as in the present custom of 
ornamenting poetry in the same way. 

" Item. At a lawful meeting of the inhabitants of pagasett together with those proprietors of Stratford 
And Milford that have some land in improvement there, november 18, 1673. 
It was voted and agreed that they would build Mr. John Bowers a dwelling house 36 feet 
In length and 18 feet and a half in breadht and story an half m height Mr. Bowers 
Finding what glass, nails, and iron works that shall be necessary for the house ; this 
is to be finished so as Mr. Bowers may live in it with his family by the next May 
Ensuing the d.ate above written. 

" Item. It was agreed between Mr. Bowers and the inhabitants of Pagasett that in case the said 
Mr. Bowers should come to the possession of this house if he should be taken away by de.ith 
Within the space of six years, that then this house shall be to his heirs and assigns 
For ever, but in case the Lord continues his life he liath not the power of dispt- 
Sal of it in way of selling until he hath fulfilled the just time of six years with 
Them in the Ministry; but after the term of six years Mr. Bowers hath full power 
Of the disposal of the above said house and in case Mr. Bowers shall see case within 
The space of this six years to remove from them it is always provided that the 
Inhabitants shall pay him for what it is any ways better by his improvement and then 
The [house] to remain to the inhabitants 

•' Item. The inhabitants at the same time have agreed with John Hulls to build this house 
Dimentions as above said for the value of 33 pounds, the condition of which agre- 
Ment is this that the said John Hulls shall do all the timber work concerning 
'I'his house and get the planks for the lower floors; the iuhabitants do eng.v 
Ge to get the clapboards and shingles and to cart all the timber; they also engage 
A rediness to help in case they are called and desired by John H ulls provided they 
Have a day's warning before hand; and for every days woik this winter season 
'I ill March they are to be allowed two shillings a day, and after the first of Mar- 
Ch they are to have 2S. 6d. per day. 

" Item. At the same time Mr. Hawley, Nicholas Camp, John Beard, Henrj' Tomlinson & John Briiis- 
Mead did en;.;age 20 pounds towards the building of the h<iuse in equal proportion anio- 
Ngst themselves ; and to pay ten pounds if it be demanded at the rearing and ten pounds 
At the covering of the house and because of present distance they are to be e.\emp- 
Ted from particular days works about the building. 20 

" Item. It is agreed by the inhabitants that they will cause to be paid to Mr. Bowers 
After the first year, from year to year the full and just sum of .£35 in such 
Ways as may best suit his needs, either in work or otherwise, they still maintain- 
ing him with firewood such as may be comfortable from time to time. 

" Item. As to the fiist year, seeing the inhabitants are like to be at great expences in 
Building ; Mr. Bowers is willing to take up with what the inhabitants shall or will 
Voluntarily do for that year. 

" Item. But in case the house return to the inhabitants upon the terms specifi- 

Ed, then they shall pay unto Mr. Bowers the proportion of the first years salary 
As they paid the second year. 



'.» I hey all resided then in Stratford. 



MINIS riCKIAL SUPPORT. 43 

" Item. The inhabitants do allow Mr. I'owers, 12 acres in his house lot 6 acres on Senti- 
Nel hill, 20 acres on Horse hill, as soon as it is purchased ; which land he hath 
Upon the same terms he hath the house above said. 

Mr. Bowers desires and the inhabitants do grant him a watering place in 
His home lot, and the improvement of the parsonage, upland and meadow. These 
Articles of agreement between Mr. John Bowers and the inhabitants, of Paugassett, 
As also between John Hulls and the inhabitants there, as also what the pro- 
prietors engage and consented to at a lawful day and year above 
Written I say have mutually consented that these articles and every part 
Of these particulars shall be recorded and to stand firm in law to all true 
Intents and purposes whatsoever." 

The Colonial law for the maintenance of ministers was as 
follows : 

"Whereas the most considerable persons in these Colonies came 
into ihese parts of America that they might enjoy Christ in his ordi- 
nances, without disturbance ; and whereas among many other precious 
mercies, the ordinances are and have been dispensed among us with 
much purity and power, The Commissioners took it into serious con- 
sideration, how some due maintenance according to God might be pro- 
vided and settled, both for the' present and future, for the encourage- 
ment of the ministers who labor therein, and conclude to propound and 
commend it to each General Court, that those that are taught in the 
word in the several plantations be called together, that every man vol- 
untarily set down what he is willing to allow to that end and use ; and 
if any man refuse to pay a meet proportion, that then he be rated by 
authority in some just and equal way ; and if after this any man with- 
hold or delay due payment the civil power to be exercised as in other 
just debts. "■^" 

In 1672. a lot called sometimes the minister's lot, at others the par- 
sonage lot, was fenced since the one so laid in 1665, in the village had 
been sold, or exchanged, and the lot rented yearly ; and it was the use 
of this that Mr. Bowers asked. 

It will be observed that the record says repeatedly that the inhabi- 
tants make these agreements ; which was according to the matter of 
fact, there being no other way since Paugassett was neither a town nor 
an ecclesiastical society in a town. Ecclesiastically they were a part of 
Milford, and paid to the support of the minister there, where they at- 
tended church, and all that was paid for preaching in Paugassett before 
it became Derby was in addition to the paying of their full share at 
Milford. There were services here before 1675, as Mr. Bowers was 
here as early as 1672. Those men, therefore, of Stratford who owned 
land here, must pay their full tax in Stratford, and then their tax on 



'[Records of United Colonies, September 5, 1644.] Col. Rec. vol. i : 11; 



44 1IIS1()K\ Ol' DI'.KBV. 

Paugasett land for the support of preaching in Milforrl, and then in 
a voluntary way for the minister in Paugasett, if they desired to prove 
that a minister could be maintained in this last place. Mr. Bowers 's 
house was built according to contract, and he probably took possession 
of it as soon as finished. 

Preparations being made at this time under the expectation that the 
Court at its coming session would do something for them, the voters 
assembled and arranged some rules for the 

ADMISSION OF INHABITANTS- 

"April i6, 1675. The inhabitants of Paugasuck being sensible of 
the great inconvenience of men coming and taking up land and not 
dwelling and improving it according to the expectation of the inhabi- 
tants. d<» now order and agree that all which shall be entertained for 
inhabitants, for time to come, shall build a sufficient house according 
to law, and fence in his home lot and convenient outland, and inhabit 
constantly for the space of four years after the grant of all such lands, 
and that all persons that have and do take up land upon this grant, if 
they do not fulfill the order and shall go from the place and not fulfill 
these conditions shall forfeit all his and their grant of land and pains 
about it except the inh;ibitants see cause to favor him or them."' 

If such conditions were granted, at the present day, on the 
unimproved lands of the United States, they would be eagerly 
accepted by hundreds of thousands yearly. The grant usually 
made was four acres as a home lot, or lot to build on ; eight or 
ten acres of upland or tillable land, and as much more in swamp, 
or meadow ; making twenty or twenty-four acres. The home 
lot was to be fenced, and the individual was to take his part in 
the fences about the large fields if he had lands within them ; 
and must " build a sufficient house and inhabit four years," and 
then the land became his forever. 




CHAPTER 11. 

DERBY. 

1675-1680. 

" General Court at Hartford, May 13, 1675. 
PON the motion of Joseph Hawkins and John Hulls 
to have the privileges of a plantation granted to the 
inhabitants of Pawgassett there being about twelve 
families settled there already and more to the number 
of eleven preparing settlement forthwith, and that they have en- 
gaged a minister to come and settle amongst them speedily, 
and have expended about one hundred pounds in preparing a 
house for the minister; This Court for their encouragement do 
grant them the power and privilege of a plantation ; and for their 
bounds, this Court do reserve power in their hands to settle 
their bounds (when they are informed of the state of those 
lands,) so as may be most accommodating and least inconven- 
ient to the said Pawgasuck and the new town going up at Mat- 
tatock ; and do order that the future dispose of lands within the 
bounds to be granted them and settlement of what is purchased 
already for improvement, shall be ojdered and disposed by the 
committee appointed by this Court to see to the settlement of 
both the bounds and distribution of lands, so as may be best for 
the upholdment of a plantation as is now granted to them ; 
which committee is Capt. John Nash, Capt Wm. Curtiss, Lieut. 
Thomas Munson. 

" The plantation of Pawgasuck is by this Court named 
Derby,^ and is freed from Country Rates for three years next 
following, they defraying their own charges." 

THE TWELVE FAMILIES WERE: 

Edward Wooster, Stephen Pierson, 

Francis French, John Hulls, 



1 Derby, a shiretown of Derbyshire, England, 127 miles nearly north-west of Lon- 
don, was the town after which the new town was named, as some of these settlers 
came from that part of England. 



4-6 HISTOKV OF DEKMV. 

Joseph Hawkins, Jeremiah Johnson, — 

Samuel Riggs, Jabez Harger, 

Ephraim Smith, Ebenezer Johnson,.^ 

Abel Gunn, John Tibballs. 

Those intending "to come in forthwith," and who had re- 
ceived grants of land, were: 

Mr. John liowers, George 15eaman, 

Dea. Abel Molbrook, John Brinsmade, 

Capt. John Beard, Henry Tomlinson,^,^ 

Nicholas Camp, Jonas Tomlinson, 

Joseph Hawley, Henry Botsford, 

Moses Johnson. 
All settled here within a few years except Mr. Hawley ; Henry 
Tomlinson and Mr. Camp did not come in for some years, if 
at all. 

The fact of being organized into a plantation guaranteed all 
the powers and privileges of an ecclesiastical society without a 
separate organization. The plantation, (or town as they began 
to call such organizations about that time,) held all powers 
which have since been delegated to ecclesiastical societies to 
provide for the preaching of the gospel, and thus it continued 
more than one hundred years, and there probably were no 
records other than town records of ecclesiastical doings in this 
parish until after the Revolution. The church proper kept 
records from the first, as is indicated in one or two town records 
which have been seen, but nothing of these can now be found. 

A MINISTER ENGAGED. 

Rev. John Bowers had been preaching here some time when 
the record of November, 1673, was made, and the proposition 
of the town to settle him and provide for his support proffered 
and accepted by him. He was in Branford, it is said, in 167 1, 
and may have come here in the next year, but the probability is 
that he came first in the summer of 1673, and after a few months 
the proposition to settle him was fully considered and the con- 
clusion reached as recorded, upon one condition, namely, that 
the Assembly would grant them to be a separate plantation, 
for they could not continue to pay to the support of Milford 



FIRST MINISTER ENdAdEO. 4/ 

church and support their own many years, as they were then 
situated. 

Mr. Bowers's house was most likely built in the winter accord- 
ing to the agreement, and probably he made his home in it in 
the spring of 1674, as proposed. This house was located on the 
hill in the vicinity where the first meeting house was located : 
since his land is said in the records to have joined that of Fran- 
cis French, Samuel Riggs and Jeremiah Johnson. 

A vote of the town was passed in February, 1674, " that all 
lands granted and claimed within the bounds of Pawgassett 
should pay to the full maintenance of the minister, and that the 
minister's maintenance shall be levied by no other estate, but 
only by lands, and all lands shall be laid out and prized to tillable 
lands either in quantity or quality." So that those who had 
accepted grants of land, whether they occupied them or not, must 
pay their full share according as their land rated in the classes. 
The classes were as follows, being appraised in 1670, for Derby, 
by the court : " House lands twenty shillings per acre, other im- 
proved lands one-fourth part twenty shillings per acre, the other 
three-fourths ten shillings per acre, and all other lands improved 
[without] fence, one shilling per acre." 

Such were the efforts made by these few settlers at this time, 
in a deep, thick wilderness, to secure homes and the ordinances 
of the Gospel A little while, only, they were to live and labor, 
and then go hence to return no more. The Gospel brouj^ht the 
only hope of any good beyond their earthly toils, and without 
that, the wilderness, though it should blossom with every joy and 
comfort beside, would be but a wilderness of fears and death. 
The efforts of these persons were really wonderful, amazing ! 
Twenty-three families, twelve only in the place, support a minis- 
ter nearly two years, while at the same time paying their full 
share of ministerial tax elsewhere, and building a minister's 
house at a cost of one hundred pounds, and they in a new 
country, wTth but little land cleared upon which to raise any 
produce. In half of the twelve families the parents were mar- 
ried only a few years, and had but little with which to lay the 
foundation of their life work on new farms. Under these cir- 
cumstances the struggle for success was beyond description. 
But three ways were open before them ; to go without the 



48 mSTOKV Ol" l)KRI5V. 

Gospel, or go to Milford, or support a minister at home. 
Nearly twenty years some of them had gone to Milford on Sun- 
day and back, to obtain all the good they had had from the 
means of grace, and they knew quite well how much that cost. 

A story is still told which illustrates the religious character of 
the people of that day and the perils of the wilderness. The oc- 
currence must have taken place between 1670 and 1673. A fam- 
ily by the name of Johnson, (and there was but one here then,) 
before services were held in Paugassett, consisted of small chil- 
dren and the parents. The father went to Milford on Sunday 
morning to the meeting to remain to the two services. The 
mother was engaged dressing the chil'dren for the Sabbath, 
when sitting near the door which stood open, she heard some 
animal near it, and thought it to be a hog. But the next sound 
seemed different from such an animal, and she reached and shut 
the door which fastened with a latch, making it quite secure. 
She then rose and made it more secure by the usual method, 
and went upstairs and looked out the window to see what crea- 
ture it was, when, lo ! a bear of full size and power was seen. 
She took the gun, it being loaded for just such interesting occa- 
sions, and exercising the best of her skill, fired, and old bruin 
gave up his life at once. The hours of that day went slower in 
that house than ever before, until the master came. On arriv- 
ing home the husband called the neighbors in general camp- 
consultation as to whether it would be wicked to eat that bear, 
since he was killed on Sunday, for had it occurred on any other 
day except a fast day, there would have been no question, as 
such meat was judged quite delicious and healthful. The de- 
cision of the council was that since it was "killed in self-defense 
it would be Christianly consistent to eat the meat;" although 
how the bear could have entered the house to the injury of the 
family after being fastened out, is not easy to see at this late 
distance. The decision having been rendered, the animal lay 
untouched until the sun was quite down, when he was dressed, 
and furnished some two hundred pounds of provision. But it 
had cost a severe fright to that mother and her little ones. So 
far as she could judge the bear might be dead and harmless, or 
he might not ; she could not venture out to see. and there she 
remained six hours in a prison of fear. Nor were the people 



Tite FAITH ()[<■ THE FATHERS. 49 

without their apprehensions of such visitors every day. After 
the father of this family had left that morning, another family 
on their way to Milford meeting, called, and the woman had it 
in her mind to propose to stay with the mother and children 
instead of going to the meeting, as she apprehended danger im- 
minent to such a family. 

Hence it was that this people petitioned so often and 
earnestly for the organization of a plantation, for with that 
would come the minister, the meeting services in their own vi- 
cinity, and new planters, as well as officers for the protection of 
life. 

When, therefore, the young people of the present day propose 
to laugh at the faith of the old people, it would be well to con- 
sider how much those old people did and endured because of 
their faith, without which we should never have enjoyed the na- 
tional grandeur and blessings which are now our inheritance. 
As well might a son smite his father for loving him as for the 
favored sons of the nineteenth century to laugh at the faith of 
their fathers of the seventeenth. 

Most perfectly does the language of Dr. A. Beardsley paint 
the contrast between the old and the new; the former days and 
the latter, and how much we are indebted to those who e)idHred 
as seeing that which should be, but died without the sight. 

"A simple narrative of events often becomes a mirror, reflect- 
ing the good or ill, the great or ignoble of mankind. In our 
small and ancient settlements germinated the government of this 
western world, which has so long provoked the admiration and 
terror of despotic Europe. 

Our commonwealth was among the first to lead the way. 
The little Colonies began upon the shores of the sea-coast and 
the principal rivers, and as they became extended it required 
their combined power to protect themselves against the savage, 
who might justly have styled himself king in his own land. 
The settlements, uniting in a common defense and for a com- 
mon humanity, found it inconvenient to assemble their freemen, 
and deputies were convened to enact laws and regulations, de- 
riving authority directly from the people. The head of the fam- 
ily was the mouth-piece, the ruling, governing principle ; tainted 
by no bribery, corruption, fraud or inglorious love of money, and 
7 



50 HISTORY OF DERRV. » 

thus originated the purest democracy the world ever saw. The 
river settlements and those emanating therefrom voluntarily at- 
tached themselves to the center at Hartford, while those upon 
the sea-shore joined New Haven, but in time it was more rea- 
sonable and more safe to connect the two, and thus we had 
given us under one name, Connecticut. From the river and 
shore Colonies, peopled mostly from Massachusetts and fresh 
importations, emanated a second class of settlements branching 
out into the country. 

Derby, long known by the Indian name of Paugassett, was 
one of this class, and she has the honor of being the first inland 
settlement made up the Naugatuck valley. Being an offshoot 
from Milford, Stratford, and New Haven, the pioneers were few, 
and her early growth gradual. Just two hundred and twenty- 
six years ago the sturdy Englishman, guided by the river banks 
with no pathway save the Indian's trail, set foot upon this soil, 
to survey in wonder and pious devotion these hills and this val- 
ley in all their primitive loveliness. Shining rivers, laughing 
brooks, trees and flowers in all their wild variety, through 
changing seasons spake their Maker's praise, while the wilder- 
ness was enlivened by birds, savage beasts, and still more sav- 
age man. 

How great, how astonishing, the change as we look out upon 
this amphitheater of picturesque scenery, teeming with her pop- 
ulation of thousands, noisy with the roar of waters, the hum 
of machinery, the shudder of gongs, the shriek of the steam 
whistle, and the varied voices of industry and enterprise, all 
blending and harmonizing in one perpetual song of development 
and progress ! 

As we look back through the dim retrospect and trace the 
early footprints of barbarism down to the higher walks of civ- 
ilization, and then consider what grandeur the principles of this 
civilization has wrought out within this brief period, how 
refreshing, how consoling the thought that our lot has been 
cast in more favored times. Nor should we forget or despise 
the endurance, the courage and the faith of those who have 
given us this inheritance. These early settlers had within them 
elements of success, besides a divinity of purpose, and like most 
of the New England settlers, were descended from the upper 



COURAGE OF THE PLANTERS. 5 1 

stratum of society ; the very brain, bone and muscle of the Old 
World. The more we study the more we admire the simplicity 
and honesty of their character. They came to this country for 
high and noble pursuits, and among these they chose to worship 
God after the dictates of their own conscience. They had 
their failings, incident to humanity, for which they have ever 
been ridiculed and criticised by writers and travelers, but some 
author in his warm defense of the Pilgrims has ventured the re- 
mark that, " God sifted a whole nation that he might send good 
grain into the western wilderness." 

The long toil of twenty years in the wilderness was sufficient 
to convince the stately General Court at Hartford that it would 
be safe to grant the humble petition of these faithful subjects 
and to condescend to meet the demands of justice, which had 
long laid prostrate at their feet. There is something pitifully 
ignoble in the deliverance of the court when granting the peti- 
tion. "This court for their encouragement do grant." They 
did not need encouragement, having shown a marvelous amount 
of courage in themselves under the puerile reproaches of the 
New Haven court, and the surprising indecision of the General 
Court. One writer Has stated that a general rule had been es- 
tablished in the state that no less than thirty families would 
constitute sufficient foundation for the organization of a planta- 
tion, but this is an error. The court judged that in this case 
such a number would seem to be the least that could be trusted 
to sustain the grant if once given. But had not this little com- 
pany surpassed all their surrounding neighbors in supporting a 
plantation in fact years before the honor was conferred upon 
them .'' And not only so, but had they not all the time been 
helping poor Milford pay her minister, repair her meeting-house, 
and discharge her town obligations, besides killing the wolves to 
save her sheep, and for which she refused to make any consid- 
erations to the hero, Edward Wooster .'' Twelve families at Pau- 
gassett, pleading for the privileges granted to, and sustaining 
themselves equally with, one hundred and fifty families at Mil- 
ford ! Need of encouragement ! " This Court, emulating the 
courage of the planters at Paugassett, do grant, pledge our sicp- 
^rt^' would have sounded far better for that Assembly after 
those twenty years of stinted confidence. At the very start the 



52 HISTOKV OF DEKHV. 

New Haven court, by the weight of its own power, after fully 
establishing the plantation, broke it down, and then complained 
of the want of energy of the planters, and threatened to make 
their village a desolation if they did not do something worthy of 
themselves. How often since that day has the same spirit 
ruled ? The strong, well-fed man ; the rich, the honored, have 
tauntingly asked. Why does not Mr. Jones rise up and show 
himself a man ? Why does not Mr. Smith use his money so as 
to make himself somebody ? And then place their iron heels 
upon the necks of the same men at each different business 
transaction in life, and grind them until the mystery is that 
there is any courage or manliness left. 

But at last Derby had a name and a place in the little constel- 
lation then rising along the shore of a mighty continent. 

Scarcely had the town time to elect its officers after receiv- 
ing the glad tidings of its authority, when the sound of terrible 
war rolled over the whole land ; and worst of all, an Indian war. 
King Philip had kindled the fires, and the smoke began to be 
seen. On the first day of July, 1675, intelligence of the break- 
ing out of the Indian war in Plymouth Colony, and of the dan- 
ger to which the eastern towns in Connecticut were exposed 
was received from New London and Stonington by the gover- 
nor and council, and the governor convened the court on the 
ninth of the same month to take action in the matter. The re- 
ports, which were found afterwards to be too true, represented that 
the Indians were in arms in Plymouth and in the Narragansett 
country, that they had assaulted the English, slain about thirty 
persons, burned some houses, and were engaging other Indians 
as far as possible " by sending locks of some English they have 
slain, from one place to another." The court appointed a coun- 
cil to have this matter in charge after the adjournment of that 
body, and ordered troops to be raised and dispatched as speedily 
as possible to the relief of the people in the eastern part of the 
state. Evidences soon came that the Long Island Indians 
were being persuaded to join in the effort for a general extermi- 
nation of the English. 

In addition to all this. Governor Andros, then of New York, 
being informed of the Indian troubles, appeared at Saybrook on 
the 8th of July, 1675, with two sloops bearing armed forces, 



K1N(; IMllLIl' S WAR. 53 

under pretense of rendering aid against the Indians, gave the 
Colonies great suspicion that he was secretly inciting the Indi- 
ans to this hostility and general uprising against the English, in 
order to wrest from the Colonies their liberties. 

In a letter sent by the General Court at Hartford, dated July 
I, 1765, to the magistrates at New Haven and the south-western 
towns, after describing the perils of the time, it is said : " The 
people ot Stonington and New London send for aid, and accord- 
ingly we purpose to send them forty-two men to-morrow, and 
have given order to ye several plantations here to put them- 
selves in a posture of defence speedily ; and these lines are to 
move yourselves forthwith, to see that the same care be taken 
in your parts for your security, and that all the plantations have 
notice hereof, both Guilford and so onward to Rye, that they 
also be complete in their arms, with ammunition according to 
law." 

The hostility of the Indians was confined apparently to those 
of the eastern part of the state, and Major Robert Treat of 
Milford being made commanding general of the forces of Con- 
necticut, was sent to the eastern part of the state, taking the 
soldiers raised by proportion from the plantations. How many 
went from Derby'" is not definitely known, but taking all the 
drafts made in the summer of 1675, a few must have been taken, 
although the council very thoughtfully directed that in this mat- 
ter the " smaller plantations be considered and favored in the 
press." 

Revs. Mr. Bowers and Mr. Walker say in their address to 
the General Court, after the war, that there were more taken 
from Derby and Woodbury than was the proportion for those 
towns. 

On the sixth of August, the Council ordered that : " The 
Providence of God permitting the heathen to make disturbance 
amongst the English by hostile attempts upon them, hath occa- 
sioned forces already to be sent forth, and brings a necessity 
upon us to take special order, therefore, that all persons be duly 
prepared and provide with arms and ammunition according to 

-There was a John Hull, suis^eon in the army in this war, l)ut he was of Kennel- 
worth, according to the records, whenever his residence is mentioned ; besides Dr. 
John, of Derby, is always recorded with the s to his name. Hulls. 



54 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

law ; and therefore upon this urgent and necessitous occasion 
the council hath seen special reason to declare and order that 
all those who are to provide arms and ammunition according to 
law, meet on Monday morning next by sun an hour high at the 
meeting house, in their respective plantations, upon the penalty 
of the forfeiture of five shillings for non-appearance, there to at- 
tend such farther directions as shall be given them in charge by 
their commanders." 

Although the Derby people had no meeting-house at which to 
assemble, yet there must have been gathered that morning fif- 
teen or twenty soldiers at the accustomed place of worship, to 
be examined as to their compliance with the law in providing 
themselves with guns, ammunition and war equipments, and 
while they gathered Indians were near observers on every side. 

There was not at this time any regularly organized military 
company in the town, but as they were to take care of the in- 
terests in their own town, it is probable that some minor officer 
was appointed by Milford, if there were none in regular stand- 
ing in Paugassett. 

On the first of September next, the Council being informed 
that " the Indians being in a hostile manner, prepared with their 
arms near Pawgasuck, and Mr. Bryan had posted to them for 
help," and that other demonstrations of hostility in the western 
part of the state were manifested, recalled Major Treat from 
the east to Hartford to protect the people. This is the first and 
the only mention in the records of hostility by the Paugassett 
Indians or their neighboring brethren. The Milford Indians 
complained to the Council about this time of severe treatment 
by the English, and the council wisely and properly ordered 
that special care should be observed not to give the Indians 
reason for unkind feelings. 

It was ordered also (Sept. 3), "that in the several plantations 
of the Colony there be kept a sufficient watch in the night, 
which watch is to be continued from the shutting in of the even- 
ing till the sun rise," and that one-fourth part of each town be 
in arms every day by turns, to be a guard in their respective 
plantations ; to be ordered and disposed as the chief military 
officers shall appoint ; and all soldiers from sixteen to seventy 
years of age, (magistrates, commissioners, ministers, commission 



RECOMMENDATION OF THE COURT. 55 

officers, school masters, physicians and millers excepted,) are to 
attend their course of watch and ward as they shall be appointed. 
It is also ordered that, during these present commotions with the 
Indians, such persons as have occasion to work in the fields 
shall work in companies, if they be half a mile from town, not 
less than six in a company, with their arms and ammunition 
well fixed and fitted for service. And whosoever shall not at- 
tend these foregoing orders shall forfeit for every defect, five 
shillings, provided it be complained of within fourteen days ; 
any one Assistant or Commissioner to hear and determine any 
one such defect." 

At the same time it was ordered that "whosoever shall shoot 
off a gun without command from some magistrate or military 
commander, until further order be given by authority, he shall 
forfeit for every such transgression the sum of five shillings." 

It was under such circumstances that Derby asked advice of 
the Court what they should do to secure themselves from harm, 
and received this answer: "Oct. 14, 1674. The Court return 
that they judge it the best and safest way to remove their best 
goods and their corn, what they can of it, with their wives and 
children, to some bigger town, who, in a way of Providence, may 
be in a better capacity to defend it, and that those that stay in 
the town do well fortify themselves and stand upon their guard, 
and hasten their removal of their corn as aforesaid what they 
may ; and all inhabitants belonging to the place may be com- 
pelled by warrant from any Assistant to reside there until this 
may be done. The like advice is by this court given to all 
small places and farms throughout this colony to be observed." 

It will be seen by this that all were to remain until the corn 
was mostly gathered, which would be but about a month, but it 
soon became more apparent that the Mohegan and Pequot In- 
dians and the Indians west of the Connecticut river, were not 
in the league against the English and could be trusted as friends, 
and as allies in defending the colonies. And the first fright of 
the people on the Ousatonic having passed away, and the fact 
that the Indians of Milford had appealed to the court for pro- 
tection, gave strong assurances that the western planters were 
comparatively safe. 

That Mr. Bowers and some of the other families removed to 



56 HISTORY OF OKKHV. 

Mil ford that winter is quite certain,'' but it is also quite cer- 
tain that a number of them remained and continued their work 
as usual, with doubtless the observance of the suggestions inti- 
mated by the court. Although they built no regular fort, they 
may have, fortified their houses^ as well as their hearts, in a 
comparatively secure manner, and especially so, so long as the 
Indians of Derby were friendly and on the watch for the enemy. 
The transactions of the town recorded in the spring and sum- 
mer of 1676, show that the place was not deserted, but that the 
spirit of enterprise and progress still reigned triumphant with 
that marvelously persevering community. What they could not 
withstand has not yet been written, if ever it shall be. 

In the spring of 1676, several town meetings were held ; a 
grant of land was made to Mr. Bowers of three acres of David's 
meadow ; Edward VVooster was engaged to make a " highway 
through the Long lot and the fishing place to the most conven- 
ient place to carry corn and other goods, or land them, . . the 
highway is to be a sufficient highway for two carts to pass." 
And in the autumn of that year they were active in the same 
manner, appropriating and laying out lands, and making im- 
provements. 

When the Assembly granted them the powers and privileges 
of a town, a committee was appointed to fix a place for a ferry 
and settle some matters of dispute as to lands which had been 
purchased by individuals above Birmingham, or on what was 
then called the Neck, which included land between the Ousa- 
tonic and Naugatuck rivers, which the town claimed the right 
to control, and to make apportionment to the purchasers in 
common with the other inhabitants. This land had been pur- 
chased in two parcels, forming a belt across the Neck, the north- 
ern boundary being at Four-mile brook and across to what is 
now West Ansonia, or thereabout. 



^In October, 1676, Mr. Bowers with Rev. Mr. Walker of Woodbury, addressed a 
letter to the General Court, saying : " We make bold before our return to request 
this honored court to resolve us in one important inquiry, namely: In case the war 
with the Indians should be again renewed, what may we expect and trust to, from 
the authority of this colony, in order to our protection ? " 

*We learn from I'rcsidcnt Stiles's History of the Judges, that Edward Riggs's 
house was fortified in the years of the early settlement, and if so, was probably again 
made as a fort for the juople to resort to if necessary, during the Indian war of 1675. 



THE FERRV. 57 

The report is a little lengthy, but shows the progress of set- 
tlement, and some old landmarks of importance. Mr. Joseph 
Havvley and Jonas Tomlinson of Stratford, had made one of 
these. purchases, and the former had built a house on his land 
in the vicinity now known as Baldwin's Corners, and Mr. Tom- 
linson had commenced a house at the same place. The work 
of the committee was concluded in February 1676 — 7, but re- 
ported the following May. 

At the time of the appointment of this committee, the Court 
ordered that the town of Stratford should ••• lay out a country 
highway, from their town to Pawgasuck, in the most conven- 
ient place where the ferry shall be settled." 

THE REPORT OF THAT COMMITTEE. 

Derby the 28/// February, 1676. 

At a meeting of the Committee, appointed by the General Court, 
May, 1675, to state a place for a ferry and a highway from it to Wood- 
bury, and for the distribution of lands in settlement of the place etc. 

And first concerning the ferry, they order and appoint it to be at the 
lower end of the old Indian field, and that little piece of land between 
the rocks and the gully or creek, to be for a place to build any house 
or houses upon, and yards for securing of goods or cattle that may be 
brought to the ferry, from Woodbury, Mattatuck etc 

Also for the encouragement of a ferryman, they appoint eight acres 
of land out of the said old field, next adjoining the aforesaid little 
piece of land, beginning at the said gully or creek, to be laid out from 
t'le highway by the river to the hill, of a like breadth in front and rear, 
and upon the hill fourteen acres of land adjoining to the aforesaid 
rocks and land on the southwest of it, with an highway to the ferry 
from the highway that goeth from Joseph Hawkins ; and also six acres 
of swamp or low land upon that hill against the said old field, as near 
and as convenient as may be for the making of meadow ; and also a 
proportion with others of tillable land upon the hills in any common 
field that shall be fenced in for the inhabitants that dwell above the 
ferry upon that Neck ; and also commonage with other inhabitants 
proportionably. 

Also they do appoint a highway of four rod wide from the said ferry 
by the river side upward towards Woodbury, unto the upper end of the 
aforesaid old field unto the highway tliat is now used towards Wood- 

8 



58 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

bury, and also that the highway from Joseph Hawkins's house to Mr. 
Hawley's lie where, or very near where it now doth. 

Lieutenant Joseph Judson, declared that if the inhabitants of Derby, 
would put in a ferryman in convenient time, they were content, or else 
upon notice given they of Woodbury would put in one whom the town 
of Derby should approve for an inhabitant, and that without any charge 
to Derby or the country. 

DISTRIBUTION OF LANDS. 

And for the distribution of lands and settlement, for the farthering 
the plantation of Derby, they have viewed the lands and considered 
the state of things there, and finding some difficulties and inconven- 
iences, there having been several tracts of land purchased by several 
persons at several times, both of English and Indians, and after con- 
sideration for the best good of the place, with their best judgment, 
order as follows ; first, for the lands on the Great Neck, Mr. Hawly 
having built a house upon one which himself with Jonas Tomlinson 
had from the Indians, they do appoint unto the said Mr. Hawly and 
Jonas Tomlinson all that land both above and below and the said house 
which they have fenced and improved, and also all the rest of the im- 
provable lands for tillage or orchards, below the hills, within that pur- 
chase to the river ; and also any low and swampy land, to make 
meadow, which is within that said purchase ; and that the said Mr. 
Hawly and Jonas Tomlinson. the one having built a house and the 
other having begun to build, do finish each of them a dwelling house, 
and both of them dwell upon it and become inhabitants there, or settle 
each of them an inhabitant approved by the town, within one year next 
ensuing, or else the town of Derby or such as the Court shall appoint 
shall have power to dispose of the said lands and homesteads to such 
as will come and settle inhabitants with them, and they divide their 
proportions as they may agree : secondly, for the rest of the lands be- 
low the said Hawley's, between the river and the hill (to wit. that plane 
where the old fort stood, and the adjoining land and the old field, as 
low as the ferry land) be divided unto at least six or seven inhabitants, 
and they to have home lots at the upper end towards Mr. Hawley's, 
and each or them four acres to his home lot. and to be at as little dis- 
tance from each other as the place will bear, and the rest of the said 
plane and old field to be equally divided among those six or seven, and 
that the low, moist or swamp ground upon the hills be laid out to the 
said six or seven in proportion, to make meadow, after the six acres 
for the ferry is laid out as aforesaid ; and also any land that is fit for 



INDIAN FORTS. 59 

tillage upon the hills (within the purchase from Mr. Bryan) shall be 
divided among the seven or more inhabitants, and also any farther field 
or fields that the aforesaid seven or more inhabitants together with the 
ferryman shall have need of and desire to take in and improve upon 
the hills above Mr. Hawley's house until each of them have his quan- 
tity of fifty acres beside swamp land for meadow, leaving liberty to the 
town to add to a man of more than ordinary use among them twenty 
acres, or within that quantity as they shall see cause. And then the 
rest of the lands within that neck to lie in common, until the town or 
such as the Court shall appoint, see cause farther to dispose for encour- 
agements of inhabitants there. 

Thirdly, that Plum meadow and the adjacent land is by estimation 
about twenty acres, lying on the east side the river that cometh from 
Naugatuck, be divided to accommodate at least two inhabitants. 

John Nash, ^ 

William Curtiss, > Cotnifiittee. 

Thomas Munson, ) 

The Court confirmed all the above, except granting Mr. Haw- 
ley and Mr. Tomlinson longer time to settle their land. 

The Old field was a cleared tract of land lying west of the 
Naugatuck a little back from the river, extending so far as to 
include about sixty acres. 

The Old Indian fort, stood near Baldwin's Corners, a little 
south possibly. The New Indian fort was on the east bank 
of the Ousatonic, on what has been known many years as the 
Talmadge Beardsley place. The old fort must have been built 
before the English came to the place, and the new one after 
they came, as it is said to have been built on the river bank for 
the purpose of preventing the English sailing up the river. 

In 1678, this land was laid out according to the directions of 
the Court ; to Mr. Hawley, Mr. Tomlinson, and the ferry-man 
whoever he should be, and to the six men to whom were to be 
apportioned fifty acres each, who were : William Tomlinson, 
Samuel Brinsmade, Samuel Nichols, Isaac Nichols, afterwards 
one of the first deacons of the church, John Pringle and John 
Hubbell, all of whom settled in the town. 

Plum Meadow, was a piece of land, as said, on the east side 
of the Naugatuck, and is probably that now occupied by the 
lower part of Ansonia ; or it may have been half a mile up 



60 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Beaver brook. Of this meadow, twelve acres were allotted to 
Thomas Wooster, son of Edward, at this time, and some of it 
to his brother David, in 1680 ; and a part of it to Samuel Grif- 
fin, the blacksmith, in 1682. 

But the difficulty between Mr. Hawley and the town as to 
these lands was not yet settled, and in 1679 Mr. Hawley had 
sued the town, and the town appointed Joseph Hawkins and 
Abel Gunn to defend in the trial. Mr. Hawley at the same 
time petitioned the Court for just pay for his land, and a full 
proportionment for his son, and the Court appointed the same 
committee as before, who rendered their decision promptly, but 
the matter did not become adjusted, and in 1679 the Court sent 
a committee to see the land measured ; the deeds which Mr. 
Hawley held (received from the Indians) delivered to the town, 
and the money paid, or guaranteed to Mr. Hawley. The com- 
mittee made their report the next year, and Samuel, son of Jo- 
seph Hawley is spoken of, as owning the land at what is now 
Baldwin's Corners. 

The following shows how the town paid Mr. Hawley. 

March 31. 1680-81. Paid by the Town of Derby to Mr. Joseph 
Hawley of Stratford for his purchases on the Great Neck. 

Item. Paid by Mr John Bowers 
Paid by Jonas Tomlinson 
Paid by Jonas Tomlinson 
Paid by Wm. Tomlinson 
Paid by Jonas Tomlinson for Francis Frencli 
Apr. 13 Paid by 4 bushels, 3 pecks of Indian corn 
Paid by Francis French 
Paid by a cow hide 33 lbs. 2 oz 
Paid by Indian corn 18 bushels & a peck 
" ** 15 bushels & a half Indian corn 
" " Joseph Hawkins in Indian corn 
" *' a bushel summer wheat&DaBrinsmead 
" " 13 lbs. hops 

" " Samuel Nichols 3 bushels & 12 a peck 
of wheat 
Apr. 14 Mr. Isaac Nichols of Stratford 
Mar 15 Mr. Hawley one rate 





s. 


d. 




£^ 


5 









6 


8 






17 







3 


1 1 









8 









1 1 


10 


1-2 




8 


9 






8 


10 


1-2 


2 


5 


7 


1-2 


I 


18 


9 







12 










17 


5 






10 


10 






18 


I 


1-2 


6 


05 


5 






6 








WHERE THE FERRY WAS. 6 1 

March 31. 1680. Money paid by the town of Derby to Mr. Nicholas 
Camp for Mr. Joseph Hawley &- by his appointment as the Court or- 
dered us 

s d. 

One steer of two year old & upward 217 6 

By John Prindle to Mr. Camp 6 05 6 

Per four yards & a half of cloth 1029 

Per Ebenezer Johnson 016 2 

Per 7 bushels & half a peck of Indian corn & 

I bushel & three pecks of rye i 491-2 





s. 


d. 


I 


15 


6 


4 


10 





2 


10 







6 






12 6 8 1-2 

March 31, 1680. Paid by the town of Derby to captain John Beard 
for Mr. Joseph Hawley & by his appointment . . 

Paid by Mr. Bryans Bill 
Paid by two 2 year old steers 
Paid by Mr. Richard Bryan 
Paid by Flax 7 pounds & a quarter 

916 

Per Samuel Nichols 3 bushels 1-2 peck wheat 18 i 1-2 

& 13 lbs hops 10 10 

Apr. 14. Paid by Isaac Nichols of Stratford in soap 5 5 5 

No traditions are now heard about this ferry ; every one sup- 
posing that the first and only ferry was just above Derby Nar- 
rows. But several circumstances as well as as the wording of 
the report establish the locality of the ferry. 

Woodbury was very much interested in the ferry and did 
finally plant it, as will be seen, but that people had no use for 
a ferry across the Ousatonic at old Derby landing, for they would 
not wish to cross the Ousatonic above Derby, for the sake of 
crossing it again below that place. The Derby people had no 
need of a ferry at that place for all lived some distance up the 
river. Again the people on the Neck did need some way to 
cross the Naugatuck when the water was high ; and the only 
path or road out of the plantation, south or east, was from Old 
Town and several of them owned land which they cultivated on 
Sentinel hill, besides the meetings were held on the east side 
where they were about to build a church. 



62 HISTORY OF DERRV. 

The ferry was established at the place where the old New 
Haven road now crosses the race between Ansonia and Bir- 
mingham on the west side of the Naugatuck valley, where was 
then the main bed of the Naugatuck river. Here was the 
** point of rocks," and " the gully " mentioned in the report, and 
the '^ little piece of land " on which to build houses for the pro- 
tection of cattle and other merchandise that might come thither 
to be freighted across. Besides, the ferry-man's land was to 
join this little piece of land ; and when this land was laid 
out in 1683, the lot of one of the six men who were to be settled 
near Mr. Hawley's house was laid, bounding on Mr. Henry 
Williams's lot, who was the ferry-man, and both of these lots 
were in the old field. The location of Mr. Hawley's house is 
fixed very definitely by the town records in the vicinity of Bald- 
win's Corners. 

When the committee made this report on a ferry, Woodbury 
offered to put in the ferry and furnish the ferry-man if Derby could 
not or did not do it. This ofter they fulfilled upon the invitation 
of Derby. The agreement of Woodbury and the ferryman was by 
the faithful Abel Gunn recorded among the land deeds, where 
it might surely be a witness to the engagement, 

"Woodbury Sept. 8, 1681. Be it known . . that we the Select- 
men of Woodbury on the one part and Henry Williams on the other 
part in order to the settlement of a ferry at Derby, appointed by the 
General Court: 

" First. That the said Henry Williams shall have the boat that be- 
longs to the town of Woodbury, furnished and fixed as his own 

•• That the said Henry Williams shall have as his ferryage for those of 
Woodbury that have occasion to improve him, if a single person and 
horse, then at six pence per lime ferryage, and two persons with one 
horse eight pence ; two horses and two persons or more at four pence 
per person for each time ferried over. 

•*It is concluded that this shall no ways hinder any travelers from 
Woodbury riding over the river at any season when with safety . , 
they may adventure. 

" It is concluded that our interest in that accommodation settled by 
the aforesaid committee of a ferry with the consent and approbation of 
our neighbors and friends of Derby, shall be and remain the said Wil- 
liams's absolute propriety during his well and seasonable attending the 



NEW SETTLERS. 63 

said ferry, at his own charge and cost successively as it relates to pro- 
viding boats forever. 

'• That this is our mutual agreement is signified by our subscribing 
hereto. 

Witness 
Henry Hitt Joseph Judson 

Elizabeth Minor John Minor 

his 

Henry X Williams" 

mark 

The families as established on t"he west side of the Naugatuck 
river in i6S\, as near as can be ascertained were Joseph Haw- 
kins, John Pringle,® who may have resided a short time on the 
east side, William Tomlinson, son of Henry, of Stratford, Sam- 
uel Brinsmade, Samuel Nichols, Isaac Nichols, John Hubbell, 
who afterwards removed froin the town, and Henry Williams, 
the ferry-man. 

It does not appear, so far as seen, that any of Mr. Hawley's 
family had settled in the house he had built here. Samuel may 
have lived here a short time, but soon after he is said to be of 
Stratford. A large grant was made to him afterwards in the 
western part of the tou^n, which he may have accepted in place 
of this at Baldwin's Corners. 

There may have been other residents here who were not yet 
accepted as inhabitants. Isaac Nichols, sen., may have been 
proprietor instead of his son Isaac, or he may have resided with 
one of his sons, and yet he may have come later. 

In 1677 town meetings were held nearly every month, and 
grants of land made on the usual conditions to Daniel Collins, 
Samuel Nichols, Josiah Nichols, Paul Brinsmade and William 
Tomlinson, who all afterwards settled in the town, probably 
within the two years following. 

The town located several pieces of land for Mr. Bowers ac- 
cording to the agreement made in 1673 ; and the whole com- 
munity seemed to put on new courage, without regard to what 
had passed. They do not seem to have once looked behind 
them, for, having escaped the land of bondage, they did not de- 
sire to go back, not even for leeks and onions, but rather to find 



^This name was written with a "g" instead of "d" nearly too years. 



64 HISTORY OF DKKin'. 

the milk and honey of the land possessed and now their own in 
the truest sense. 

Hence, early in the year they commence a movement of prog- 
ress that would constitute them truly an independent people, 
so far as methods, privileges and established ordinances could 
secure that end — the organization of a church. They had nobly 
wrought out, step by step, and scarcely more than a step at a 
time were they allowed to go by the authorities who should have 
lent a helping hand, their right to the privilege of a township. 

One thing should not be forgotten ; that, whatever the char- 
acter of the red man as generally reported, the Indians, in and 
around Derby, during the King Philip's war, were true friends to 
their neighbors, the white man, never harming one hair of his 
head, but the rather rendering important service, so far as all 
reports and records show, and hence the planters moved on, af- 
ter a brief pause, almost as though no war had existed in the 
country ; and the taking possession of this old field, and build- 
ing houses at the door of the Indians' wigwams caused the In- 
dians to remove to the new Indian fort, and to Wesquantock, 

GATHERING A CHURCH. 

At Milford the church was first organized, then the town out 
of the church, or by the authority of the church. In Derby the 
town was first organized, then the church, by the authority of 
the town and the state. 

"At a town meeting of Derby, Feb. 25. 1677. The Lord having by 
his providence called a company of his dear servants into this corner 
of the wilderness, calls upon us first to seek the kingdom of God and 
the righteousness thereof, which hath put several persons upon the en- 
quiry of the town for their free will and consent to gather a church at 
Derby and to walk in a church and set up the ordinances of God ac- 
cording to gospel rules as near as we can attain, according to our best 
light. 'I'he town having had two meetings about the same. The first, 
all the inhabitants were willing, and gave their consent in the thing ; at 
the second meeting which was Feb. 25, 1677. all gave their consent by 
word of mouth, not to hinder so great and so good a work, but do en- 
courage to set upon it and will help to maintain if settled, and give 
their consent to ask counsel and consent of neighboring churches in 
order to a church gathering." 



A CHURCH ORGANIZED. 65 

This done, a petition was prepared to set before the court the 
desire of the inhabitants ; which was dated May 6, 1678, and 
signed by John Bowers, John Hulls and Joseph Hawkins. This 
petition appears in Mr. Bowers's handwriting, and is a weari- 
some thing to read, and if his preaching was like this writing, it 
would be a sufficient ordeal for all the grace common mortals 
obtain to hear him preach two sermons a week the year through. 

On the 30th day of the next April (1678) the town appointed 
Joseph Hawkins and Abel Gunn to go to the General Court 
with the petition and secure its request, " provided it be for the 
good of the town." A certificate was given these men as their 
authority, signed by John Hulls and Samuel Riggs, and re- 
corded on the town book by the faithful Abel Gunn. 

In reply to this petition the court made its record dated at 
Hartford, May 9, 1678 : 

" Upon the petition of the inhabitants of Derby this court do see 
good reason to grant the said people of Derby free liberty in an orderly 
way to settle themselves in a church state ; and do desire the Lord's 
gracious blessing presence to be with them, guiding and directing them 
therein. 

" In regard to the troubles that have been there late years, the court 
see cause to remit unto the inhabitants of Derby their ordinary country 
rates for three years, to commence October next." 

The troubles referred to were probably the partial removal of 
the inhabitants during King Philip's war, and the consequent 
losses and expenses. 

No records of the organization and attendant ceremonies are 
to be found, but the " orderly way" enjoined by the court, and 
the request that the court should give its consent "to ask coun- 
sel and consent of neighboring churches in order to a church 
gathering," guarantee that the usual order and services were 
observed. There are no traditions as to where or in what house 
such services were held, nor whose was the house in which Mr. 
Bowers held services, some five years before the meeting-house 
was built, but with the spirit and devotion manifested there is 
no reason to doubt that ready accommodations were cheerfully 
offered in the dwelling-houses of the place. It is possible that 
the first three or four houses were log-houses, and after that 
9 



66 HISTORY OF DEKHV. 

Others may have been built in the newer settlements, but after 
the laying out of the first land the houses seem to have been 
constructed with a frame and covered with clapboards and 
shingles ; these being rived from the logs instead of sawed, 
there being no saw mill nearer than Milford at that time. 

The organization of this church was strictly in accordance 
with law.'' They first asked authority of the town, next of the 
state (colony then), then \\\q. advice and consetit of neighboring 
churches. No church could be organized at that time withont 
consent of the court, no doing in church matters without 
such consent would have been legal, and all such illegal acts 
were punishable by law. When New Haven and Milford or- 
ganized their churches they were under no jurisdiction, but 
with Derby it was very different. Nor is it surprising that it 
was so, for the colonists had come from the mother country, 
where the church was the state, and the state was the church as 
to authority in government. 

Mr. Bowers was probably installed at the same time the 
church was organized. The only mystery in the lives of these 
planters is, that demanding certain rights of freedom, they could 
not see the propriety of granting the same to others. Aside 
from this they did surprisingly well. 

It was a misfortune, or more definitely a want of wisdom, that 
when they sought to become more truly devoted to religious 
life, they went back three thousand years and placed them- 
selves voluntarily under the old Mosaic laws, instead of taking 
the gospel of Christ as revealed in the sermon on the mount. 
However, it is just the same thing that is re-enacted over 
and over at the present day ; most of the dissenters from any 
denomination go back, for one thing or another, two hundred 
and a thousand years ; and some as far back as Moses, again, 



""This Court orders that there shall be no ministry or Church administration en- 
tertained or attended by the inhabitants of any plantation in this colony district and 
separate from and in opposition to that which is openly and publicly observed and 
dispensed by the settled and improved minister of the place, except it be by appro- 
bation of the General Court and neighboring churches, provided always that this 
order shall not hinder any private meetings of godly persons to attend any duties 
that Christianity or religion call for, as fasts or conference, nor take place in such as 
are hindered by any just impediments on the Sabbath day from the public assem- 
blies by weather and water and the like." Col. Rec. i, 31 1. 



WHEAT AND CORN AS MONEY. 6/ 

to find what they are pleased to call "the old paths." But this 
their folly is their ruin. Forward, not backward, says the gos- 
pel. 

HOW THEY PAID TAXES. 

At a general court held at Hartford October 1 1, 1677, notices 
were sent to the towns as follows : 

" This court doth grant a rate of eight pence upon the pound upon 
all the ratable estate of the Colony, to discharge the country debts, to 
be paid in good and merchantable wheat, peas and Indian corn, pork 
and beef ; winter wheat at five shillings per bushel ; corn at 2 shillings 
and six pence per bushel ; pork at three pounds ten shillings per bar- 
rel . . and beef . . forty shillings per barrel ; always provided if 
there be above one third paid in Indian corn it shall be at two shillings 
per bushel." 

This last item indicates what was the great article of ex- 
change, because of the abundance of it. Corn grew everywhere 
except in the swamps, and rewarded the planter with larger 
profits than any other kind of grain. Wheat was the gold coin, 
or standard, for paying taxes or anything that must be paid, or 
in other words was demanded by law, but corn was the silver 
exchange, and fell a few grains short of the standard under some 
circumstances. However, in the simplicity of their arithmetical 
calculations they had not learned to equalize the matter by 
making the bushel a few grains short when the supply was 
abundant. That art was left for the high aspirations of later 
ages ; they could not compass all things in one generation ! 

Possibly this abundance of corn and corn meal for bread was 
the foundation of that remarkable physical strength, great en- 
durance and long life experienced by the people of the new set- 
tlements during the early times of pioneer life. Certain it is 
that Indian pudding was an article well known in Connecticut. 
In one town many years since a peddler sold his wares at diifer- 
ent times and observing that the people of the principal road in 
the town always had hasty pudding at their meals, honored that 
part of the town with the name Pudding street, and from such 
glory that street has never yet escaped. 

In the northern part of Litchfield, Conn., lived a sedate old cap- 
tain, whose word was never doubted, who used to make the re- 



68 HISTORY OF DERHV. 

mark of honor to his wife, that she had made an " Indian pud- 
ding every day for forty years, Sundays excused." That was 
steady habits, as to food, sufficient for any granivorous enthu- 
siast on the continent, in all probability. 

Corn was the circulating medium more than a hundred years 
in Derby, and not much less than that time a legal tender, by 
colonial law, without depreciation of value, except when more 
than one-third of the taxes was paid in that commodity. 

The methods and customs of living, were very simple at this 
time, and that of necessity, but were seasoned with more culti- 
vation than became the practice one hundred years later. The 
necessity for perpetual work under circumstances of privation 
and great difficulties, had not a refining effect on society ; and 
add to this, the consequent very limited social opportunities, 
and want of general education, and there is a state of commun- 
ity favorable to indifference to culture, with a tendency to 
morbid roughness of manners and language, and hence, in the 
general, society degenerated during the first hundred years, 
rather than improved. The privations were greater at first, 
but afterward, habit made it honorable to make much out of 
little, and, to see, not how much comfort could be secured, but 
how much discomfort could be endured, and maintain a respect- 
able existence. Sacrifices became the heroic idea, and men, 
women and children, were subjected to needless hardships, to 
test their physical powers and spirit of subjection to the idea of 
honor in sacrifices. 

The year 1678, was one of great activity and considerable 
success. Lands were appropriated by small pieces, for special 
accommodation, and also to be rid of some pieces left in the di- 
visions already made. The land continued to be parceled out 
by pieces of three, four, five and ten acres as at the beginning. 
The first settlers, supposed there could be no good meadow, 
except in the swamps, (an old country idea) and hence, every 
swamp was as carefully divided into pieces of two, three and 
four acres, as though they were the very fountains of life. 
Every hill, covered with scattering cedars, was pieced out in 
the same way, lor plow land. Sentinel hill, which then meant 
the whole elevated land for a mile and a half or more, east and 
southeast of the present Old town, (or Uptown) was parceled 



THE OLD BOOK. 69 

out into ten-acre pieces, and liome lots of three acres, but sev- 
eral pieces were inclosed by one fence around the whole, mak- 
ing a lot of a hundred acres. Home lots of four acres were laid 
on Great hill after 1700, just the same, and the swamp and up- 
land the same. Hence, there was much buying and selling of 
lots, in order to get the farms into one body. Whenever these 
sales or exchanges were made, no deeds (usually) were given, 
but the fact entered by the town clerk upon the records, and 
that was all. One book contains nearly all the deeds, exchanges, 
records of town meetings, marriages, deaths, births, marks of 
cattle, that were made before seventeen hundred. Besides, 
when the General Court enacted regulations effecting the town 
directly, that faithful recorder, Abel Gunn, wrote them in this 
book. In October, 1677, the Court sent him the nominations 
made for the next spring election, and down he put them, in 
this book, many of them in an abbreviated form, as Major Robt. 
Treat Esq., Cap. Ben Newberry, Mr. Sam Sherman, Mr. Ed 
Griswold, Cap. Dan Clark, Mr. Dan Wetherell, Leu. Rich 
Olmsted. 

As to faithfulness, Abel Gunn was not surpassed, except in 
the record of births, and in that only by Rev. John James, who 
as Town Clerk made this entry : " At a town meeting, Jan. 13, 
17CO — I, Samuel Riggs, son of John and Elizabeth Riggs, was 
born, at Derby." *' Born at a town meeting " would suggest, 
that young Samuel should have delayed important events, or 
the town meeting should have adjourned to another place. 
Promptness, however, has been characteristic of the Riggses, 
from Capt. Samuel, down, as is still witnessed by the appear- 
ance of the old farm, and hence, there could be no delay out of 
respect to a town meeting. 

In this year it is recorded, that Joseph Gardner, having built 
a small house upon a lot that was formerly granted him upon 
conditions, which were never fulfilled, " therefore, the town 
have taken the forfeiture into their own custody, and sold it to 
Philip Denman for thirty shillings." If this was the usual cost 
of houses, they were not very safe fortifications against bears or 
Indians. 

In laying out land this year on the Neck, the locations are 
designated by Paul's Plains, East hill, Indian field, Bar Plains ; 



70 HISTORY OF DEKBV. 

which last is supposed by some, to have meant Bare plains, 
but as there was another name for land a little further up the 
river, apparently called Baren plains, the former may have been 
called Bear plains, where the bears came to obtain grass. 

Boundaries between adjoining towns received attention, both 
by the General Court and the town, and of the difficulties in 
this matter there was no end for a hundred years. 

In April of this year, a tract of land was purchased of the 
Indians,^ at what is now Seymour village, lying on both 
sides of the Naugatuck river, including what is now district 
number five and district number four, to Bladen's brook, and 
extending east into Woodbridge and Bethany to Mill river. In 
this deed, a reservation was made by the Indians of" the fish- 
ing place at Naugatuck and the plain and the hill." This was 
probably mostly on the east side of the river, but may have, by 
the term " fishing place," taken in some land on the west side. 
This was the land on which Chuse and his company settled. 
Mr. J. W. Barber** says Chuse's father, gave him this land, 
then called the Indian field. But this was the reservation of 
the Paugasuck Indians. Yes, and the Pootatucks as well, for 
the leading men of each tribe signed deeds conjointly, for many 
years, denoting general property ownership. Mr. Barber says, 

""This indenture made the 22d. of April, 1678, witnesseth that we d<i sell unto 
the inhabitants, a tract of land at Pagasett, bounded on the north with Bladen's 
brook, and northeast with the Mill river, and south and southwest with the English- 
man's ground, and west and northwest with a hill on the west side of Naugatuck 
river part of the bounds and Naugatuck river the other part, . . all of which we 
do confirm unto the said inhabitants; only the said Indians do reserve the fishing 
place at Naugatuck, and the plain and the hill next the river, at the fishing place. 
Further, the Indians do grant all the grass and feed and timber on the plain against 
rock Rimmon, and do engage to sell it to them if they sell it, . . all which grants 
we do confirm for forty pounds to be paid to them at Mr. Bryan's. 

Okenung Sagamore, his mark. 

Indian Witnesses, Ahuntaway, his mark. 

Husks, his mark. Jack, his mark. 

Suckcoe, his mark. Cockapatana, his mark. 

Sauquett, his mark. 

Toms squaw, her mark. 

Tom, his mark. 

Chettrenasuck at the top of the deed, signed his name as Cockapatana at the bot- 
tom, or his signature was omitted at the bottom." 

^Hist. Col. 199. 



FIRST PURCHASE AT RIMMOX. 7 1 

the father, "Gideon Mauwehu, lived in the vicinity of Derby." 
Very likely, for he was probably the son of Chusumack the 
Pootatuck chief or sachem, who removed from where the village 
of Shelton now stands, opposite Birmingham, to Pootatuck at 
the mouth of Pomperang. 

It will be observed that the deed says, " the fishing place at 
Naugatuck," naming the place rather than the river. This 
agrees with tradition, which reports that the place was first 
named Naugatuck, and afterwards that name was given to the 
river, in the place of the name Paugassett. In one early deed, the 
stream is spoken of, as the " river that cometh down from Nau- 
gatuck." 

Land having been purchased of the Indians^ in the vicinity of 
Rock Rimmon, lying on both sides of the Naugatuck, the town 
granted to Ebenezer Johnson " the upper plain land against 
Rock Rimmon, and that it shall lie for division land ; and the 
town grant the said Ebenezer to take in another man with him." 
The other man was Jeremiah Johnson, the father or grandfather 
of Bennajah, and the town afterwards confirmed a grant to him 
in that place " at the lower plain." Samuel Riggs, John Tib 
balls and Daniel Collins received also a division each at this 
same time and at the same place. These were the first owners 
of land in the vicinity of what is now Seymour village, on the 
east side of the Naugatuck river. This was in February, 1678-9. 
Soon after this the town granted Ebenezer Johnson one hundred 
and fifty acres of the land he had purchased at this place in con- 
sideration of the money he paid to the Indians for this land, and 
he delivered the deed to the town. 

Further progress was made in 1679, in the settlement of in- 
habitants and perfecting the methods of town work. They seem 
to have become alarmed as to the. supply of timber and made 



^"This indenture made this 19th of Feb. 167S, vvitnesseth We . . with approba- 
tion of Okenuck sagamore, have sold to Ebenezer Johnson three small parcels of 
land, bounded on the northwest with Rock Rimmon, and on the east with Lebanon, 
and on the south with a small brook and Naugatuck river, and on the west with an 
hill on the west side of Naugatuck river so as to take in the little plain ; for seven 
pounds in hand received. 

Ahuntaway, his mark. 

Chetrenasut, his mark. 

Jack, his mark." 



72 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

this rule or law : " No man or men shall have any liberty to 
make any clapboards, or shingles, or pipe-staves, or any coopers' 
timber, to transport out of the place, upon the penalty of forfeit- 
ing all his or their timber, or the value thereof to the town 
treasury." 

This is as strange as the laying out the land for the six men 
as ordered by the court committee. They began at Paul's 
plains, laying a highway by the side of the river, and then meas- 
ured to each, three acres as nearly as might be, making up de- 
ficiencies and deducting surplus, elsewhere. These men were 
Isaac Nichols, Samuel Brinsmade, John Pringle, William Tom- 
linson, John Hubbell and Samuel Nichols. The Ferry man 
received his at the same tinie, or a little after. At East Hill, 
each received four acres ; at Bare plains one acre each ; at 
Hasaca meadow two acres each ; in the Indian field eight acres 
each, and four acres each adjoining, for a home lot ; and on 
Woodbury road, another amount each. Then swamps and other 
items, to make fifty acres each. Men receiving grants of land 
this year and the next, were Hope Washborn, William Wash- 
born, John Davis, John Johnson, John Beach, John Pringle, 
Jonas Lumm, Joseph Guernsey. Hope Washborn's home lot 
was located joining Henry Williams (the ferryman) in 1685. 

Exchanges of property were common as indicated in the fol- 
lowing sale: "Feb. 11, 1679, Daniel Collins sells to Abel Hol- 
brook, his house that now stands on the said Collins pasture ; it 
is 27 feet long, 18 1-2 feet wide & the pasture 6 acres : provided 
the said Holbrook Rende and bring to the house clapboards 
enough to clapboard the roof sides & ends of the said house ; & 
also the s*^ Holbrook is to dwell and attend the order of the town 
his full time upon the said lands as he was engaged upon his 
own," 

Abel Holbrook sold his house at the same time to Daniel 
Collins, with a house 22 feet by 18 feet. 

The number of town officers was small at first, but in after 
years became very large. 

Officers for 1678 : Ebenezer Johnson, constable ; Ebenezer 
Johnson, Samuel Riggs, Wm. Tomlinson, townsmen ; Francis 
French, Ephraim Smith, fence viewers ; Abel Gunn, surveyor; 
Wm. Tomlinson, surveyor for the Neck ; Ebenezer Johnson, to 



NEW RULE TO SETTLERS. 73 

keep ordinary [tavern] ; which was the first in the town so far as 
noticed. 

In 1683, George Beaman was chosen grave digger, the first so 
elected so far as has been seen ; and was to receive two shil- 
lings for a child's grave, and two shillings and sixpence for an 
adult's grave. 

In 1679, ^n<^ thereafter, they had two committees for fence 
viewers, one on the east side, and the other on the west side of 
Naugatuck river, who were to view the fences once a month, 
beginning the first day of March. George Beaman was ap- 
pointed town marshal, to warn the voters to town meetings, 
and those who did not reach the place within half an hour, after 
being warned, were fined sixpence, while those who did not 
come, were fined one shilling. Two or three years later the fine 
was more than doubled upon failure to reach the place of the 
meeting within an hour after being warned. 

In this year the town changed its rule of accepting settlers, 
and voted " that hereafter persons taking up land (granted by 
the town), shall pay the purchase price," whether they should 
reside on it or not. The former method was to give the land, a 
four-acre home lot, ten acres upland, and four to six acres of 
swamp to make meadow, to the man who should build a house 
and fence his home lot, and reside four years, meeting other 
town claims of taxes ; under which arrangement they sometimes 
stayed but part of the time, and left without ceremony. John 
Hubbell proposed to leave after staying three years, and applied 
to the town for liberty so to do, but they required him to pay 
fifteen pounds money to the town, upon which his land and im- 
provements should be his, the same as though he had remained 
his four years. A lot was granted on the east part of Sentinel 
hill to John Tibballs ; he left it after a year or two, and settled 
on Great Neck ; the house became the property of the town 
upon its being deserted, and the town gave it to four others in 
succession, who afterwards settled in other parts of the town. 

Two votes were necessary to constitute a man an inhabitant 
of the town and a voter. The one was to accept him as an in- 
habitant, the other to grant him the usual allowance of land, 
which being worth the ten pounds money necessary to become 
a voter, qualified him for that freedom and endowment, upon 



74 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

his taking the oath. If he had taken the oath in another town 
it was not required again. 

Tradition says that one man moved into the town and resided 
some time, a year or more, and the town ordered him out, and 
sent men who took him and his goods and set him out, because 
he was an infidel. Nothing was alleged against his character 
as a citizen or neighbor, save the one thing, an infidel., and what- 
ever that meant is unexplained, but it is quite certain from his- 
tory that the word was used in those days to mean those who 
believed in the Bible, but not in the interpretation commonly 
given to that book. What foundation there was for such a tra- 
dition may be judged from the record of that faithful town clerk, 
Abel Gunn : "Aug. 21, 1682. The town does not acknowledge 
William Corsell to be an inhabitant at Derby, and do desire the 
townsmen to warn the said Corsell out of the town forthwith." 

It is very evident that this action of the town never originated 
from the Sermon on the Mount, nor did the fathers pretend that 
it did. They lived under Moses's law, in religious things, and 
not that of the man of Calvary. 





i 



CHAPTER III. 

A MILL, A MEETING-HOUSE, AND WAR. 
1681-I7OO. 

HE history of Derby might very properly be considered 
in three periods, characterized by the different pursuits 
of the inhabitants during those periods. The first was 
purely agricultural, the second commercial, and the 
third or present, manufacturing. Each period has developed its 
master spirits, most of whom, having fulfilled their destiny, have 
left lasting impressions for the benefit of coming generations. 

In this age of civilization, when the people are borne from 
village and town to and from the great centers of business with 
the speed of lightning, when the waters swarm with the whiten- 
ing sails of commerce, when cities are rising by magic, factory 
upon factories springing up like mushrooms along the rivers to 
increase our products, followed by neat little cottages, beautiful 
country seats, and costly mansions, occupied by a population 
happy and resplendent in the accumulated wealth of the dead 
and the living, they can know but little of the trials and impedi- 
ments that stood in the way of our ancestors, when they first 
pressed their footsteps into the untrodden wilderness, and for 
many years thereafter. When the white settler first reposed on 
Riggs hill, all that his eye rested upon was wild, coy, and un- 
cultivated wilderness, seemingly as from the first dawn of crea- 
tion. The forest, dense with the oak, the chestnut, the pi^ne, 
the hemlock, the walnut, the cedar and the elm, all growing in 
luxuriant majesty, obscured from human eye the rising and set- 
ting sun, while it sheltered and protected the deer, the wolf, the 
bear, the catamount and other wild animals in great variety, 
from the hunter's long and weary pursuit. The Indian, content 
with his cherished games, still roamed at times over his ancient 
hunting grounds, while his mate prepared for him his feast of 
fish and fowl and moose, governed by no rule save the pangs of 
hunjrer. 



^6 HISTOKV OF DKKIU'. 

Thus began the first period, the settlers, after clearing a few 
spots must have obtained their food, clothing, tools, necessaries 
of life, and few comforts, almost exclusively from the soil, pre- 
paring them for use mostly with their own hands, for it is true 
that the first period passed under the reign of slavery, wherein 
much of the heavy toil was borne by servants, for there was 
scarcely a family during the first seventy-five years but that had 
its slave or slaves. Their luxuries, unlike those of sickly and 
modern refinement, consisted in a self-sustaining independency, 
and though rude and simple, they aided in the development of 
strong physical and mental energies. Their first mechanic was 
the carpenter, then the blacksmith, the tanner and the shoe- 
maker. The grist mill, where the miller refused toll for grind- 
ing, was a public institution, established like the school and 
the church by the legal authorities of the settlement. The 
prices of all produce were fixed by the same legal authority, and 
to refuse a bushel of corn for a debt at the lawful price, would be 
the same as to refuse at the present day, a gold dollar for one 
hundred cents. Their roads or cart paths, led first to the mill, 
then to the church, before any outside market was contemplated. 
Their buildings were erected without square and compass, or the 
use of the saw mill. The clapboards for their houses were rived 
and shaved in the same manner as shingles. The ax performed 
wonders in those days as well as the jack knife, while heads and 
hands became self-reliant, ingenious, and skilled in use ; and the 
proverbial remark of the latter instrument is no more celebrated 
than was the realization of it in those days. Not only a wooden 
clock could the English Yankee make, but a great number of 
still more useful things, where every man and woman was skilled 
in guessing the time in the day or night, without clock or sun- 
shine. During the first thirty years the settlers of Derby lived 
in isolated families, mostly, in small houses, some of which were 
really huts ; one new house being sold by the town authorities for 
thirty shillings after the builder had vacated it and left the town. 
Intheiroccasional journeys to Milford or New Haven, with neither 
roads nor wagons, they more frequently went on foot, sometimes 
on horseback or in a cart. Imagine what was once reality, a 
mother with her little son walking to Milford and back on Sun- 
day to hear the gospel preached. So it was, and so they thought 



LOCATION OF THE FIKST MILL. 7/ 

it wise to cultivate the heart and religious thought, without the 
present dash and extravagances of that which is only life for 
the present world. 

THE FIRST MILL. 

The inhabitants of Derby having toiled patiently twenty- 
seven years in securing a town settlement, passing through 
many difficulties, and one Indian war season, and having at- 
tained public notice as a people, and some reliability as to prop- 
erty, proposed to make some improvements as to comforts, and 
voted : "At a town meeting Aug. 29, 168 1, to encourage such a 
man as will build a sufficient mill for the town of Derby, by 
giving him twenty pounds and build a dam, provided it shall be 
in such a place as a committee shall agree upon with the man. 

" For making the dam the town do engage to attend the call 
of the committee, giving a days warning, at all such times as 
the committee appoints till the dam be finished ; and that the 
town will give accommodations to the mill which shall remain 
forever to the mill ; and the town grants to the mill twenty 
acres of land that lieth on the brook adjoining, and ten acres of 
pasture. It is further agreed that the charge of building the 
mill dam shall be paid by a town rate." 

The work of building such a mill for the thirty-five tax payers 
in the town, at the time, was really great, and occupied some 
years before it was completed. Dr. John Hull was the man who 
undertook the work. He had built the parsonage in 1673, for 
which work there had not been a full settlement until 1682, 
when a conmiittee was appointed to " recon " with him in that 
matter. 

In 1684, he was made one of the town committee to attend to 
the completion of the mill, with power to call out men as he 
might need them to work on the mill. 

This mill was located on Beaver brook, half a mile east of the 
Congregational Church at Ansonia, and remained there proba- 
bly some thirty or forty years, when a new one was built on the 
Old river a little above the New Haven road across the valley. 

Several pieces of land were granted which determine the loca- 
tion of this mill, although in the town record it is not said where 
it should be set up, except that it says on the brook, making it 



yS HISJOKY OF DEKBV. 

sure that the mill was not on the river. In 1683, the town 
granted "Thomas Wooster for a pasture that land that lieth 
north of the little brook above the Trangram, bounded with 
Plum meadow west, the common north, Jabez Harger's pasture 
east, brook north." Plum meadow was the low land where the 
south part of Ansonia now stands, or back of it adjoining the 
hill. In laying Jabez Harger's pasture the Trangram is also 
mentioned, and called then, and in seyeral other places, John 
Hull's Trangram. 

The John Hull, Junior's homestead was at the north end of 
this Plum meadow upon the hill east. Tradition tells us that 
the people of Old Town used to call the part of the community 
where John Hull lived the North End ; that meant the north 
end of the village settlement. After the mill was located there 
it became more thickly settled, but the name North End still 
survives. In 1696, after Dr. John Hull had been in Walling- 
ford eight years, the town passed a vote of complaint that John 
Hull had not fulfilled his agreement about the mill, upon which 
he made over the mill property, a gift, to his son John ; and at 
the same time deeded him and his brother Joseph the other 
lands and houses he ovened in the town, principally on Riggs 
hill, east of the Riggs farm, and Joseph Hull, the first, remained 
on this farm some years after it was given to him. 

THE FIRST MEETING-HOUSE IN DERBY. 

The location of a meeting-house was a difficult task very often 
in the towns of Connecticut, and was more frequently done by 
a committee from the General Court, but Derby men deter- 
mined to practice the rights of freemen and settle this question 
upon that ground ; for on Nov. 22, 1680, they passed a vote that 
"all the inhabitants of the town (i. e. voters) should have liberty 
to put in their votes, where the meeting house should stand," 
thus deciding to be governed by the majority. At this time 
there was no ecclesiastical organization in the town, aside from 
the town. A church had been organized, but whether its mem- 
bership consisted of the free voters of the town or otherwise, 
there is nothing to show ; it would have been very natural to 
pattern after Milford, but there is no certainty, and then society 



FIRST MEETING-HOUSE. 



79 



was undergoing a change after the uniting of the New Haven 
and Connecticut Colonies. 

After the above vote, the question was tried, and those in fa- 
vor of "• setting the meeting house upon the hill above Ephraim 
Smith's " (afterwards called Squabble hole,) were Mr. Bow- 
ers, Edward Wooster, Joseph Hawkins, Willia^i Tomlinson, 
Samuel Riggs, Ephraim Smith, Abel Gunn, Francis French, 
Samuel Nichols, Thomas Wooster, John Beach, — eleven. 

Those against were : Jeremiah Johnson, Philip Denman, 
Stephen Pierson, John Tibballs, — four. 




THE FIRST MEETING-HOUSE IN DERBY, ERECTED IN 1682 



Those absent were: John Hulls, Jabez Harger, George Bea- 
man, David Wooster, Ebenezer Johnson, Abel Holbrook, Isaac 
Nichols, Samuel Brinsmade, Jonathan Nichols, Jonas Tomlin- 
son, — ten. 

Having done this they took a recess one year to consider the 
subject, and were probably the more inclined to this policy since 
there was so much difference of opinion as to the location. 

"Nov. 22, 1 68 1. The town have voted to build a meeting house 
twenty-eight feet long and twenty feet wide, . . this winter; that is to 



80 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

say, to fall and square the timber and get the shingles and clapboards 
by the last of March next and cart them to the place, where it is agreed 
to be set ; and also the said house is to be ten feet between joints. 

" Further, For the carrying on the building of the said house the 
town have chosen a committee which shall have full power to call out 
the inhabitants as they see cause, and when they please ; the committee 
is Sargent Hulls, Joseph Hawkins, Abel Gunn and Philip Denman. 

" Further it is agreed that the charge and cost of building the afore- 
said house shall be done according to every man's estate in the list. 
In case any man neglect or refuse to work when he is called, he shall 
pay two shillings and sixpence to the work, having had two days warn- 
ing, those that work when called to have two shillings and six pence 
per day. 

"Dec. 14, 1 68 1 they have agreed to build and frame the said house, 
and raise it, and make the window frames ; viz : six windows, two on 
the front side, one on each end and two on the pulpit side ; all the 
window frames to be transume frames, leaving three lights in each tier, 
a set and a half in length in the lower length, and a set in the upper tier. 

" Further, Whereas the former vote respecting the place where the 
meeting house should stand, seemed to be difficult with some, the town 
have voted the second time that the place near the tree where the town 
met and sat down shall be the place where the meeting house shall 
stand, without any more trouble." 

This plan as to the meeting-house seems to have been car- 
ried into effect and the work accomplished as rapidly as could 
be, under the circumstances that then surrounded them. John 
Hull was the head man of the committee and was probably the 
leader in all the work. When built it must have had the appear- 
ance of a low barn but for the windows and the door, but it was 
the best they could do, and that may be better than their de- 
scendants do, even with their very fine and costly meeting- 
houses. 

As it was voted to collect the money by tax for the mill and 
the meeting-house, a new list was made this year of land and 
personal estates, and was placed on record among the land 
records. One leaf containing about half of the account of per- 
sonal property has been torn from its place in the book and 
cannot be found. All the land that was taxable at that time is, 
probably, given ; the land owned in the unbroken forests was 
not taxable. 



KEEPING SHEEP. 51 

When the work had progressed one year, and finding nearly 
the amount of the tax to be raised, the town sent Abel Gunn to 
the General Court to obtain release from country tax, which the 
Court granted for two years. 

It will be seen that in the lists recorded, there are no sheep ; 
the reason was that the General Court in 1666, "freed all the 
sheep in the Colony from the list of estates whereby rates are 
made, until the Court see cause to alter it." And in the follow- 
ing October, "The Court proposed that some method be de- 
vised by each town to burn or subdue the undergrowth in the 
woods near the settlements to provide pasture for cattle and 
sheep." 

In October, 1670, "the Court, for the encouragement of rais- 
ing sheep, &c.," ordered that every male person in the several 
plantations, from fourteen years old and upward " that is not a 
public officer, viz. : an assistant, commissioner, or minister of 
the gospel," should work one day in the year, sometime in June, 
yearly, in cutting down and clearing the underwood, so there 
might be pasture. The selectmen of each town were to have 
charge of this matter, and see that the work was done or heavy 
fines collected. In 1673, the Court made further provision con- 
cerning the raising of sheep, declaring that "whereas the in- 
crease of flocks is found very advantageous to this Colony, and 
as experience doth show that the breed of sheep is much de- 
cayed by reason of neglect of breeding, and suitable care for 
the flock, that it is ordered by the Court that two or three 
meet persons in each plantation shall be appointed to take care 
that suitable care should be instituted in regard to the care and 
breeding of sheep." These men, called sheep masters, were ap- 
pointed regularly for many years. It was also ordered, at the 
same time, " that no sheep should be kept on the commons ex- 
cept in flocks, except where the flock was less in number than 
one hundred, to prevent the sheep either doing or receiving 
harm." 

In the year 1703, this method was in full operation, as is evi- 
dent from the record : " Voted by the proprietors of sheep that 
they will hire a shepherd for the year, from the first of April ; 
and William Tomlinson, senr., Stephen Pierson, senr., and Sargt. 
Thomas W^ooster be sheep masters, to have power to hire a 



82 



HISTORY OF DERBY. 



shepherd ; besides that any of our neighboring towns have lib- 
erty to send as many sheep as the sheep masters shall see cause 
to admit." 

Many cattle and sheep were sent from Milford, Stratford and 
New Haven to be pastured at Derby. 

But little did the people of Derby think that just one hun- 
dred years from this time, the first grand impulse should be 
given to the proper care and breeding of sheep in America, by 
a son of its own soil ; that a flock of one hundred selected 
sheep, from the best flocks in Europe, should cross the ocean in 
one vessel and land at Derby. That honor was to fall on Derby, 
by its enterprising and noble General Humphreys. 



THE LIST OF DERDY LAND BY ITSELF, PRIZED IN 168I. 



Sargent [E.] Wooster's land prized. 



14 acres of meadow, £\\ 

6 acres long lot, 6 

10 acres in the Fishing place, 7 

4 acres waste land in Fishing 

place, 
i^ acres home lot, 

6 acres pasture at home lot, 

4 acres two-mile island, 
i^ acres plow land Zacha lb., 



s. d. 
o o 



4 

1 10 



34 10 
Sargt Saml Riggs's land prized, 1681. 



4 acres of meadow, 

2 acres of meadow, 

3 acres plow land in meadow, 
3 acres home lot, 

6 acres plow land Setinel hill, 
3 acres plow land at jjlains, 
9 acres pasture, 
8 acres at Rimon, 



Ephram Smith land, :68i. 

4 acres meadow, 

4 acres mowing land, 

7-J acres plow land. 



£.\ 



I 10 

3 o 



s. d. 

;^4 o o 

300 
5 10 o 



Sar. Hull's land prized, 16S1. 

12 acres in the corner ne.\t s. 

the said Hulls, £\2 o 

13 acres in the nook next the 

river, plow land and 

meadow, 9 o 

4 acres pasture, i o 

7 acres at Trangam, 3 10 

3 acres plow: i James medow, i 10 

2 acres mowing, i James " i o 



10 







28 








William Tomlinson's 


land, I 


6S1. 


s. 


d. 


i-^ acres home lot, 




£1 


10 





-} in Indian field, 


1681. 


5 


12 





Francis French land, 
2i acres home lot, 


7 
£2 


s. 
10 




d. 



3 acres Cankrod, 




3 








2^ acres meadow, 




t 


10 





2^ plow 1 in meadow. 




I 


5 





2 acres Sent, hill, 




I 










10 


5 





Widow Harger (Jabez) land 
13 acres of land. 


, 16S1. 


s. 



d. 



9 acres more. 




4 





I 


i^ Rimnion, 







>5 






'4 15 .' 



Samuel Nichols land, 1681. 

I acre home lot, 

7^ acre in Indian field, 



ASSESSOR S LIST. 

Jonas Tomlinson's land, 1681. 



s. d. 

£^00 

5 i^ o 



6 i: 



Samuel Brinsmead's land, 16S1. 









s. 


d. 


j^ acres, 15s. per acre, 




^5 


12 





Stephen Pierson's land. 


1681. 




S. 


d. 


3^ acres, home lot. 




£?■> 


10 





I acre Island meadow. 







10 





2 acres, James meadow. 




I 










5 








John Beach's land, 1681 






s. 


d. 


i^ home lot. 




£^ 


10 






Abell Holbrook's land, 1681. 

4 acres home lot, 

John Pringle's land, 1681. 
7 acres plow land, 

Joseph Hawkins's land, 16S1. 

19 acres plow land, 
i^ Island, 
2| Upon the hill, 
3 acres meadow, 

5 acres mowing land, 
7 acres waste land, 

Jerimiah Johnson's land, 1681. 



s. d. 
.^400 



s. d. 
£S 5 o 



s. d. 
£^9 o o 

300 
500 
070 



28 15 o 



^Z 



s. d. 



10 acres of land, £10 

ID acres plow land, 1 5 per acre, 7 



17 10 o 



Sargent [Ebenezer] Johnson, 1681. 

^5 



io| in field, 
21 waste land in field, 
3 acres home lot, 
I acre in meadow, 
8 acres Rimmon, 



Isaac Nichols, sen, land, 1681. 



s. d. 
5 o 



13 16 



s. d. 



I acre home lot, 
7I acres field. 



Philip Denman's land, 16S1. 

3I acres meadow, ) 
4- acre plow in med, ( 
1 4 plow, home lot, 
I acre home lot, 
I acre Island, 



^I 





5 i^ 





6 12 





s. 


d. 


£3 15 





I 10 





I 





15 






700 



Phop. Isaac Nichols's land, 1681. 

s. d. 
8 acres, 15 s. per acre, ^,^5 19 o 

Daniel Collins, 16S1. 





s. 


d. 


3I acres home lot, 


£2, 10 





4 acres Sentinel hill. 


2 





3 meadow Rimmon land. 


I 10 





5 acres plow land. 


2 10 






3^ acres home lot, 

George Beaman's land, 16S1. 

2 acres home lot, 

Abel Gunn's land, 1681. 

6 acres meadow, 
3-i plow land, in meadow, 
2 acres home lot, 
44- acres at the plains, 
910 o [ li bought of Jonas, 



£3 

£~ 
£(> 



s. d. 
10 o 



s. d. 



John Tibball's land, 16S1. 
24- acres home lot. 



s. d. 
£2 10 o 



I acre \n pastor, 
I acre Cankrod hill, 



I 15 o 



3 10 o 
I 5 o 
I o o 



16 



84 



HISTORY OF DERBY. 



DERBY LIST IN 


THE YEAR 


Sar. Wooster. 




I Person, 


/i8 


4 Horses, 


i6 


2 Two year old horses. 


4 


2 Oxen, 4 cows. 


26 


3 Three year olds, 


9 


2 Two year olds, 

3 Yearlings, 
8 Swine, 


4 
3 
8 


Land, 


34 lo 




122 10 


Sar. Hulls. 




3 persons, 
3 horses. 


;^54 
14 


2 o.xen, 


lO 


r Three year old, 


3 


5 Cows, 


20 


2 Three year olds. 


6 


I two year old. 


2 


I yearling, 
i6 Swine, 


1 

i6 


Land, 


28 




153 


Ebenezer Johnson. 




2 Persons, 


£36 


3 Horses, 


12 


3 o.xen, 


15 


3 Cows, 


12 


I three year old, 


3 


I three year old horse, 


3 


I two year old. 


2 


6 swine, 


6 


I Two year old, 


2 


Land, 


13 16 




104 16 


Jeremiah Johnson. 
2 Persons, 


£36 


I ox. 


5 


I Cow, 


4 


2 four year olds, 

I three year old, i two year 


8 
old, 5 


2 Yearlings, 

I horse, i three year old. 


2 

7 


4 swine, 


4 


Land, 


9 10 



1 68 I, PERSONAL 

Joseph Hawkins. 

1 Person, 2 horses, 

2 oxen, 2 four year olds, 
2 three year olds, 

5 Cows, 

2 two year olds, 

4 yearlings, 

8 swine. 

Land, 



ESTATE. 



£26 
18 

6 
20 

4 

4 

8 
28 15 



Samuel Riggs. 




"4 15 


I Person, 




£^s 


2 horses and 2 oxen. 




18 


4 four year old. 




16 


2 three year old, and 


I two year 




old. 




8 


4 yearlings. 




4 


9 swine, 




9 


Land, 


Haven. 


20 10 


Joseph Peck of New 


93 10 


I cow. 




£4r 


Francis French. 






I Person, 




^>8 


I ox, I horse, 




3 


3 cows. 




12 


2 three year olds. 




6 


I two year old and 2 


yearlings. 


4 


S hogs. 




5 


Land, 




10 5 



80 10 



Thomas Wooster. 

1 Person, 

2 horses, 

2 oxen, 

3 cows, 
10 swine, 

I two year old, 

4 acres of land. 

Widow PLirger. 

1 Person, 

2 horses, 
2 oxen, 

2 cows, 
10 swine, 
Land, 



64 5 



10 

2 

62 

s 

10 

8 
10 
10 

64 



AMOUNTS OF GRAND LIST. 



85 



The amount of the General list of estates for the town, as 
sent to, and preserved by, the General Court, possesses special 
interest as showing the very gradual growth as to property and 
persons in the town. The number of persons paying taxes, 
was not reported after 17 10. It is quite surprising that the in- 
crease of persons paying taxes in the town, from 1685 to 17 10, 
twenty-five years, was only twelve. 

Paugassett was taxed separately under New Haven jurisdic- 
tion in 1660, £1 8s. 8d., in 1661, jCi 6s. 2d., in 1662, ;^i i8s. 5d. 

After this the proprietors paid taxes as individual members 
of the town of Milford until 1775, when organized as a town, 
then out of the next ten years the General Court released them 
eight years from country taxes. 

LIST OF ESTATES AND PERSONS : 



I6S5 


;{:204I 


38 


1686 


1893 


39 


1687 


2051 


41 


1689 


1304 


38 


1690 


1337 


39 


1 69 1 


1963 


41 


1692 


1559 


37 


1693 


1630 


34 


1694 






1695 


1804 


42 


1696 


1696 


42 


1697 






1698 


1863 


40 


1699 


1920 


40 


1700 


2109 


51 


I70I 


2389 


47 


1702 


2327 


53 


1703 


^377 


60 


1704 


2756 


56 



^2749 



6s 



1705 
1706 
1707 
1708 
1709 
1710 
1711 
1712 

1713 
1717 
1718 
1719 
1720 
1721 
1722 

1723 
1724 
1725 



The meeting-house was framed in the spring of 1682, as ap- 
pears from a vote of the town to allow the men who should do 
the work, three shillings a day for this work, and it was prob- 
ably completed in the plainest manner that summer. No ac- 
count has been seen of the seating of this house, or any work 
done on it until 1707, when after having voted to build a new 
meeting-house, they concluded to repair the old one, which con- 
tinued to serve them until 1718. 



2697 


57 


2855 


53 


2825 


50 


2856 


49 


2927 




3006 




3367 




3241 




3667 




3823 




3994 




4287 


' 


4389 




4615 




4506 




4494 




5310 





86 



HISTORY OF DERHY, 



The support of the minister in addition to all taxes was quite 
an item. 

" November 21, 168 1. The Town for the providing Mr. Bow- 
ers wood this year do agree that every man shall cary for his 
proportion as it was agreed upon last year (viz) 



Sar Wooster 5 loode 

Sar Riggs 5 loode 

Joseph Hawkins 5 loode 

Thomas Wooster 4 loode 

Jonas Tomlenson 4 loode 

Sar Harger 4 loode 

Sar Jo Hulls 5 loode 

Win Tomlinson - 2 loode 

Jo Pringle 2 loode 

Samuell Nical & Isaac 6 loode 

Samuel Brinsmead 4 loode 

Phop Isaac 2 loode 

George Beaman 2 loode 

Jer Johnson 4 loode 



Phillep Denman 
John Tibbals 
Da Collins 
Stephen Pierson 
Abel Ilolbrook 
Sar Johnson 
Abell Gun 
Frances French 
Ephraim Smith 
Joh Griffen ^ 
Joh Beach 
David Wooster 



4 loode 
4 loode 
2 loode 
4 loode 
2 loode 
4 loode 
4 loode 
2 loode 
2 loode 
2 loode 
2 loode 
2 loode 



" It is agreed that if any man neglect or refuse to carry in Mr. 
Bowers's wood by the last of March next he shall carry double 
to what his proportion is now above written. Further the 
town have voted to give Mr. Bowers fifty pound for his main- 
tenance this year. 

"Dec. 31, 1683. The town have voted to give Mr. Bowers 
for his^ salary this year fifty pounds to be paid in good mer- 
chantable pay by the lAst of April next ensuing ; and have 
agreed to convey Mr. Bowers's wood as followeth : 



Philip Denman 


3 1- 


Sar Johnson 


41 


Sa Riggs 


4 


Fran French 


3 


Abel Gunn 


4 


Ephraim Smith 


2 


Geor Beaman 


2 


Stephen Person 


3 


Jo Griffen • 


2 


Sar Woster 


5 


Abell Holbrook 


2 


John Hulls sen 


5 


Jonas Tomlinson 


3 


Widow Hawkins 


3 


Jer Johnson 


4 


Henry Williams 


2 


Wm Tomlinson 


3 


Jo Pringle 


2 


Sar Hulls 


3 


Tho Wnster' 


2 


John Tibballs 


4 


Sam Brmsmead 


2 


Sa Nicols 


3 


John Beach 


2 


Isaac Necols 




John Huls 


2" 



MR. BOWERS. 87 

It is SLipposable that the above names represent all who were 
obligated to support the preaching of the gospel, which in- 
cluded at that time all who paid taxes in the town. 

In September, 1684, Mr. Bowers was very ill, and had a will 
recorded, which was very brief, giving all his property to his 
wife Bridget, desiring her to remember "the birthright, if he 
carry it well to his honored mother." That is that John, the 
eldest child and son, should have the proportion according to 
the old English law. But John survived only three years and 
died in 1687, the record of whose death has been taken for that 
of his father in all published accounts except Trumbull's. The 
father lived until 1708, but it is doubtful whether he was able 
to preach after this illness, as he had done before. 

The town record certifies : " Mar 1685-6. Town have voted 
to give Mr. Bowers sixty pounds this year, for his salary, and 
Mr. Bowers is to find himself wood ; and to give him the rate 
of all his proper estate of lands and cattle to be added. It is 
to be meant his rate to the minister. 

" Moreover, the town having granted to Mr. Bowers the use of 
the Town's sequestered land in the meadow while he carried 
on the work of the ministry in Derby, maintaining the fence 
that belonged to it, the said Mr. Bowers hath engaged to pay 
one pound five shillings per year for ten years or so long as he 
shall enjoy the land." Mr. Bowers, probably, supplied the pul- 
pit mostly four years longer, possibly securing some assistance, 
but the above record indicates some ohange, although his sal- 
ary was continued as before, only the free use of certain lands 
was not granted. 

Mr. Trumbull says he "removed from Derby and settled at 
Rye about the year 1688." This was an error, it being Nathan- 
iel Bowers the son of John, who preached in Rye. He says 
Mr. Webb preached here twelve years, but this is an error ac- 
cording to Trumbull himself, in his second volume. It is un- 
fortunate that no records of town transactions can be found of 
the years between 1686 and 1690, and therefore we obtain from 
this source no knowledge of the dismissal of Mr. Bowers or the 
employment of Mr. Webb. The latter was ordained at Fair- 
field in 1694, and therefore could not have been in Derby over 
six years, and the town was seeking another minister in 1692. 



S8 HISTORY OF DEKHV. 

He was probably a licensed preacher, while here, but not or- 
dained, and preached here not over two years. 

He was appointed Town Clerk in December, 1690, and served 
one year with great elegance and correctness. He was a much 
better scholar and writer than his successor in the pulpit, al- 
though it is doubtful as to his having been graduated at college. 
Scarce any writing on the town records equals his, for the first 
two hundred years. 

In 1685, probably the first military company was organized 
in the town, and Ebenezer Johnson was confirmed by the Gen- 
eral Court, lieutenant, and Abel Gunn, ensign of Derby Train 
Band. There had been military men, and military drill and 
service in the town before this time, but a regular company had 
not been officered and established of the town. The records 
show that at various times the town by regular tax, had pro- 
vided a stock of powder and lead, and obeyed the directions 
from the General Court as to preparations for defense, but it 
does not appear that a company was organized before this time. 
The amount of ammunition required was quite considerable. In 

1682, every man was required to purchase as much powder and 
lead as would cost equal to his rate or tax. The town valued 
the powder at three shillings per pound, and lead at sixpence 
per pound ; and so every man to have eight pounds of lead or 
bullets to two pounds of powder. 

From 1680 to 1686, a few new inhabitants were accepted, and 
grants of land made tQ them upon the usual conditions. In 
1680, Richard Bryan of Milford was admitted, and he pur- 
chased ninety acres of land, but for some reason did not settle 
here, and not long after died. In 1682, Samuel Griffin, and in 
1685, John, his brother, settled near John Hull's mill at North- 
end. Samuel Griffin was a blacksmith. In 1685, Hope Wash- 
born, and in 1687, John Chatfield, became inhabitants. In 

1683, Henry Hitt, the new ferry -man. In this same year the 
town granted to Samuel Riggs, " half that land at Rimmon 
on the northwest of the said Samuel Riggs's cellar, between 
that and the rock, and at the same time granted Sar. Ebenezer 
Johnson the other half northwest of the said cellar." This cel- 
lar was the first ground broken in the vicinity of what is now 
Seymour x'illage, or near Rimmon, for the erection of dwellings. 



SETTLERS AT RIMMON. 89 

It is probable that Ebenezer Johnson and Jeremiah Johnson 
soon built upon the land they owned in the vicinity. " April 
II, 1682. The town have granted Sargt. Johnson and Samuel 
Riggs, liberty to make a fence at Rock Rimmon, from Nauga- 
tuck river up to the top of Rimmon, and also give liberty to 
pasture the land they fence ; tho' liberty is granted provided 
higways be not hindered, & liberty to enjoy it during the towns 
pleasure ; the town engageth to put up the bars of the said 
fence if they pass through it ; also the town engageth the same 
respecting Philip Denmans fence & John Tibbals at Rimmon." 
It is said' that Bennajah Johnson, who was son of Jeremiah, 
who came from- New Haven, and Timothy Johnson, son of 
Major Ebenezer Johnson, no relation to Bennajah, so far as the 
records show, were the first settlers in this region, and that they 
settled near, or at Beacon Falls. The records indicate as above 
that the first houses were near Rock Rimmon, where this cellar 
was already built in 1685. Knowing the energy and characters 
of the men who owned land first in this vicinity, it may be a fair 
inference that the two or three first settlers, in what is now 
Seymour, were there before the year 1690. 

It is stated' that when the Indian Chuse made his residence 
at this place, " there were only two or three white families in the 
vicinity," which is most probably true, but if so then it was 
Gideon Mauwehu, and not Joseph or " Jo," that superintended 
the settlement here at first. Agar Tomlinson was married in 
1734, and Jo Chuse living with him several years, perhaps five 
or six, would have been twenty one about 1641 or 2. He lived, 
at this Chusetown forty-eight years and removed to Kent and 
soon died. His land at Chusetown was sold in 1792, which 
was a short time after his death, or making a little allowance 
for running tradition, he may have removed soon after selling 
his land. Now in 1741 or 2, there must have been nearer 
twenty families than three in the vicinity of Chusetown. At 
that time, Tobie had been in possession of his land a little 
over thirty years. In May 1682, the town granted to Abel 
Gunn, " ten acres of land up the Little river above the Nau- 



'Hist. of Seymour, by W. C. Sharp, 37. 

■■^Barber's Hist. Col. 199. DeForest's Hist, of tlic Iiulians of Conn. .^06. 



90 IIISTORV OF DEKI5V. 

gatuck Falls ; or upon the long planes above Naugatuck Falls, 
on the west side of Naugatuck river where the said Gunn 
pleaseth." David Wooster purchased of the Indians'' the 
Long plain a little above Seymour in 1692, and apparently set- 
tled on it soon after. The Paugasuck Indians had no land left, 
below this reservation at Seymour, in 1690, except at Turkey 
hill, and must have removed from the Great Neck some time 
before 1700; so also the Pootatucks, across the river from Bir- 
mingham, and the most probable supposition is that they began 
to gather in the vicinity of Seymour before 1690. Again the 
story of a Pequot sachem (Mauwee), coming to Derby and tak- 
ing the rule of the Pootatucks and the Paugasucks, while yet the 
sachems of these two clans were living, viz., Cockapatana 
Ahuntaway and Chusumack, descendants of a long line of royal 
blood, is scarcely to believed. It is far more probable that 
Gideon Mauwee, was the son of Chusumack, the signer of three 
deeds with the Paugasucks in Derby, who, by no strange trans- 
formation for those days, became possessed of the name Mau- 
wee, his more common name being Chuse, (or " Cush " as at Poot- 
atuck) from Chusumack. If he or his ancestors came from the 
Pequots, it must have been very early, apparently before the 
English settled in Derby. 

Since writing the above concerning Chuse, the statement has 
been seen in print that Chuse settled at Seymour, about 1720, in 
which case he could not have lived with Agar Tomlinson as 
stated by Barber, which information he obtained of Chuse's 
daughter as he informs us. The Indian deed of the sale of the 
land surrounding Seymour, was dated in 1678, with a reserva- 
tion of the land Chuse afterwards occupied, and it would seem 
scarcely possible that there should be no settlers here until 
forty years later. 



"Know ye that we Huntaway and Cockapatany, Indians of Paujiasuck . . for a 
valuable consideration confirm unto David Wooster . . a certain parcel of land on 
the Northwest side of Naugatuck river in the road that goeth to Rinimon, the Long 
plain, so called, in the bounds of Derby, be it bounded with Naugatuck river South, 
and east and north, and west with the great rocks, be it more or less. 

Iluntawa, his mark. 

April I, 1692. Cockapatany, his mark. 



WAR PREPARATIONS. 9 1 



THE ENGLISH AND FRENCH WAR. 

At the breaking out of the war between the P^nglish, assisted 
by the Dutch, and the French, a great effort was made in Amer- 
ica to secure the aid of the Indians against the English. The 
French were then in possession of Canada and the Mississippi 
valley, and although the war was declared between France and 
England, the principal theater of the war was in the American 
Colonies, and this theater was extended to wherever an English 
subject inhabited in this country. As soon as the information 
was received of the beginning of the war, the General Court 
was called together and resolved to raise in the Colony as their 
proportionate number, two hundred English and Indians ; and 
if that number could not be secured by volunteers, then they 
should be drafted from the militia. Officers were appointed in 
various parts of the state for the militia and volunteers. 

" Ebenezer Johnson is chosen captain of such volunteers as 
shall go forth against the enemy, and is to be commissioned 
accordingly, and he hath liberty to beat the drum for volun- 
teers to serve under him in every plantation in the county of 
Fairfield and New Haven." This was in September, 1689, and 
this army was ordered, mostly to protect English subjects from 
the Indians who might join the French. In the following April 
the court was again convened, under pressing entreaties for 
help to defend Albany, which was threatened by the French 
and the western Indians. "All which was considered by the 
court, and the court did see a necessity of utmost endeavors to 
prevent the French of attacking or settling at Albany, and 
therefore did order that two foot companies shall be with all 
speed raised and sent to Albany, to take all advantages against 
the enemies to destroy them."^ One company was to be raised 
in Hartford and New London counties, and commanded by 
Capt. Fitch appointed for that purpose. " The other company 
is to be raised in the counties of New Haven and Fairfield, and is 
to consist of sixty English and forty Indians, if so many In- 
dians shall be found willing to go, and Ebenezer Johnson is 
appointed their captain. The companies to be raised are so 

*i Col. Rec. 



92 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

many volunteers as shall appear, and the rest to be prest sol- 
diers." 

"a commission given to captain EBENEZER JOHNSON. 

*' This Court having ordered and appointed you to be captain of a com- 
pany that is to go forth against the enemy, and for the county and city 
of Albany, for his majesty's interest, there being sundry soldiers already 
who have enlisted themselves for that service, as we are informed ; 
These are to appoint you to make what haste you can to those planta- 
tions of the seaside, and to inform the said volunteers that the General 
Court hath appointed you to be their captain, and Samuel Newton to 
be their Lieutenant, and Ager Tomlinson to be their Ensign, and that 
you will take care and charge of them to lead them out against the 
enemy, and that your commission shall be sent after you to the seaside 
speedily, that so you may proceed with the best expedition you may, 
and you have liberty to raise of the English to the number of sixty, of 
Indians not above forty in all. which you are to raise as you may by 
volunteers, so far as you can, and the rest by press, and you may expect 
that for your encouragement you shall have besides wages the benefit 
of what you shall obtain by plunder, and all smiths in those plantations 
of the seaside are hereby required to apply themselves to mend such 
arms as shall be brought to them which are to be employed in this ex- 
pedition. These soldiers are to be raised in the counties of New Haven 
and Fairfield." 

The court ordered a rate to be raised for this bei^inning of 
the war of fourpence on the pound. This made the amount 
for Derby twenty pounds, a sum of some consequence when to 
be paid, as was the fact, by thirty-nine men, besides fitting out 
the men who might volunteer or be drafted from the town. 
Captain Johnson raised his company, went to Albany, remain- 
ing some time, but was appointed the next spring one of the 
War Commissioners for the state, to which office he was ap- 
pointed seven years. For expenditures at Albany in conse- 
quence of damages by his soldiers and in part for the loss of a 
horse, the court allowed him six pounds, in 1698. 

This war continued until 17 10, and was the cause of much 
expense to the Colonies, and of perpetual fear from treachery 
of the Indians in allowing or directing unfriendly Indians in 
their devastations and terrible raids. In 1697, Captain Johnson 
was ordered to go to New York with sixty men in company 



EFFECT OF THE WAR. 93 

with Captain Matthew Sherwood of Fairfield, with a like num- 
ber, to protect that city from a French fleet expected there 
from the West Indies. In 1703 he was appointed "to have the 
care and ordering" of the Paugasuck Indians, to protect them 
from other Indians, and to set their bounds beyond which they 
were required not to go, and to take care that they did not har- 
bor or entertain unfriendly Indians." It is very probable that 
Captain Johnson was sent upon several other expeditions dur- 
ing this war since the soldiers of New Haven and Fairfield 
were appointed in such expeditions, and since also the consid- 
eration granted Captain Johnson would indicate further services. 
In 1698, the court granted him " (over and above the interest in 
the grant to the volunteers) two hundred acres of land, to be 
taken up where it may not prejudice any former grant to any 
township or particular person." In 1700, however, the court 
order that the amount should be three hundred acres, and that 
Mr. Samuel Sherman and Ephraim Stiles should lay out the 
same. The town afterwards gave him one hundred and fifty 
acres in consideration of his public services. 

The effect of the ten years' war from 1689 to 1699 was quite 
perceptible upon Derby and its prosperity, for during this time 
the tax-payers increased only two, and the Grand List increased 
only one-third of the whole, and during the next ten years the 
increase was about the same. For the twenty years ending 
1709, the increase was only eleven, and most of these were 
raised in the town, but few coming in ; some going out, and a 
few dying. Among these last were Edward Wooster and Fran- 
cis French, two of the first settlers of the town. They were 
more public in the work they did than in offices or display as 
public servants. They began life empty-handed, and during 
forty years appear to have worked hard ; enduring the wilder- 
ness ten years almost alone, fighting against wild beasts, watch- 
ing, kindly, the natives of the forest, and trusting them to a 
marvelous degree ; clearing the land of timber and stone by the 
hardest work ; rearing considerable families ; and when they 
had departed, some portion of their real estate had to be sold 
to meet claims that could not be otherwise met. This is a 
comment on the times in which their lot was cast, by a hand 
whose counsels none understand. Could they have had casJi in 



94 HISTORY OF DKKHV. 

hand, one dollar in twenty of their equals in the present day, 
they would have died w'ealthy ! To whom shall it be said, 
"Well done, thou faithful servant?" Abel Gunn and Joseph 
Hawkins, two of the second class of settlers had gone ; men of 
the most solid worth, seeking not high places, but when called 
to them could meet the responsibility with great manliness and 
much ability. 

Abel Gunn was the town clerk twenty-one years, but so 
modest, that so far as seen, he never wrote or recorded that he 
was elected to that office. We learn the fact when at first he 
says "Abell Gun his book," and then in the same hand writing 
records the doings of the plantation and the town. He after- 
wards, in a few instances, signed papers as recorder. He was a 
fair speller, and a much better writer than some who follow 
him in that office. Ebenezer Johnson, Samuel Riggs, and 
Ephraim Smith of the second class of settlers were still living, 
and in the zenith of their glory. 

While this war was going on, bringing not a farthing to the 
Colonies, but great expense, and much sacrifice of life, the in- 
habitants of Derby were making noble, although slow progress 
purchasing lands of the Indians and extending their settlement 
north and north-west. The agents of the tow^n purchased a 
tract of land north of the Four-mile river, said to belong to the 
W^esquantuck and Pootatuck Indians, and received a deed of 
them.^ Here the Pootatuck and the Pausfasuck Indians unit- 



"*In consideration of twenty-one pounds; have sold one parcel of land lying in 
the great neck at Derby, bounded on the southeast with four mile brook and another 
little brook that falls into the Little river, north & northeast with the Little river 
that runs into Naugatuck river, and Northwest and west with the eight mile brook, 
and west and southwest with the west channel of the Pootatuck river, and Wood- 
bury path from the six mile brook to the four mile brook. Aug. 6, 16S7, 

Cockapatonce, his mark. 

John Banks, his mark. 

Cockapotany, his mark. 

Meskilling, his mark. 

Indian Witnesses Stastockham, his mark. 

Nanoques, Sunkaqucne, his mark. 

Curex. Pussccokes, his mark. 

Nanawaug, his mark. 

Tackamore, his mark. 

Chebrook, his mark. 

Wankacun, his mark. 

Wetupaco, his mark. 



INDIAN TOBIE S LAND. 95 

ing in signing deeds of the same land at ten years distance of 
time, and some different names at each time. They say they 
sell this land with consent of their Sagamore, which indicates, 
as well as the same fact in other deeds, that the Indians were 
not only divided into clans, or small companies, being still of 
the same tribe, but that the lands were divided among the In- 
dians, certain ones owning a certain tract set apart to them. 
This is indicated in most of the later deeds. 

It has been supposed and published in different papers that 
the Indian Tobie received his land of Capt. Ebenezer Johnson, 
and while there is no doubt but that gentleman aided his former 
servant, yet the deed of that land speaks to the honor of others 
as well.*^ This land was bounded by Lopus plain and rocks, in 
part. It is said that this name originated from that of a man 
by the name of Loper. It is quite certain that no man by that 
name had owned land there up to this time when the name is 
used. If such an one had been there before, he was a squatter, 
and such a man the town would have sent out of its borders so 
quick that he could give no name to anything, and in that case 
there would have been some record of the transaction, which 
record has not been seen. 



" Proprietors of Wesquantock, with consent of our Sagamore, for twenty pounds in 
hand received, have sold a certain tract of land called Wesquantook and Rockhouse 
hill. Derby Aug. 15, 1698. Boundaries nearly the same as in 1687. 

Neighbor Putt, his mark. 

Cockapatouch, his mark. 

Indian Witnesses Nonawauk, his mark. 

Mawquash, Gyouson, his mark. 

Cheshconeeg. Kenxon, his mark. 

Raretoon, his mark. 

Tazchun, his mark. 

Rashkoinoot, his mark. 

Thomasseet, his mark." 

"^Know all men . . that we Cockapatana and Huntawa, Sachems of Paugasuck, 
and Jack Tots, Shoot Horn and Mutshok, in the name and upon the proper account 
of ourselves and all the Indians of Paugasuck that are proprietors there of, for and 
in consideration of ten pounds and a barrel of cider paid and secured, with which we 
do acknowledge ourselves fully satisfied, sell . . unto Tobe, a Narranganset Indian 
formerly servant unto Capt. Ebenezer Johnson of Derby, . . a certain tract of land, 
bounded North with Chestnut tree hill and Lopus rocks, east with Naugatuck river 
against Beacon hill, west with the Little river against Thomas Woosters land, and 
southward with Rimmon hill and Rimmon hill rocks pointing into the Little river, 
and from the upper end of Rimmon hill through Lopus plain running between two 



96 iiisTOKV or OKuriv. 

It is said a^^ain that the man, whoever he may have been, had 
a horse that had a peculiar gait or movement in trotting, and by 
this horse called the Loper, the place received its name, but it 
should be remembered that no luiglishman had resided in that 
region with a title of land but possibly Thomas and David 
Woostcr, and that only a few years; and some of tlie Johnsons 
on the east side of Nau<ratuck. north of or about Rock Rimmon.'' 



ponds in Lojius plane through the liill swani]) and so to Naugatuck river; unto the 
said Tobc, his heirs and assigns forever. 
Derby, Sept. 7, 1693. 

Cockaptana, his mark. I'unvvon, his mark. 

Indian Jacks, his mark. Indian .Shot, his mark. 

Indian Toto, his mark. Will Mashok, his mark. 

\Ve(iuacuk, his mark. Iluntawa, his mark." 

" We Cockajjetcjuch Chops, Rawncton, Indians l)eh)ngingto Potatuck, yet having a 
certain swamp in I)crhy l)ounds called Scjuantick swam]) which we gave about four- 
teen years ago to our friend Toljie and upon the consideration of friendship, & have 
with other Indians as Keuckson, & John Banks, laid out said swamp to Tol)ie & re- 
newed the bounds lately, according as is hereafter mentioned. . . . We do freely 
give, grant & confirm unto the said Tobie, an Indian that lives with the Knglish, 
brought up Ijy Mayor Johnson, from a boy, his heirs assigns forever. 
June 18, 1707, Si.xth vear of (Juecn Anne. 
Witne.ss C'ockaj^atows, his mark. 

Joseph Wheeler. Choirs, his mark. 

Jose])h Wheeler Jun. Kawnelon, his mark." 

Mashekes, his mark. 
Wcroces, his mark. 

"" That we C()ck,i])at.ini, Sachem .ind Ahuntawav ("rcnllcman, Indians in considera- 
tion of four ])ounds ten shillings in hand received by us of Ca])t. I'.benezer Johnson 
and l'!ns. Sanuiel Kiggs . . do sell a certain cpiantity of [land] at Rimmon bounded 
southward with David Wooster his land and the above luisigns his land and Nau- 
gatuck river westward, and north with Tobe Indian purchase. Ajjril 16, 1700. 

Cockapatana. 
Huntaway." 
"Another tract called a certain parcel of meadow and upland lying at the upi)er 
end of Chestnut tree hill, containing twenty acres . . . bounded by marked trees on 
the north & west & east side, & a rock at the south side with a hea]) of stones. 
"This i6th day of April 1700. 

Cockapatuni. 
Huntaway. 
"This deed given to Capt. I'"benczcr Johnson & ICns, Saml Riggs." 
" Deed given by ' Cockapatana sachem of the Indians' of I'agasuck and .\huant- 
away of the same, in his majesty, in consideration of a shilling in hand receiveti, 
sell to Davidc Wooster a piece of land & nieadow bounded as follows, northward by 
naugatuck river, .Southward with a ])urchase of David Wooster, being of Cockajia- 
tana, t^ also by the little river, & eastwardlv the ledge of rocks — the ledge on the 



TOBIE S PATENT. 97 

The Indians niav have owned such a horse, but that interferes 
with the yarn ot the story. 

There is a tradition about Tobie that has much more founda- 
tion. It runs thus : Captain L^benezer Johnson being sent 
with a squad of sokHers to subdue some Indians did his work so 
thoroughly, as was his custom, that not an Indian was left except 
the dead on the battle field. The fight ended at dusk and the 
captain and his comi:)any slept on the battle field, b^arly in the 
morning the captain walked out on the field of conflict the day 
before, and as he stood viewing the scene, suddenly he felt some- 
thing clinging to his feet, and looking down saw a little Indian 
boy looking up most hesitatingly and pitifully. This boy the 
captain took home with him, and this was Tobie. 

The deed says he was a Mohegan Indian, and Captain John- 
son says he obtained him of a Mohegan Indian. The captain 
no doubt in one of his missions with his soldiers went to New 
London or its vicinity, and there obtained the boy, who grew 
to be an honor to himself, his tribe, his benefactor and his 
adopted town. 

In 1 71 3, after the inhabitants of Derby had obtained a pa- 
tent for their township, of the General Assembly,** as many 
other, or all other towns sought to do after 1700, Tobie ap- 
plied to the Assembly for a patent for his land. Upon this the 
town appointed Sergeant Law and Sergeant John Riggs, and in 
case Mr. Law could not attend to it, Sergeant Samuel Gunn, in 
his place, as attorneys to go to the Assembly and oppose 
Tobie's petition. Poor Tobie, if he had been after anything 
of particular value what a mountain he would have had to climb 
— the town of Derby, two lawyers, and another near at hand, 
and he himself nobody but a picked up Indian ! Yet he scared 
the whole town. What would they have done with a little town 
owned by one man, inside of Derby .'' It is said that a "fly about 



west of the long plain, westward along upon the ledge of rocks that lies northward 
over the hollow . . & so down to the little 'iver. May 6, 1798. 

Cockapatana, his mark. 

Ahuntaway, his mark. 

Jacks, his mark." 

*In 1698, the General Court changed its name to General Assembly, and divided 
into the Upper House and Lower House. 



98 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

the breathing organ wakes more people than the thunderings of 
all the steam cars in the world." 

But Tobie did not stay long. His kindred were lost to him 
no doubt on some battle field, and the time of his orphan so- 
journ he filled with honor, then went forward to find those who 
had gone before ; and gave his land, which was divided accord- 
ing to his will, in 1734, to Timothy Wooster, Peter Johnson, 
Ebenezer Johnson and Timothy Johnson ; all except Wooster 
were sons of Capt. Ebenezer Johnson ; these were his kindred. 
If there be no future retribution and awards, what a world of 
unrighteousness and injustice the present one is ! And if the 
endless future of all intelligent beings is fixed by the conduct 
of the present life, what a monstrous system of inequality, dis- 
advantage, and fatal damage governs the present state of exist- 
ence ! 

From the imperfectness of the records, the exact time of the 
dismissal of Mr. Bowers from the pastorate, cannot be obtained. 
Mr. Webb, is made town clerk'' for the year 1691, doing his 
work very finely as to penmanship and scholarship, and is said 
in the public prints to have preached here, yet the town records 
show nothing of the kind so far as seen. Trumbull's state- 
ment that he preached here is doubtless true, but not over two 
or three years. 

In 1690, the town engages in building a parsonage house. 
Mr. Bowers owned his house, and when he was dismissed the 
parish had no parsonage, and because of the items of interest 
recorded about the making of this house, the record in full is 
given. 

" Nov. 25, 1690, voted to hire a carpenter for to build an house for a 
minister, viz., to fall the timber, hew it, frame it and raise it, and to 
get all the clapboards and shingles ; to dress and lay them. And to 

^Dec. 28, 1691. Mr. Joseph Webb, was sworn to the following oath, and recorded it 
" Whereas, you Joseph Webb are chosen & appointed to be Town clerk or register 
of the town of D. you do swear by the great & dreadful name of the everlasting 
God, that you will faithfully and carefully execute the office & place of a Town Clerk 
according to your best skill for the Town of D. and make entry of all such grants, 
Deeds of state, mortgages of land as shall be completed according to law, & all mar- 
riages, births, and deaths & other writings as shall be brought to you desired to be 
recorded & that you will grant & deliver necessary copies when required of you, & 
pay tendered for the same, so help you God." 



SEEKING A MINISTER. 99 

make all the window frames, and set them up. The town have chosen 
Capt. Ebenezer Johnson, Isaac Nichols, Philip Denman, to agree with 
the workmen. And the town doth engage to pay according to the 
toA'n-rate, for building the said house according as the three men above 
mentioned shall agree, or any two of them. 

"Jan. i6, 1691, voted to allow for boards i^ inches, eight shillings, 
six pence per thousand. Voted to allow six pounds, ten shillings for 
the building and finishing a cellar twenty feet one way and seventeen 
feet the other." 

The money was to be raised on the list of 1690, to pay for 
the building the house. 

*■' The town have chosen Ens. Samuel Riggs & Samuel Hull, a com- 
mittee to call forth men to work with their teams at the ministers house, 
and they shall give tvvo days warning at least to those they call out, 
[and] whosoever shall refuse or neglect after legal warning shall pay 
five shillings as a fine for every such neglect, to be improved towards 
the building said house, and these two men above said are empowered 
to destrain such fines." 

In 1692, they vote to " seek for Mr. Tomas Buckingham, to be 
helpful to us in the work of the ministry, and if they cannot 
prevail with him, then they having word to seek for Mr. Stephen 
Mix, for his help in the ministry. 

" Further the town have chosen Captain Johnson, to see if he 
can prevail with Mr. Buckingham to come and preach amongst 
us, and to offer a minister for salary, fifty pounds and the use 
of the parsonage and his wood, if he continue in the town a 
year. 

" In August 1693, they voted to give a " minister that will come 
and settle amongst them, forty pounds a year and the use of 
the parsonage and his fire wood, and if he will continue with 
them six years, then they will give him forty acres of upland and 
meadow." 

In February next, they voted that they desired Mr. James 
would settle among them. And further, "they have agreed to 
be at the cost to transport his goods down in case he will set- 
tle amongst them," and appointed a committee to agree with a 
man or men to bring down his goods. In November of the 
same year, they provide for Mr. James's wood, " according to 



lOO Hl.STOKV OF DF.KBV. 

heads that are sixteen years (ild and upward, every one a load, 
and the wood shall be delivered all to him by the first of De- 
cember next." Therefore Mr. James was settled here in the 
spring of 1694. Thus again the ship of state with a minister 
was afloat and under fair sailing. 

The General Assembly enacted in 1696, that no wheat should 
be transported out of the colony except it be converted into 
flour, except at the forfeiture of the wheat. 

The reason for this is not given, but it worked good for Derby, 
for they found cause soon after to build a new flour mill. 



ITEMS. 

"Jan. 16, 1690-1. Voted that whosoever shall neglect to appeaj 
at the place appointed for the town meeting, within an hour after the 
time appointed for it, having had legal notice and warning, shall pay 
as a fine for every such neglect, two shillings and six pence, and shall 
be obliged to stand to what the town then acted." 

" Dec. 4, 1693. Voted that Thomas Smith shall have leave to 
come into the town for two months, then if they see cause to remove 
him out of town that then he shall surely go out." 

" Feb 13, 1694. The town grant Thomas Smith a home lot at 
Grape Swamp." No explanation given. 

" In 1692. They have agreed that the country road shall run over 
Sentinel hill down to two-mile brook. Further they have granted 
Captain Johnson the old road that goes now from Abel Holbrook's 
house down to the two mile brook for exchange for the other road." 

The first act, authorizing ordained ministers of the Gospel to 
marry persons, was passed by the General Assembly in 1694, 
previous to which, the officers of the state performed that cer- 
emony. 

Feb. 8, 1682. Mr. Richard Bryan [sold] one sorrel Mare Colt 
Branded with x on ye nere Buttock & two hapenies out of ye ofifer eare : 
A white in ye Face & A sorrel spott in ye white toward ye offer or 
Right Eye ; & the nere or left hoves Behind & Before white. 

One black hors Colt with astreak of white Down the face To the 
mouth ; Branded with x on ye nere or left Buttock & Two happenies 
cutt out of ye offer or right eare. 

Abel Gunn of Derby hath changed to Ephraim Sanford at Milford 



EAR MARKS. lOI 

agray hors about 6 years old a gelding & docked ; Branded with A on 
ye nere or left shoulder & a hapeny cut out of the offer eare. 

1689, William Tyler Jr. sould, to Ebenezer Johnson of Derby a black 
horse with a white face, two wall-eyes, three white feet and dockt, 
branded upon the left buttock with W T upon the left shoulder with 
M. 

Dec. 30, 1703, Memorandnm That John Tybals & Abel Gunn ex- 
changed horses and y' y^ horse wch heaforsd Tybals had off y" sd 
Gun is a dunne horse with a black list down his back & a white ring 
round his nose & an halfpenny on y'^ near ear on y* underside theroff. 
And y*^ horse Abel Gun had off goodman Tybals is a sorrel horse with 
a white blaz on his face & an half-penny on y" under side y^ off ear & 
an H on y*' near shoulder & I. C. upon y" near buttocks. 
Entered y'' day & date above. 

per me Jno James Recorder. 

EAR MARKS FOR CATTLE. 

1785, Samuel Griffins eare marke for cattle & swine, is a hapeny cut 
out of the under side of the offer eare or right eare. 

Widdow Hargers eare marke is a slitt in y* nere or left eare & a 
hool in y* offer or Rightt eare. 

Isaac Nichols, sen., his eare mark is a hool in the nere or left eare 
& a slitt on the under side of the offer or right eare ; the slit is down- 
ward of the eare. 




CHAPTER IV. 

EDUCATION, ENTERPRISE AND IMPROVEMENTS. 
I7OI — I73I. 

HEN we consider the state of society, and especially 
the farming class in England, only a hundred years 
before the settlement began in Derby, we must con- 
clude that here great progress was made during the 
first hundred years, although without the comparison we might 
judge otherwise. We are told that during the fifteenth and 
considerable part of the sixteenth century, the comfort of the 
farmers there was not equal to America during its first century. 
" The cottages of the peasantry usually consisted of but two 
rooms on the ground floor, the outer for the servants, the inner 
for the master and his family, and they were thatched with 
straw or sedge ; while the dwelling of the substantial farmer 
was distributed into several rooms ; above and beneath was 
coated with white lime or cement, and was very neatly roofed 
with reed ; hence, Tusser, speaking of the farm house, gives 
the following directions for repairing and preserving its thatch 
in the month of May : 

" ' Where houses be reeded (as houses have need) 
Now pare of the mosse, and go beat in the reed : 
The juster ye drive it, the smoother and plaine 
More handsome ye make it, to shut off the raine."'i 

"A few years before the era of which we are treating, (that 
is, the first half of the sixteenth century) the venerable Hugh 
Latimer,- describing in one of his impressive sermons the 
economy of a farmer in his time, tells us that his father, who 
was a yeoman, had no land of his own, but only ' a farm of three 
or four pounds by the year at the most ; and hereupon he tilled 
so much as kept half a dozen men.' Land let at this period at 
about a shilling per acre ; but in the reign of Elizabeth (from 



iThis was printedin 1744, when much progress had been made in farmers' houses. 
-Born in 1472. 



PRIVATIONS IN ENGLAND. IO3 

1558 to 1603) its value rapidly increased, together with a 
proportional augmentation of the comfort of the farmers, who 
even began to exhibit the elegancies and luxuries of life." 

"In times past the costlie furniture staled tJiere (in gentle- 
men's houses) whereas now it decended yet lower, even unto 
manie farmers, who by vertue of their old and not of their new 
leases, have for the most part learned also to garnish their cup- 
boards with plate, their ioined beds with tapistrie and silk hang- 
ings, and their tables with carpets and fine naperie, whereby 
the wealth of our countrie (God be praised therefore, and give 
us grace to emploie it well) dooth infinitely appeare." 

Hence, a few of the people, only a few, had silver plate when 
they came to this country, and a few more had pewter plate, 
and fine furniture, but mostly they came as having had but few 
comforts, no luxuries, and very little of anything but hard 
work with few privileges. Hence, as soon as they began to re- 
alize the luxury of owning their own lands, and owning as much 
as they could pay for, under circumstances favoring a large 
amount of produce from the land cultivated, the spirit of enter- 
prise seized almost the whole country, and such ambition, cour- 
age, bravery and endurance of fatigue was maintained, as is 
not found in the history of any age that is past. And what is 
more, from that day to this, the nation has been rising, intel- 
lectually, socially and religiously, while they have improved in 
the comforts, conveniences, luxuries and elegancies of home 
life. Progress, intellectual, physical and religions, has marked 
every step of the Pilgrim in the New World to the present hour, 
and now is moving faster than ever, as if riding in a splendid 
carriage, casting its great favors upon all people, irrespective of 
any class or condition, as ancient kings scattered from their 
lofty coaches silver coin on benefaction days. 

And still the watchword is onward, in every department of 
toil and enjoyment. 

Rev. John James, was elected town clerk in January, 1701, 
and at the annual town meeting of that year he made a special 
record, which he denominated : 

" Memorandum. That on Dec. 29, 1701, the worshipful Capt. 
Ebenezer Johnson at a town meeting then held, offered ensign 
Samuel Riggs of the same town, to debate either between them- 



104 H1.S1X)I<V OF UER15V. 

selves privately, whatever matter of variance lay between them, 
and he the said Captain further tendered and ur<;ed that ought 
which had occasioned so ill and uncomfortable a difference be- 
tween them should be rehearsed and told in the audience of one, 
two, three, four, or fi\'e persons that they should agree to, and 
entreat to audience between them, and propound who was the 
most faulty and blameable, and that he would stand to that 
award in point of any meet satisfaction. 

" But this good motion and proposal was totally rejected by 
the aforesaid Ensign. Per me John James recorder." Two 
weeks later Ensign Riggs accepted this offer, and Mr. James 
faithfully recorded the fact. 

Here is an illustration of character worthy of notice and to 
be commended, although of but little practical use at the pres- 
ent day, since what cannot be settled in law is most usually 
carried out in peri)etual strife among all classes in the church 
and out. If defenseless girls or young people, walk not to the 
rules of the churches, they may be dealt with, and the discipline 
made a matter of boasting in favor of righteousness, but men 
of influence and wealth, active in the church, although shad- 
owed by the thinnest clouds of uprightness, and many clouds to 
the contrary, are seldom troubled by discipline in the churches 
or otherwise, except it can be done in the spirit of strife. In 
this consideration there is no special application to times or 
places. It is the spirit of the times, now present. Yet, al- 
though we may not be specially benefited in the present course 
of life, it is inspiring to look at the character set before us. 
Capt. L'benezer Johnson was an energetic, brave man in any 
place, civil or military. As a soldier, he is said to have been 
so fearless as to be presumptuous, carrying success everywhere 
because he seemed to see and fear no opposition ; and the po- 
sition in popular sentiment, which he held in the state more than 
twenty years was inferior to but few persons, and therefore such a 
proposition is the more remarkable and inspiring. Ensign Samuel 
Riggs was the equal of Capt. Johnson, in the town, but in the 
state he had not the general reputation, not being as well known. 
No man without a true heart of nobleness and kindness would 
ever make such a proposition, and none but a benevolently dis- 
posed man would pledge himself wholly before consultation, to 



THE FIRST PUBLIC SCHOOL. IO5 

abide by the judgment of those chosen to hear the statements. 
Mr. Riggs at first rejects the offer, but in a few days as honor- 
ably accepts it as it was honorably made. The whole trouble 
was thus ended, and they seem to have lived together as though 
nothing of the kind had ever occurred. 

But the fact of this proposition being made in a town meet- 
ing, indicates that such matters were not attended to in the 
church then, unless the town in this case was the church, of 
which supposition there are many items to warrant. There 
have been but two things as yet seen in the history of this church 
that indicates any church action not performed by the town, 
before the settlement of Mr. Moss, and one is the fact that sev- 
eral deacons were elected, or some way constituted, but not by 
vote of the town, and the other, the fact that a council was called 
to organize the church. Nowhere, to the settlement of Mr. 
Moss, is it indicated in any records of the town, that there was 
any church organization other than the town. The church was 
organized after the town, but whether its membership was con- 
stituted by being free planters or in other words inhabitants of 
the town, is not intimated. If there were any church records, 
not only are they lost, but nearly all tradition concerning any 
such is lost, except that it is said, at the burning of Danbury 
in the Revolution, some were carried thither, and were burned ; 
for what end or purpose they were carried there, is inconceiv- 
able. 

The first record made in the town in regard to schools and 
education, is the following. "Sept. 29, 1701. Agreed that it 
be left with the Townsmen of Derby to procure a school master 
for the town of Derby according as the law in that matter re- 
quireth." On the eleventh of the next December, the town 
took another action, as follows : " The Townsmen of Derby, 
viz. : the four following, Capt Ebenezer Johnson, Ensign Sam- 
uel Riggs, Isaac Nichols, Sergeant Brinsmade, agreed with me 
John James, to teach such of the town of Derby as should be 
sent and come unto me for that end and purpose, on condition 
of there being paid to me what by law is ordered to be paid by 
the Constable out of the country rate to one that shall officiate 
in that work (viz. : of School keeping) and this to be attended by 
me for no longer time than is provided by law on that behalf, 
14 



I06 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

and at such convenient times as tliey who are to be taught to 
write, repair unto me the said John James." 

The first enactment of law, by the new Haven Court, con- 
cerning education in public schools, was in 1657, requiring a 
school to be established in every plantation, one-third of the ex- 
penses to be raised by tax in the plantation, the other two-thirds 
by the individuals benefited, or attending the school. In 1660, 
it was further ordered, "that the sons of all the inhabitants 
within this jurisdiction shall (under the same penalty) be learned 
to write a legible hand, so soon as they are capable of it." 

Further action was taken in May, 1690, as follows: "This 
Court observing that notwithstanding the former orders made 
for the education of children and servants, there are many per- 
sons unable to read the English tongue, and thereby incapable 
to read the holy word of God, or the good laws of the Colony, 
which evil, that it go no further upon their Majesty's subjects 
here, it is hereby ordered that all parents and masters shall 
cause their respective children and servants, as they are capa- 
ble, to be taught to read distinctly the English tongue, and that 
the grand jurymen in each town do once in the year at least, 
visit each family they suspect to neglect this order, and satisfy 
themselves whether all children underage, and servants in such 
suspected families can read well the English tongue, or be in 
a good procedure to learn the same or not, and if they find any 
such children and servants not taught as they are capable, they 
shall return the names of the parents or masters of the said 
children so untaught, to the next county court, where the said 
parents or masters shall be fined twenty shillings for each child 
or servant whose teaching is or shall be neglected contrary to 
this order. 

" This Court considering the necessity and great advantage of 
good literature, do order and appoint that there shall be two 
free schools kept and maintained in this Colony, for the teach- 
ing of all such children as shall come there, after they can first 
read the Psalter, to teach such reading, writing, arithmetic, the 
Latin and Greek tongues, the one at Hartford, the other at New 
Haven, the masters whereof shall be chosen by the magistrates 
and ministers of the said county, and shall be inspected and 
again displaced by them if they see cause. 



NEED OF WRITING. lO/ 

"This Court considering the necessity many parents or 
masters may be under to improve their children and servants in 
labor for a great part of the year, do order that if the town 
schools in the several towns, as distinct from the free school, 
be, according to law already established, kept up six months in 
each year to teach to read and write the English tongue, the 
said towns so keeping their respective schools six months in 
every year shall not be presentable or finable by law for not 
having school according to law, notwithstanding any former 
law or order to the contrary." 

Mr. James was engaged to teach " reading and writing to 
such of the town as shall come for that end from Dec. 14, 1703, 
to the end of the following April," for which he was to be paid 
out of the country rate according to law, which was forty shil- 
lings for the year ; afterwards, some years, there was appropriated 
for schooling in each town forty shillings on every one thou- 
sand in the list. 

In 1704, the same arrangement was made with Mr. James to 
teach the school during the winter. Mr. James also received 
forty shillings a year for his services as town clerk, for several 
years. 

The need of the writing instructions was very great, as is ap- 
parent in looking over the deeds executed at this time, as the 
giving of deeds instead of making an entry by the town clerk 
upon the sale of lands, had become general. Scarcely was there 
a woman who signed a deed that could write her name, and 
many of the men could not write, and signed deeds by making 
their marks. Mr. Bowers's own daughter could not write. And 
in real fact there was scarcely any need that women should 
write except to sign deeds, as epistolary writing was scarcely 
known at that time, but as soon as the families began to scat- 
ter into different plantations and women were called upon 
to transact business for themselves and others the need began 
to be supplied by attention to it. Nor was it only because of 
the theoretical notion that the ability for writing was not needed 
in that practical age, but the very great necessity that every 
man, woman and child should be at work ; and so hard, and so 
long at work in order to attain a point above liability to suffer 
for food and clothing, that there was not time left to go to school, 



I08 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

or otherwise to attend to it. The General Assembly recognized 
this demand when they said : " Consider the necessity many 
parents or masters may be under to improve their children and 
servants in labor for a great part of the year." That is to use 
their children in work to make a living was so great a call that 
the Legislature stepped in between parent and child and re- 
quired t\\Q, child to be sent to school. Thus indicating the judg- 
ment of the early fathers that where education is not required 
by law it will be neglected. 

But while the moral and intellectual requirements were being 
provided for in a liberal manner for that age under the circum- 
stances, the progress of settlement of the town was receiving 
much attention and calling out incessant and marvelous effort. 
And there seemed to be almost a mania for new land ; land and 
forests ; or land in the unbroken forests. On, and on into the 
wilderness they moved with eager haste, before they had half 
fenced or half cleared the land taken up. 

There was a tract of land that had been purchased of the In- 
dians a number of years before, and a mortgage given to Mr. 
Nicholas Camp of Milford, and the town voted in i/OQ, that the 
mortgage should be paid by paying four j^ounds money a year, 
and this land was deeded to the town by the Indians.'' 

This tract of land was known many years by the name Camp's 
mortgage purchase, and was divided in 1702, the number of 
proprietors being fifty-two. 

Rules for dividing into lots certain lands in the town had been 
established in 1700, as follows : "Voted that the land in Derby 
which lieth below, on the southward, and westward of Little 



"'Know that we . . Indians in confirmation of a Mortgage made to Mr. Nicholas 
Camp of Milford of a certain tract of land, bounded Southward with Derby purchase, 
westward with a range of swamps near Moose hill, northward with a little river com- 
monly called Little river, eastward with Naugatuck river, which is a parcel of land 
about three miles square, be it more or less. Given in 1702. 

Cockapatani, sagamore, his mark" 

Ahuntaway, Sachem his mark 

Indian Witnesses Will Doctor his mark 

Arkumi his mark Rowaugasuck his mark 

Artownhood his mark Waerashgonoot his mark 

Tisachomo his mark 

Will Toto his mark 

John Toto his mark." 



CAMP S MORTGAGE. 



109 



river and Bladens brook shall be divided by the following 
rules. 

" All persons having a listed estate, and as have in themselves 
or their predecessors borne public charges, from sometime be- 
fore the settling of the first minister Mr. Bowers until now shall 
have fifty pound in the one hundred added to their present list." 

Those who had been in the town since the time intervening 
between the settlement of the second and third minister, Mr. 
James, were to have thirty in the one hundred added, and those 
settling after Mr. James were to have twenty pounds added, and 
those who had come in during Mr. Moss's ministry were to 
have only their estates in the list. 

'' Mr. Moss, the minister, shall have a right in all future divis- 
ions to the proportion of a one hundred pound estate. The 
drawing for these lots took place on twelfth of March, 1702, 
by drawing the numbers from a box or hat. 



I 


Daniel Jackson, 


27 


Timothy Wooster, 


2 


Joseph, 


28 


Ensign Riggs, 


3 


Joseph Baldwin, 


29 


Widow Denman, 


4 


John Davis, Jr., 


30 


John Twitchell, 


5 


Doctor Durand,.. 


31 


John Lumm, 


6 


John Johnson, 


32 


Andrew Smith, 


7 


John Bowers, 


33 


Henry Wooster, 


8 


John James, 


34 


Sargent Wooster, - 


9 


Adino Strong, 


35 


Joseph Hawkins, 


10 


Widow Miles, 


36 


John Chatfield, — 


II 


Samuel Nichols, 


27 


Thomas Tyler, 


12 


Francis French, 


3S 


Captain Johnson, 


13 


Joseph Pierson, 


39 


Jeremiah Johnson, Jr., 


14 


Abel Gunn, 


40 


William Washborn, 


15 


Abel Holbrook, 


41 


Widow Tomlinson, 


16 


John Hulls, 


42 


James Hard, 


17 


Samuel Washborn, 


43 


John Riggs, 


18 


Stephen Pierson, 


44 


George Beamen, 


19 


Sargent Brinsmade, 


45 


John Davis, sen., 


20 


Jabez Harger,- 


46 


Isaac Nichols, 


21 


Widow Bowers, 


47 


David Wooster, 


22 


Wm. Tomlinson, Sen., 


48 


William Tomlinson, 


23 


Samuel Bowers, 


49 


Widow Harger, ^ 


24 


Ephraim Smith, 


50 


Ebenezer Harger, 


25 


Abraham Tomlinson, 


51 


John Tibbals, 


26 


John Prindle, 


52 


Jeremiah Johnson." >■ 



At the town meeting just before the drawing took place, 
they voted that the first lot be at the north corner next the 



I lO 



HISTORY OF DEKHV. 



Little river, next to Sergt. Thomas Wooster's land, and to go 
westward to the Great hill and then to go back in the second 
tier up to the Little river, and then back again in the third tier 
of lots, down by Naugatuck river. Voted that a rod and an 
half go to the pound of ratable estate according to the two last 
years' rates, since the purchase was made. The surveyors of 
this land were Capt. Ebenezer Johnson, Ensign Samuel Riggs, 
John Riggs, Sergeant Brinsmade, John Bovvers and Timothy 
Wooster ; and the rule that was to govern them was that " where 
it wanted in quality it was to be made up in quantity." 

Great carefulness, in regard to equity, was manifested in all 
the management of so many divisions, continued through many 
years. In 1703, Capt. Ebenezer Johnson received an allotment 
in Quaker's farm to make him equal with others, on a certain 
reckoning in 1689. Many pieces of land were given away upon 
the asking, without counting them in divisions. As an illus- 
tration we have the gift of a little land to Josiah Baldwin whose 
father or grandfather, Richard, was the first fatJier of the plan- 
tation. 

"In 1696. The following persons, inhabitants of Derby, 
agreeing to give unto Josiah Baldwin an homestead of three or 
four acres. . . He was a physician. 



Ebenezer Johnson, ^ 
Jeremiah Johnson, sen., 
Ensign Riggs, 
John TiV)bals, 
Samuel Bowers, 
Stephen Pierson, \ 
Joseph Hulls, 
E]5hraim Smith, Jr., 
William Washborn, 
Abel Holbrook, \ 
John Bowers, 
Henry Wooster, 
John Pierson, 
Stephen Pierson, Jr., ^ 
John Riggs, 
John James, 
John Chatfield, 
John Hulls, 
George Beaman, 
Jeremiah Johnson, Jr. 
John Johnson, 



Samuel Washborn, 
Ebenezer Riggs, 
Wm. Tomlinson, sen., 
Timothy Wooster, 
Samuel Brinsmade, 
Jose]:)h Hawkins, 
John Pringle, 
Samuel Nichols, 
Jonathan Lumm, 
Isaac Nichols, 
Abraham Tomlinson, 
Francis French, 
Andrew Smith, 
John Davis, sen., 
John Twitchell, 
Thomas Wooster, 
James Hard, 
Ebenezer Harger, 
Wm. Tomlinson, Jr., 
David Wooster, 
Moses Johnson. 



AN HOUR GLASS. Ill 

This man became somewhat noisy about town in a few years 
later; perhaps in recognition of former favors. "1703, voted 
that Josiah Baldwin beat the drum whenever it is necessary 
that the town be called together for and to any meetings except 
training days, and that he have eight shillings for so doing." 

The petition of John Davis, Jr., to the town of Derby, Greet- 
ing : 

" Gentlemen I by necessity am forst to put forth my petition to your 
selves requesting this favour of all to whom it dusconserne y' you will 
be pleas to sett your Hands to this my small request, for four acres 
and A half of land lying upon white mayre's hill ; I having not land to 
Improve : hope you will not denie this my request : gentlemen as your- 
selves know I have lived these several years in this s'' town and have 
not had one foot of land of y' town but what I have bought hoping 
gentlemen y' upon these conditions, you will be pleas to sett your hands 
to this my small petition that is above mentioned signifieing me the s"* 
John Davis to be true proprietor of y*" s'' lands a bove mentioned — pray 
sor, denie not this request to yor friend & servant John Davis. Feb. 
2, 1710." 

Forty names were signed and the deed recorded. 

Another long step was taken in the civilization of the world 
and of progress, in 1 702, when the town ordered " that John 
Pringle (town treasurer) disburse so much of the towns money 
on his hand as will buy an hour-glass." This may have been 
to time the minister, to see if he preached full length sermons. 
What but this, if anything, the toivn could do with an hour- 
glass is the mystery. 

In 1704, there was much uneasiness about the security of 
the titles to the lands, as there had been several times in pre- 
vious years, and a committee was sent to the General Assem- 
bly and obtained a patent, so called in those days, but this did 
not give them rest, for about 17 10, they made another effort to 
be secure, and some years after that, they made another. Mil- 
ford obtained its Patent in 171 3. The matter as to Derby was 
finally settled in 1720, when the Legislature voted to give the 
town a quit-claim deed. 

The only town act that has been observed, that indicated any 
disturbance among the Indians is dated March 4, 1702, and pro- 
claims a state of considerable excitement. " Voted that Capt. 



112 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Ebenezer Johnson and Henry Wooster treat with the Indians 
to pacify and satisfy them on any tolerable terms." The word 
satisfy, is probably the largest key to the trouble ; their lands 
in the town were nearly all gone. They had removed from the 
vicinity of what is now Baldwin's Corners, to the side of the 
Ousatonic, where the new fort stood, a little way above the dam 
on that river, and thence to the neighborhood of Wesquantook, 
and Pomperaug, some going to the reservati(m possibly at the 
Falls, (or Seymour) and others still farther away. The two 
chiefs, Cockapatana and Ahuntaway, were probably residing at 
Wesquantook, or its vicinity, as intimated in one of the deeds. 
Woodbury was clearing the country above them and what were 
they to do } The war with France was still going on, and com- 
munications were passing from tribe to tribe, and great rewards 
offered for the tribes to turn against the English. The uneasi- 
ness is indicated also by the carefulness of the town to keep a 
lawful stock of ammunition on hand, as indicated by several 
votes ; and it is said that " every soldier, was provided with 
ammunition." 

The Indians had been so friendly and true to their white 
neighbors fifty years, that it seems almost unkind to think of 
their being anything else, but it is certain that those old white 
neighbors were alarmed to an unusual extent, to pass such a 
resolution in town meeting. So far as appears on the records 
the English had dealt honorably with the Indians. There is a 
story that the Indians became indebted to Mr. Camp (merchant) 
for whisky, and he obtained a mortgage to secure his pay. If 
true, it should be remembered that the traffic in whisky was just 
as honorable then, as traffic in tobacco to-day, and the amount 
which the town paid for this tract of land was so much that 
they divided it into installments of four pounds a year for four 
or five years, and this land as it lay when divided wcnild sell 
for little more if anything, than what they paid, if we judge by 
the sales which were made of some of the land under cultivation. 

The first appointment to keep an ordinary or tavern was 
given to Ebenezer Johnson at his residence near Two-mile 
brook, which was, doubtless, continued some years. 

In 1704, Samuel Nichols and Abel Holbrook were appointed 
to this office or privilege. 



MK. JAMES DISMISSED. I 13 

Abel Holbrook resided on what is now the Swift farm, the 
house standing a little south of the present dwelling. 

Samuel Nichols was in the vicinity of Baldwin's Corners, as 
called at present. 

Both these men continued to keep an ordinary by appoint- 
ment, until 1 716, when John Pringle seems to have taken the 
place of Samuel Nichols. One of these men, probably kept the 
ordinary on the hill north-west and in sight of Baldwin's Cor- 
ners, on the first and old Woodbury road, now closed up or 
nearly so, but an old house or barn is still standing at that place. 

But another trial was at hand for the Lord's people "in this 
corner of the wilderness " as they had written at first when they 
sought to become a church. The health of the Rev. Mr. James 
had nearly failed, and it was evident another minister must be 
obtained. 

The town record for March 4, 1706, reads : "The town have 
freely granted and given Mr. James the house wherein he liveth 
and the barn and the lot whereon his house and barn standeth 
whether he live or die in the town. 

" Mr. James having at sundry times signified and declared 
unto the church of Christ in Derby and also to the town that 
he is unable under his disabilities to attend and discharge the 
ministerial work unto and amongst them ; he hath manifested 
his willingness freely to lay down his work and the church of 
Christ in Derby ; and also the town, under a sense of the 
heavv burden upon him are freely willing to set him at liberty, 
he having signified his willingness and desire that they may 
with speed provide themselves, that so they may have the word 
and ordinances amongst them. The town and the church with 
Mr. James desire the council of the neighboring churches and 
elders in this affair and matter. 

" The town have chosen Mr. Pierpont, Mr. Andrew and Mr. 
Stoddard to give advice in the sorrowful case between Mr. 
James and the town. 

" Voted that the town are very sensible of their need of a 
minister to preach the gospel among them. 

"The town have chosen Sargt. Samuel Brinsmade to carry a 
letter unto Mr. Moss, and to treat with him about being helpful 
to them in the work of the ministry and they have agreed in 
'5 



1 14 IlIsrOKN" Ol' DKKI'.V. 

case he cannot be prevailed with, the townsmen are a committee 
empowered to set out for some other as they shall be advised." 

Mr. Moss was obtained to sujiply the pulpit a time, and the 
next August the town gave him an invitation in order to a set- 
tlement, and made an offer concerning salary and other items, 
but the offer was not accepted. Probably he continued to 
preach regularly among them some months. 

After Mr. James was dismissed, he sold his house and lot to 
Ebenezer Johnson in behalf of the town, for ninety pounds 
money, and removed to Wethersfield. The town then bought 
the property of Captain Johnson for the same price to be a par- 
sonage. They also had a lot in the field on Sentinel hill, which 
they called the parsonage lot. The next February they voted 
that Mr. Joseph Moss should be their settled minister, if they 
could obtain him upon the terms hereafter mentioned. 

" Voted that whereas formerly the town of Derby saw cause 
to give Mr. Moss, provided he settle among them, six acres of 
land for an home lot, they now see cause in lieu thereof to make 
over to him the home lot belonging to the house they bought 
of Mr. James, or Major Johnson, provided he settle among us 
in the ministry, as also the house and barn they have bought 
with it. 

"They also see fit to give him the hillside adjoining as it is 
bounded in Major Johnson's deed, and the use of all the parson- 
age land and meadow; and also the town see cause to continue 
their former minds as to the forty acres of land voted to him 
before. Also that they agree to give him fifty pounds per 
annum as formerly voted more fully, and to provide him his fire 
wood, and get his hay for him, and to maintain the parsonage 
fenced." (Very good ; is there anything further that can be 
done.'') But this was not all, for a young and vigorous minis- 
ter coming into a parish after an older one, — sick with all, — his 
work nearly done, — lifts the courage and devotion of a people 
very wonderfully. 

"Further; voted the town grant to the said Mr. Moss and 
his heirs forever the aforesaid housing and lands on this condi- 
tion, that he live and die with them in the work of the ministry, 
but if he see cause to leave the town and desert that work, the 
aforementioned house and barn, home lot and pasture to revert 



A NEW MINISTER. II5 

to the town again." (That is the way to have settled pastors if 
people want them !) 

"Voted that the town will this ensuing year at their own 
charge clear and break up, two acres of the parsonage land, and 
sow the same in good season and order, with wheat for Mr. 
Moss's use. 

"Voted that: — (What, not through yet.'' O, no, we are to 
have a nezv minister !) Major Johnson, Ensign Samuel Riggs, 
and Lieut. Thomas Wooster be a committee to treat with Mr. 
Joseph Moss in order to settle him in the ministry among us." 

Such was that new broovi, heard of in so many ages in the 
past; the same one, that always sweeps clean when nezv! 

However, it may be said that Rev. Mr. James was not a popu- 
lar speaker, although a faithful, efficient man, undertaking more 
than he could possibly do, but Mr. Moss was a good speaker, 
with interesting and attractive ways and methods ; and he knew 
somewhat his value, and the town did wisely in its decisions, 
as to extra worth, but the real facts are that parishes are not 
often governed by the plain fact of worth, but by fancy, preju- 
dice, personal pleasure or interest. The great question of the 
good of human kind without regard to minor questions seldom 
prevails in these later days. The salary, and most of the items, 
were just what Mr. James received. In 1708, they changed 
and gave him money instead of furnishing wood ; and most of 
the years of his service his salary was voted to be fourpence 
on the pound, whatever that might be, but was on a scale of 
gradual increase as the town improved in valuation, until about 
1730, when it was made three pence on the pound. 

Mr. Joseph Moss became their settled pastor in the spring of 
1707, having preached on trial nearly a year, and was probably 
ordained and installed by a council of the ministers named and 
elders of their churches, who were invited by the town. The 
records mention "The church of Christ in Derby," and that 
was the customary name used in those days throughout the 
Colony. Some years afterwards, the habit of calling them 
Presbyterian grew up, and also the name Congregational. There 
was just as much propriety in calling the Episcopal church the 
Roman church as in calling these colonial churches Presbyte- 
rian, and it is pleasant to know that in these later times people, 



Il6 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

generally, have become more definite and proper in the use of 
terms. 

While Mr. Moss was preaching on trial and the parish were 
quite anxious to secure him as settled pastor, they voted in 
December that the town would build a new meeting-house, but 
soon after the conclusion was to repair the old meeting-house 
and use it some years longer. 

" Dec. 1 706. Voted that the town will add to the present meet- 
ing-house and not build a new one for the present. Voted that 
the addition shall be made at the end of the meeting-house and 
not at the side, viz. : 14 feet added in length to the west end. 

"Voted that thfe town will refit the old meeting-house by 
shingling and plastering the walls with clay and whitewashing 
with lime upon the clay, and that the addition shall be fitted in 
like manner, and that when it is thus enlarged and repaired the 
town will procure seats for the convenient seating of the same." 

Major Johnson, Ens. Samuel Riggs, Mr. Isaac Nichols, were 
the building committee. 

Hence, previous to this time this house was provided with 
neither stationary seats nor plastering. The seats were proba- 
bly loose plank or slab seats, like those provided for some other 
meeting-houses since that day. 

In 1706 they " voted that the town do agree with Major John- 
son to get, cart, frame and set up the timber for the new end of 
the meeting-house for five pound in country pay, and Major 
Johnson to stay for his pay until the next year, and to get the 
work done by the last of March next ensuing." 

They agree with Mr. Samuel Bowers "to get, prepare, cart 
and lay, the clapboards and shingles, for four pounds, and wait 
one year for his pay, and have the work done by the fifteenth of 
May next." 

This was attended to during the summer of 1707, as appears 
by votes passed to pay for such work. This was the meeting- 
house that stood at Squabble Hole. 

"Voted that the town will give Major Johnson forty shillings 
for his work about the New and Old flour [mill] and the meet- 
ing-house." "Voted that Jeremiah Johnson shall have four 
pounds ten shillings for what he did for the town about the meet- 
ing-house ; and that the town allow Adino Strong thirteen 



SEATING THE MEETING-HOUSE. II7 

pounds and ten shillings for his work about the meeting-house ; 
and that John Pringle shall have two pounds nineteen shillings 
for his work about the meeting-house." In October they voted 
that " the town will seat the meeting-house ; and have seated 
Major Johnson, Ensign Riggs, Mr. William Tomlinson, sen., 
and Isaac Nichols in the first seat before the pulpit ; Lieut. 
Thomas Wooster, Ensign Joseph Hull, John Tibballs and 
Stephen Pierson, sen., in the first short seat joining to the pul- 
pit, and further they have not proceeded yet." But they did 
proceed further very decidedly, for in this arrangement there 
was not a sufficient number of classes ; it was too common, and 
therefore on December 15th following, they "voted that Major 
Johnson shall, according to his desire, sit at the end of the pul- 
pit in a short seat alone, and that the town be at suitable charge 
to make it handsome and convenient to entertain the Major 
honorably. 

" At the same time voted that Mrs. Bowers, Mrs. Johnson and 
Mrs. Moss shall sit in the seat on the women's side next to the 
pulpit, which is made with banisters like a pew. Voted that 
Stephen Pierson, John Tibbals, Ens. Joseph Hull and Joseph 
Hawkins, shall sit in the first short seat, facing to the end of 
the pulpit behind where the Major sits ; and that Mother Pier- 
son, wife of Stephen Pierson, senr., shall sit in the seat next 
behind the pew. Voted to seat the widow Washborn, widow 
Johnson, widow Tomlinson and widow French and wife of Abel 
Holbrook in the next seat behind the pew. 

"Voted that those seats before the pulpit be parted." That 
is, being long seats running from aisle to aisle, each seat counted 
for two. When the addition to this house was completed there 
were probably two doors and an aisle from each door, and the 
pulpit standing on the back side between these aisles. 

"Voted that Ens. Samuel Riggs, Mr. William Tomlinson, 
senr., shall sit in the first seat facing to the pulpit, and their 
wives likewise." That is, their wives in the opposite end. " That 
Mr. Isaac Nichols and Lieut. Thomas Wooster in the second of 
those seats facing the pulpit, and tlieir wives in the same rank" 
[but on the women's side]. 

"ThatDoct. John Durand and Mr. John Davis in the third of 
these seats and their wives in the same order. 



Il8 HISTORY OF DEKRV. 

" Voted that the town will have tlie rest of the meeting-house 
seated according to rates ; and that John Tibbals, Ens. Joseph 
Hull and Joseph Hawkins be a committee to see that matter of 
seating according to rates performed. That heads shall be taken 
out of the list, all except one head to each estate in ojder to seat 
the meeting-house according to rates." This method a few 
years later excluded a man's son and daughter, if adults, from 
his own pew or seat; which arrangement made it necessary to 
appoint the tithing man to watch the young people in the meet- 
ing-house, as they were shut out of their proper place with their 
parents. In this house the young people must have been seated 
in the back seats, but when the second house was built they 
went into the gallery. 

"Voted that the first long seat shall be accounted the highest 
in dignity yet unseated and that the first short seat yet unseated 
be accounted the second in dignity ; and then the second long 
seat the third in dignity and the last short seat the fourth in 
dignity, and then the other seats being all in one tier to receive 
their dignity from their order successively. 

"At the same time John Pringle, Samuel Bowers, Abel Gunn 
and John Riggs were appointed a committee to seat the meet- 
ing-house that is yet unseated," and they did the work and de- 
clared it at the same town meeting. 

" At the same time voted that Abraham Pierson shall have his 
head taken out of his father's list and Seth Perry's head shall be 
taken out of Adino Strong's list in order to seating, and they 
the said Abraham and Seth shall have seats equall to the men of 
eighteen pound estate. 

" Voted that the wife of John Tibballs shall sit precisely ac- 
cording to the list of her husband's ratable estate." She prob- 
ably held a ratable estate of her own, which added to her hus- 
band's would have placed her higher than he. Such an arrange- 
ment could not be tolerated in those days, but according to the 
rule established as to estates she could claim it. 

"Voted that the town will convert those two hindmost seats 
before the pulpit into a pew for the women." 

In the next March they voted further that " Edward Riggs, 
Peter Johnson, and Richard Holbrook shall have liberty to 
build a seat before the women's pew [at the side of the pulpit] 



PROGRESS IN DFRKV. IIQ 

for their wives to sit in." This shows that there were not seats 
enough when arranged in classes, although previously there 
were sufficient. 

Therefore it may be seen that the spirit of class order ex- 
isted one hundred and fifty years ago, the same as now, and as 
ever it had. At one time it is the boast of physical strength, at 
another of physical weakness, or idleness, independent of work ; 
at another beauty ; another, wealth ; another intellectual culti- 
vation ; in all ages it has lived and done good and evil ; and 
where it is not there is death of all that is improving in human 
society ; the only question is to guide it aright. 

In 1710, they "granted the guard [soldiers] liberty to have 
the two hindmost seats but one on the men's side," which indi- 
cates the presence of from ten to fifteen soldiers each Sunday. 

The spirit of enterprise was stronger now in Derby than ever 
before, in all that would bring prosperity. Another tract of 
land is purchased on the east side* of the Naugatuck, in 1709, 
extending the right of the soil to Beacon hill river north and 
Milford line on the east. The proprietors of this land say they 
are " Indians of Milford " an historical statement denoting the 
fact of their descent from the original tribe at Milford. In this 
sale, Chetrenaset an Indian receives a squaw from Major 
Ebenezer Johnson at the value of seven pounds, money, which 
was securing a wife at more than an ordinary cost for an Indian, 
but reveals the system of abomination that has cost America 
more, in every view taken, than any other to be mentioned to 
the present day. 

This purchase was the last on the east side of Naugatuck and 
left the Indians no land on that side of the river except the 
reservation at Seymour. 

"*We . . Indians of Milford, for and in consideration of seven pounds paid to 
Major Ebenezer Johnson of Derby from Chetrenaset upon the account of a Squaw 
Sarah, sold unto said Chetrenaset, and three pounds ten shillings in hand received 
of Major Ebenezer Johnson . . which we do acknowledge, have sold a certain tract 
of land lying in a place called Nayumps, bounded northerly with Beacon hill river, 
easterly with Milford, westerly with Naugatuck river, south with Lebanon river. 
April I, 1709. 

Cockapatana his mark Cockapatouch his mark 

Waskawakes his mark Mamook his mark 

Chipps his mark Jack his mark 

"John Minor, justice, says Cockai)ataiKi and his son Waskawakes, alias Tom." 



120 HISTORY OF DERHV. 

Another piece of land was purchased the next spring by Rev. 
Joseph Moss and his brother, Samuel Moss, containing one hun- 
dred and twenty acres, the only piece bought by the acre of any 
extent" of the Indians. The price is stated to have been "a 
certain valuable sum of money." 

"^A tract of land in the precincts of Derby, situate at a place known by the name 
of Twelve mile hill joining upon the bounds of the town of Waterburv on the north 
running from mile stake which standeth on the top of said hill, one quarter of a 
mile eastward, which will make the length of said tract of land half a mile, and 
to run from said stake one hundred rods south which maketh one hundred acres. 
Mar. 13, 1 7 ID. 

Indian Witnesses Cockapatana his mark 

Powheak Will Doctor his mark 

Rowagosook Sisowecum his mark 

" All of us Indians, native proprietors of the lands in Derby, for the consideration 
. . of six pounds current silver money by Ens. Samuel and Lieut. Joseph Hull of 
Derby, agents, . . have sold . . a certain tract of land, bounded as follows, south- 
ward by the Little river, so called, westward by Woodbury bounds up to two chest- 
nut trees marked, which are the bounds between Waterbury, Woodbury and Derby, 
and then the line runs in the line dividing the township of Derby and Waterbury 
until it comes to the middle of Towantick pond, which is the northerly bounds of 
the land ; thence Southwardly by marked trees until it comes to the brook that runs 
down the west side of Towantick hill imto the Little river. 

"And further we . . hereby remise, release and quit claim . . all the rights and 
title we have . . in any of the lands within the bounds of Derby, excepting such 
small piece or pieces that we have by expression in particular deeds before reserved 
for our own use as may be seen by the records of Derby. 
Jan. 31, 1710. 

Nanawaug his mark 

Jack his mark 

Indian Witnesses Charles his mark 

Curens his mark Tackamore his mark 

Wattakis his mark Meskilling his mark 

Mackwash his mark 

Durgen his mark 

Ackcutrout his mark 

" We whose names are under written being Indians living near Derby do witness 
that Sisowecum alias Warouth, Pequet, Will Doctor, Daupauks alias Will Toto, 
John Toto and Tom Toto are the right owners of all the land in the northern and 
northwestward parts of Derby bounds yet unsold as witness our hands in 1 )erliy', 
this 1st of Feb. 17 10 



II 




Nanawaug 


his mark 


Jacob 


his mark 


Jack 


his mark 


Skilling 


his mark 


Mockwash 


his mark 



Curen 


his mark 


Watakis 


his mark 


Charles 


his mark 


Chips 


his mark 


Durgen 


his mark." 



TURKEY HILLS. 121 

One hundred acres of this tract was given to Mr. Joseph Moss 
by the town in the place of the forty acres promised him at his 
settlement. 

One more purchase was made of the Indians, which, though 
dated a month earlier than the one above, seemed to complete 
the territory of Derby, very nearly as to purchases. 

The names of the two sachems are not on these deeds, which 
raises the supposition that the lands were before this, divided 
among the Indians, and these chiefs with others had removed 
to other regions.** Ten others signed their names to a paper 
declaring that certain other Indians were the owners of all lands 
yet unsold in the northern and north-westward parts of Derby, 
meaning doubtless the reservations. But this last paper may 
have been intended to confirm what was said in the last deed 
that all lands hitherto owned by the natives except reservations 
were now sold. The only reservations made so far as seen were 
at the Falls. The Turkey hills possession was a grant from 
Milford to the Indians. The original deed for Derby was for 
land so far south as to the " point of rocks ; " that is, the rocks 
at the mouth of Two-mile brook. Between that and the Mil- 
ford line was a strip of land running some distance east, if not 
to New Haven line. This strip Alexander Bryan bought of the 
Indians and Milford became possessed of it, and the portion 
called Turkey hill consisting of about one hundred acres Mil- 
ford appointed to the Indians about 1680 as their home. l-5ut 
Ausantaway, the faithful chief of Milford was settled in Derby 
before this, and closed his life career in 1676, and some of the 
clan resided here until the death of Molly Hatchctt in 1829. 
Ausantaway is said to have been in Derby and hence probably 
lived north of the mouth of Two-mile brook on what is called 
also Turkey hill, where was also an Indian burying ground. 

The following record can scarcely be true, although a matter 
of fact in history. "Jan. 9, 1707. Voted that the bargain the 
town made with Samuel Bowers about beating the drum for 
twenty shillings till next August be hereby ratified and con- 
firmed ; and that John Chatfield have six shillings for beating 
the drum for the time past." He did not beat the drum all the 



""Lambert 130, who says Cockapotanv died at his home in Derby in 1731. 
16 



122 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

time, day and night, as the record might imply, but for the calling 
the town together, but for what they should come together so 
often as to cost twenty shillings in seven months is the mystery. 

The Rev. John James was the the first person employed in 
town to teach the public school, so far as has been observed in 
the records of the town, and this work began in 1701, in De- 
cember, and he continued it three or four years ; and all that 
he was required to teach was reading and writing, and that as 
or when the children came to him. For these services he 
received only forty shillings, the amount required by law to be 
raised and used in the town during the year ; the record says 
forty shillings, but this may have meant forty shillings per thou- 
sand on the grand list, and he kept night school as well as 
day. 

In 171 1, a considerable advance had been made, as indicated 
in the recorded statement, *' that every person improveth the 
school-master by sending their children or servants to school 
this year, shall pay their proportion of that part of the school- 
master's salary which is over the money that comes to the school 
out of the country treasury in proportion to the number each 
sends, to the whole number and the time each child attends. 
And it is further agreed that all the night scholars shall pay 
per night or per week, half that proportion that day scholars do, 
and bring in their accounts as aforesaid or suffer like penalty 
as aforesaid, excepting such night scholars as belong to those 
that find house-room for the schools, and they to pay nothing 
for their learning if there be nothing demanded for house-room." 
Six years before, they were content in using what money the 
law required, but now they tax themselves, and have night 
schools as well as day. 

Another item of advance in the arts, was made in the secur- 
ing a cunning workman in iron. "• Voted that the town grant 
John Smith of Milford, blacksmith, four acres of land for a home 
lot, to build upon, anywhere within one mile from the meeting- 
house where he shall choose, in the land not laid out, upon con- 
dition that he build a mansion house and smith's shop, and set 
up the trade of a blacksmith, and follow it for the benefit of the 
inhabitants of the town for the space of seven years." And they 
specify that if Mr. Smith will not accept the offer, then the town 



ANCIENT DWELLINGS. I 23 

offered the same to any other good blacksmith that would come. 
This John Smith may have been the son of the first blacksmith 
in Milford, who came from Boston in 1643, and followed his 
trade in Milford some years. 

No other men of trades are spoken of in the town acts up to 
this time. Doctor John Hull, seems to have been the carpen- 
ter while in town, he having built the first parsonage, the mill 
and the first meeting-house, and his son John took his place 
after the father removed to Wallingford. In building their own 
houses, most of the farmers were their own carpenters and work- 
men, except as they exchanged work with their neighbors, and 
returned the same. Many of the best houses were not plastered, 
but ceiled in the first story, the half story or part under the 
roof very seldom was finished any way, except the outside cov- 
ering, and this was the lodging apartment for the young people, 
having sometimes a partition, but more frequently not. In some 
of the early houses, and indeed up to the Revolution and later, 
the chimney of the house was so constructed as to be open on 
the front, above the chamber floor. It is related that in an 
interior town, two young men engaged in trying their strength 
at a wrestling match, after preparing themselves for bed in the 
chamber, and not taking notice of the opening at the chimney, 
went down, both into the fire below, and rolled out on the floor, 
converting the embers into a warmirg pan for that evening. 

In May, 1716, Sergeant Joseph Hawkins was granted by the 
General Assembly, " the liberty to keep a ferry over Stratford 
river [the Ousatonic] where the said Ilawkins's house now 
stands by the said river, at the same fare with the ferry at Strat- 
ford ; and so often as he shall have occasion at the said place to 
carry or ferry over the mouth of the Naugatuck river, he shall 
have the same allowance as aforesaid ; and when to cross both, 
eight pence for man and beast. 

This ferry was continued, so far as known, until a few years 
before the Revolution, when, as we shall hereafter see, a ferry 
was established at the Narrows. 

In 1 71 3 the town voted, " that so often as any man shall track 
a wolf into a swamp & give notice of it, and the people of the 
town do assemble pursue the s^ wolf & find him in said swamp 
the informer shall have five shillings reward out of the town 



124 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

treasury ; and it is agreed that when and so often as it is a con- 
venient time to pursue & hunt wolves, all the effective men able 
to bear arms, shall assemble well mounted and armed at the 
call of Col. Johnson, Lieut. Hulls, and Sarg*. Brinsmade or 
any one of them & under their conduct & direction shall pursue, 
hunt & slay the wolves what they can and any men that refus- 
eth to go out when so called shall pay a fine of three shillings 
unto the town treasury unless a reasonable excuse be offered." 

A further improvement as to the crossing of the river seemed 
a question so difficult and therefore of such an amount of cost, 
that the town hesitated to enter upon the work, although of so 
much importance. The words in which the record is made 
show a doubt as to the hope of success. "Feb. 25, 1716-17 
voted that the town are desirous of a good bridge over Nauga- 
tuck river." Having proceeded thus far, they ventured to ap- 
point a committee " to consider what is the most likely way for 
the building " of such a bridge. And then they request the 
same committee " to petition the General Court for a brief to 
raise money for said bridge, and collect what sums they can 
for said building and to make report to the town." 

The General Court gave the grant and appointed a committee 
to receive the money and disburse the same for the specified 
purpose. 

Sergeant Samuel Brinsmade and John Pringle were to 
circulate the subscription ("or brief"), and were to have " three 
shillings as money per day for carrying it." 

At the first meeting they voted the " place for building a 
bridge over Naugatuck river shall be against Doctor Durand's 
and that it is the most likely and expedient place for a 
bridge." 

" Voted twopence on the pound to build a bridge over the 
Naugatuck river — those to work out their money who choose 
to under directions of the committee. Col. Ebenezer Johnson, 
Joseph Hawkins and William Moss, committee and are empow- 
ered to call out men to work on the bridge." 

It was built at that place, apparently, since Doctor Durand 
claimed damages for encroachment on his land after the bridge 
was built. Doctor Durand then owned the old homestead of 
Edward Wooster, the first settler, deceased, and probably resided 



A NEW MEETING-HOUSE. 1 25 

in it ; just opposite where the road from the bridge now enters 
the river road, at the old town. 

This shows that the bed of the Naugatuck was at this time 
on the east side of the valley, although the old river is still re- 
ferred to in the deeds. 

The following receipt shows the prevalent method of transact- 
ing business without money : 

"• Milford Dec. 26, 1723. Then received of John Holbrook of Derby 
upon the account of the Bridge Logs of Derby one hundred and thirty- 
six pounds of pork at three cents per pound. Barnabas Baldwin, Junr." 

Thus almost everything was paid for by exchange of produce 
or some kind of merchandise. Very unfrequently was an en- 
gagement made by which silver or gold could be required by 
law. Gold, in pay, is not mentioned in the records during a 
hundred years, but silver is mentioned several times, yet nearly 
always to be delivered by weight. 

Only twelve years had passed since the repairing of the old 
church when the spirit of enterprise determined that a new 
meeting-house was needed, and hence in December, 17 19, they 
declared " that the town will build a new meeting-house, and 
that it shall be set in some convenient place near where the old 
meeting-house now standeth, and that the dimentions shall be 
as followeth, viz. : forty feet long and thirty-two feet wide and 
twenty feet posts. 

" Granted a six penny rate for defraying the charge of build- 
ing the meeting-house ; and every man to have liberty to dis- 
charge his own rate in labor, provided he can labor in any way 
to advantage the building. Col. Ebenezer Johnson, Capt. Jo- 
seph Hull, and Lieut. John Riggs, to be the building com- 
mittee." 

But this was one of the enterprises that progressed slowly, 
for more than a year after. May, 1721, a vote was passed that 
" the whole town will come together when it is a convenient 
time and raise the meeting-house without bringing the charge 
of it into any town rate ; and that the town will be at the charge 
of buying six gallons of rum for the above said occasion and 
that to be all the entertainment which shall be upon the town 
cost." This buying rum for such an occasion sounds surpris- 
ing, but it should be remembered that rum (alcoholic drinks,) 



126 



HISTORY OF DF.KBV. 



held about the same estimation in the public mind at that time 
'as tobacco does at the present; that is, it was supposed to be 
harmless to all if moderately used, and of great good to many ; 
and it would be difficult to judge which opinion is most wise or 
most unwise and injurious, the old or the new. 




THE SECOND MEETING-HOUSE IN l)KRi;N, KKhlTEl) IN 1 72 1. 

This meeting-house was built in the years 1721 and 1722, but 
it was not seated until after the following vote: "Jan. 28, 1722- 
3, voted that the meeting-house shall be seated by such rules as 
followeth : Col. Ebenezer Johnson, Ens. Samuel Riggs and 
John Tibbals, Stephen Pierson, Ens. Nichols shall sit in the 
first seat next the pulpit ; Doctor Durand, Mr. Samuel Bowers 
and Jeremiah Johnson shall sit in the second seat of the square 
next the pulpit ; John Pringle, Sargent Brinsmade, John Chat- 
field, senr., shall sit in a short seat by Mr. Moss' pew." At the 
same time it was voted " we will scat all that remain according 
to the list." 

They had previously directed (Feb. 5, 1721-2,) "that Mr. 
Moss have liberty to build a pew six feet square joining to the 
pulpit stairs, for his wife and family." 



EXEMPT FROM RATES. 12/ 

It was at this same time that the first tithing men were ap- 
pointed, Mr. Samuel Bowers and John Smith. The young 
people could no more sit with their parents, and therefore offi- 
cers must be appointed to watch them and keep them in quiet 
order in church. It was not the last religious movement that 
brought nothing but trouble and evil consequences. 

"That the charges of building said house shall be upon tak- 
ing but one head to a list. Voted that Francis French, Jere- 
miah Johnson and William Moss shall seat the meeting-house. 

" Voted that Francis French, Gideon Johnson and John Chat- 
field shall be a committee to sell the old meeting-house. 

'■ Granted a rate of twopence on the pound on the country 
list of 1722, for defraying the charge of building the meeting- 
house 

" Dec. 26, 1 72 1. Voted that they who refuse to pay the whole 
or any part of the town rates for the building the meeting-house 
shall within one month from this date come & enter it upon the 
public records, what sum or sums they refuse to pay, & the clerk 
shall give a note to the collector stating the matter as it is, . . 
and upon this note from the clerk the treasurer shall deduct 
these sums refused to be paid before any distress is made against 
any person, & thereupon the collector & treasurer shall dis- 
charge the party so refusing either in whole or in part." 

In reply to this the following were entered : "Jan. 17, 172 1-2. 
The town of Derby refused to make up accounts concerning 
the building the bridge over Naugatuck river, whereby Joseph 
Hawkins was much wronged, therefore Joseph Hawkins keep- 
eth back & refuseth to pay forty shillings of the 4 penny rate 
toward building the meeting-house. Joseph Hawkins. 

" Henry Wakelee refuseth to pay both the six penny and four 
penny rate for the building the meeting-house . . unless the 
town hire him to keep sheep again, & if they do he saith he will 
pay both." 

"In Jan. 1722-3, voted that Barnabas Baldwin, Junr, and 
Joel Northrop upon paying the three rates that are past & the 
two penny rate now granted according to their lists for defray- 
ing the charge of building said meeting-house & paying all 
charges yet to come by said house according to their lists, upon 
so doing shall have an interest in said house." 



128 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

This house was located at what was known then as Derby, 
but known now as Up Town or Old Town, the latter name be- 
ing used mostly in these pages of history. The present school- 
house stands near the old site of this house. The settlement at 
the mill a mile rorth from this meeting-house was called the 
North End, and in the neighborhood of Ebenezer Johnson's and 
Dea. Abel Holbrook's was the South End. There seems to 
have been a distinction made as to the hill east ; one portion 
being called Sentinel hill, another New Haven Sentinel hill. 
Riggs hill and Squabble Hole do not occur as yet, in the 
records. 

Repairs were made on this house in 1738, when they "re- 
moved the three hind seats on the men's side of the meeting- 
house forward by making a seat in the alley, and made choice of 
Mr. Abiram Canfield, Mr. Joseph Hull, Junr., and Mr. Daniel 
Hull for their committee to remove said seats on the town's 
charge." 

THE NEGRO PEW. 

"Again the town order the said committee to build a conven- 
ient seat for the negroes on the beams over the front gallery, and 
stairs to go up, on the town's charge." 

The posts of that house were twenty feet high, which gave 
room for a second gallery, or this seat "over the front gallery." 

These distinctions of class and caste were much, if not wholly, 
indebted to slavery, for their existence. At the first settlement 
and the beginning of the first church, it was not so, but when 
slavery had existed some years, not only were the slaves re- 
duced to a position of degradation, but every other man and his 
family in the community, not on the basis of color, but that of 
money, they were seated in church in accordance with the 
amount of money they were worth or held in possession. 

SABADAY HOUSES. 

In 1725, the following record was made, showing that the 
people began to think something about comfort on Sunday or 
First Day, as then called, or yet more strictly, it may be said 
that recorders frequently wrote second day, third day, and 
fourth day. "The town granted liberty to the inhabitants to 



I'IRST SCHOOL-HOUSE. 



129 



build convenient houses for tiieir families on the Sabbath and 
public days, near the meeting-house on the common." This 
was followed in 1728, by another institution to be used for the 
same purpose, a part of the time. Mr. Lumm, John Smith and 
Gideon Johnson were appointed to gather subscriptions " to 
build a school-house near the meeting-house, which house shall 
be at said Lumm's and Smith's and Johnson's command on the 
Sabbath days;" and a committee was appointed at the same 
time to "hire a school-master according to law." This was the 
first school house, and was near the church and used as a " Sab- 
aday house," and although the meeting-house is gone, there is a 
school-house, greatly enlarged and beautified, still at that place ; 
and the location is now called Academy hill. 

In 1764 "the town granted liberty for any of the inhabitants 
of the town to build Sabbath day houses and horse houses on 
the sides of the highway near the meeting-house, not to incom- 
mode any highways." 

Thus early did religion and education walk together. Rev. 
Mr. James started school-teaching in the town by doing the 
work three months or more, for forty shillings, or possibly forty 
shillings on a thousand pounds on the list, and Mr. Moss so 
stimulated the public mind, that a school-master was hired to 
give his whole time to the work for some months, and additional 
money raised to pay the teacher, and in Mr. Moss's day a school- 
house was built. 

THE LIST OF ESTATES IN DERBV IN 1 7 1 8, BY AUTHORITY OF 

THE TOWN. 



Col. Eben Johnson, 


^146 


Eben Harger, 


Capt. Joseph Hulls, 


226 


Mr. John Durand 


Ens. Samuel Riggs, 


59 


Francis French, 


Abel Gunn, 


•5« 


Jonathan Hill, 


John Johnson, 


33 


George Black, 


Jabez Harger, ^ 


22 


John Munson, 


Ens. Samuel Nichols, 


60 


Andrew Smith, 


Samuel Brinsmaid, 


15 


Jonathan Lum, 


Wm. Moss, 


98 


John Davis, 


Isaac Tomlinson, 


68 


Wm. Washbon, 


Abiram Canfield, 


23 


Saml Moss, 


Lef. John Riggs, 


160 


John Weed, 


John Hulls, 
I? 


69 


•Stephen Pierson, 



^91 

55 
90 
21 
21 
18 

lOI 

54 
54 
90 

43 
56 
51 



I30 



IIISTORV ()|- nKRI!\" 



Tlioma.-s W'oostei', 


;^ii7 


Samuel 'I'oinlinsoii, 


62 


William 'I'omlinson, 


39 


John Twitchfl, 


65 


Abraham Tomlinson, 


29 


Joseph Hawkins, 


137 


Samuel Washbon, 


57 


Timothy Wooster, 


78 


John Pringle, 


57 


John Tomlinson, 


51 


Joseph Smith, 


31 


John Smith, sen., 


82 


Kphraim Smith, 


39 


Ens. Eben Johnson, 


48 


John Chattiekl, 


87 


Jeremiah Johnson, 


106 


Kenj. Styles, 


21 



.Stephen I'ierson, sen. 
John Tibbals, 
Joseph Nichols, 
John Towner, 
Samuel Bowers, 
Abraham Pierson, 
Abel Holbrook, 
Josiah Baldwin, 
Joseph Johnson, 
Mr. Samuel Gunn, 
Mary Wooster, 
Samuel Bassett, 
Mr. Abraham Pinto, 
Peter Johnson, 
Micah Denman, 
James Humphreys, 



63 



59 
48 
86 

5° 
28 

15 
3 

28 
29 
8- 

31 
18 



ARRANGEMENTS OF FENCE ON THE RIVER IN 1 72O. 

"An account of the fence that is about that common field 
which is on the east and west side of Naugatuck river in Derby, 
as it is now moddled and laid out by Capt. Joseph Hulls, Lef. 
John Riggs, John Pringle, John Smith & Abel Gunn, the 
former & standing committee of said field ; new moddled in 
the month of March, 1720. 

" The beginning is on the north end on both sides of the river 
& to each man's name here inserted there is set so much fence 
as is laid out to . . him . . and there is marks made & the 
letters of the men's names on wood or stone at the beginning 
& ending of their fence. 



NORTH END, EAST SIDE. 

66 rods. 
163 

37i 
122 



Capt. Joseph Hulls, 
Thomas Wooster, 
John Hulls, 
Eben Harger, 
Capt. Joseph Hulls, 
Israel Moss, 
Ens. Saml Riggs, 
Abel Gunn, 
Joseph Smith, 
Abel Gunn, 
Eben. Harger, 
Ens. Samuel Riggs, 
Joseph Smith, 



79^ 
II 

33 
88 

19 
69 
12 
12 
33 



Mr. Durand, 
Francis French, 
Joseph Smith, 



15 rods. 
32 

45 



NORTH END, WEST SIDE RIVER. 

Wm. Washbon, 63 rods 

Thomas Wooster, 20 

Tim Wooster, 64 

Abram Tomlinson, 18 

Ens. Saml Nichols, 8 

Stephen Pierson, 8 

Wm. Tomlinson, 4^ 

John Smith, 28 





A \K\V 


RKIDGK. 


13 


Andrew Smith, 


20 rods. 


Eben Harger, 


4i rod 


Saml Brinsmade, 


7 


Abel Gunn, 


31 


John Hulls, 


14 


Stephen Peirson, 


32 


John Tomlinson, 


9i 


Tim Russell, 


14 


Eliphalet Gilbert, 


9 


Joseph Hawkins, 


30 


Andrew Smith, 


20^ 


Sam. Harger, 


9 


Sam Harger, 


20 


Wm. Moss, 


49 


Abiram Cantfield, 


31 


Sam Bowers, 


4 


John Pringle, 


27 


Joseph Hawkins, 


35 


Abram Cantfield, 


27 


Lieu. John Riggs, 


58^ 


Eliphalet Gilbert, 


9 


Michal Denman, 


'4 


John Pringle, 


136 






Abram Peirson, 


12 




879A '• 


Sam. Harger, 


43 







It is said that this fence on the south ended at the island 
bars, but precisely where those were at that time, is not certain. 



THE PROPRIETORS OF SENTINEL HILL FIELD. 

'■ Mar. 14, 1703 At a meeting of the Proprietors of Sentinel 
hill field, the proprietors did accept of what the committee hath 
done in laying out every man his proportion of fence about the 
said field. 



Jeremiah Johnson, 
John Pierson, 
Samuel Bowers, 
John Riggs, 
John Tibbals, 
Moses Johnson, 
John Baldwin, 
Adino Strong, 
Jeremiah Johnson, Jr., 



Parsonage, 
Ensign Riggs, 
John Chatfield, 
Abel Gunn, 
Capt. Johnson, 
Abell Holbrook, 
Francis French, 
Stephen Pierson, 
Widow Henman. 



The following record shows a confidence in public officers 
quite interesting and instructive. " February 5, 1722, voted that 
the town appoint Samuel Hulls and Joseph Johnson to make up 
accounts for five years last past with the several collectors of 
town rates and treasurers, and to make report to the town how 
they find accounts to stand." Ofificers could be trusted five 
years in those days. 

The town had enjoyed tbe privilege of a bridge over the Nau- 
gatuck just ten years, or a little over, when it went down the 
stream by a freshet. They immediately voted to build a new 
one at the expense of the town, except what might be given by 



132 



IIISTOKV OF DKRRV. 



persons out of the town. But they soon found the cost a larger 
item than they felt able to contend with, and petitioned the 
General Assembly for a " brief to build the bridge over the Nau- 
gatuck river which was lately carried away by the flood." The 
bridge had been repaired in the autumn, and therefore was in 
good condition to go down the river the next April as it did, 
taking all repairs along. 

The advancement of the town in numbers, and the state of 
society is indicated in a record made by the town clerk during 
ten years from 1730 to 1740, of those who were made freemen. 
In 1732, they made twenty-six; in 1736, they made twenty- 
seven, and in 1740, nineteen. These, nearly all, were raised in 
town. 

In 1731 another piece of land was purchased of the Indians,' 
It is a frequent charge that the white people took away the In- 
dian's land, but in Derby they not only paid for it, and some 
of it three times over, but the Indians were urgent to sell much 
faster than the white people were able to buy. This seems to 
have been the reason why the tract called Camp's mortgage 
was bought. They offered it so cheap that Mr. Camp took a 
mortgage, and there it lay quite a number of years before the 
town felt able to raise the money to pay for it. 

At the time that the town felt it necessary to '•'pacify the In- 
dians as though they were ready to rise in war, they were urg- 
ing (some of them) the sale of a piece of land, andHenryWooster 
was appointed to go with the Indians and view their lands and 
make report." Land seemed to be a burden on their hands 
until it was gone, and then they grieved for it as thrown away. 



''We . . in consideration of thirty pounds good pay, part money and part goods 
. . have sold . . all that tract of land known by the name of the Indial Hill in 
Derby, situate on the east side of Naugatuck river, near the place called the Falls, 
all the land at or near that place we sell, except the plane that lieth near the falls 
up to the foot of the hill unto a heap of stones on the south, and a heap of stones on 
the north end: all that land that lieth eastward, northward and southward of said 
plane that is not purchased before by the English. This 2<i day of March, 1731. 

Indian Witnesses 

John Anthony his mark 
Melook Took his mark 



John Cuckson 


his mark 


John Howd 


his mark 


Watiens 


his mark 


Oranquato 


his mark 


Sausonnaman 


her mark 


Towsowwam 


her mark 



LAMENT OVER PAST FOLLV. " I 33 

Nor is this peculiar alone to Indians. How many thousands 
of white people as individuals have done the same. Nor is it 
peculiar as to lands. Thousands have almost literally thrown 
away their money, or worse than that, and then lamented until 
their dying day, the folly of it. And the multitude are slow to 
learn the terribleness of this folly. Thousands of years of his- 
tory have painted this marvelous want of wisdom, but who reads 
and thereby is wise .'' 




CHAPTER V. 

DISSENTING DERBY AND THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 
1732-1773- 

HE Rev. Joseph Moss was preaching regularly in the 
beginning of the year when on January third his salary 
was fixed at threepence on the pound, on the grand 
list for the year. He was taken severely ill and died 
twenty days after, Jan. 23, 1731-2, in the fifty-third year of his 
age. 

The next June a vote was taken for the settlement of Mr. 
Abraham Todd, then a young man, and the number of votes 
were sixty and the blanks were seventeen, and two refused to 
vote, but the record states that they all, but one, agreed to abide 
by the majority vote. They then made him an offer of salary, 
and a " settlement" or a certain amount of money, four hundred 
pounds, instead of a house and lands as they had done previously. 
Mr. Todd was not secured, however, and the next September 
they voted that they " heartily consent to what the church sent 
to the Association for advice under our present state." 

Soon after this, Mr. Samuel Whittlesey of Wallingford was 
preaching for them, and they gave him a call, but without suc- 
cess. He afterwards settled in Milford. 

Mr. Noah Merrick was called in the summer of 1733, with the 
same settlement as offered Mr. Todd, and one hundred pounds 
salary, and after four years jCi20, per year " for the time that 
he shall preach with us as our dissenting Presbyterian min- 
ister," but Mr. Merrick could not be secured. In this record 
there is revealed the truth that the word Congregational, as ap- 
plied to a denomination, was then unknown, or so little known as 
to be unfamiliar in that sense, for the term Presbyterian was 
not applicable to that form of church organization ; one reason 
of its use being that other church organizations began to be rec- 
ognized in the country, as the Brptists and P2piscopalians, and 
hence the need of the distinguishing name, instead of saying as 
was'the common mode " the Church of Christ." 



MINISTERS salak!p:s. 1 35 

Another reason is that there was manifested quite early a Pres- 
byterian preference of church order, by some of the people of New 
England, and hence the churches were frequently spoken of as 
Presbyterian. As early as 1666, a division of sentiment was 
found in Hartford that gave much concern and resulted in sus- 
taining the proposition of the " Half-way Covenant" which was 
denominated the " new way " and also the " parish way," a " sys- 
tem under which the local church, as a covenanted brotherhood 
of souls renewed by the experiences of God's grace, was to be 
merged in the parish ; and all persons of good moral character 
living within the parochial bounds, were to have, as in lingland 
and Scotland, the privilege of baptism for their households and 
of access to the Lord's table."^ 

It is here stated also that this was a dissenting church, after- 
wards called Separates, and after that denominated by them- 
selves Strict Congregationalists. 

The next candidate was Mr. Daniel Humphreys, to whom 
they gave a call December 3, 1733, with a settlement of four 
hundred pounds, and one hundred pounds salary, and after four 
years, one hundred and twenty pounds salary yearly, and it was 
afterwards raised still higher. 

The day of ordination was "appointed for the first Wednes- 
day of March next, and Capt. Hull, Capt. Riggs, Deacon Hol- 
brook, Lieut. Johnson, William Moss, Gideon Johnson and Tim- 
othy Russell, to take the whole care of the ordination in behalf 
of the town." 

Here it may be seen that the town paid during four years, 
eight hundred pounds for the support of their minister, (or two 
hundred pounds yearly) after that a little more than half that 
sum yearly. The tax list of the town amounted to not over 
four thousand pounds ; (in 1718, it was £>l,6'-;)Q nearly.) This 
being the amount of the list they paid for the settlement (;^ioo) 
and the salary (^100) just one twentieth of their tax list, yearly, 
a sum surprisingly large, when their circumstances are consid- 
ered, or when compared with the sums paid at the present day. 
Nearly all of their money was gathered from the soil by contin- 
uous hard labor. The Connecticut Home Missionary Society, 



'Dr. Bacon's Hist. Discourse, P'ccl. C'o! 



136 HISTORV OF DERBV. 

requires at the present clay, that the members of a Congrega- 
tional church shall pay, in the agg^regate, a sum equal to one per 
cent, on their grand list, before receiving aid from that society. 
What if it required five per cent. ? There would be scarcely a 
church in the state that would need help, if such were the rule. 
The grand tax list of the town of Derby for 1878, was a little 
over three and a half millions, and five per cent, on that would 
give one hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars. The whole 
expense of all the churches in the town does not probably ex- 
ceed one-fifth of that sum, so that the comparison of the church 
cost of the present day with one hundred years ago is as one to 
five, or one-fifth. The only difference being, that at that time 
the grand list was made by taking a small percentage of the 
valuation of property as the basis for assessments. The regu- 
lar salary of Mr. Daniel Humphreys after a few years was one 
hundred and forty pounds money, or four hundred and seventy 
dollars. The four hundred pounds was given for the minister 
to purchase a farm which was supposed to furnish a considera- 
ble portion of the minister's living; and a minister in that day 
without a farm would have been a mystery as great as for one 
to have one at the present day. 

Some considerable difterence of opinion as to ecclesiastical or- 
der grew up in the parish after the legal establishment of the Say- 
brook Platform in 1708, and by which the church became a dis- 
senting church, and the way was opened for the establishment 
of the Episcopal Church in the place. The dissenters claimed 
that a change of heart or actual experience was important in 
order to the reception of the sacraments, while the New way 
or Half-way covenant administered baptism to all children whose 
parents assented to the doctrines of the church, and such parents 
were regarded as in a half covenant state with the church. 
The half-way membership had been in practice among the 
churches some years but without any formal conventional sanc- 
tion until 1708, and very probably this had been the position 
of the Derby church until sometime after Mr. Moss's settle- 
ment, and after the matter had been discussed in the churches 
generally. 

After the decease of Mr. Moss, and a new minister was to be 
settled, the division of opinion took a more definite form, and 



THE NEW LIGHTS. I 37 

yet the vote of the town in settHng a minister seems to have 
been ordinarily harmonious ; sixty against nineteen, and all 
announcing that they would yield to the majority vote. After 
the settlement of Mr. Humphreys and the revival excitements 
of 1740 and 41, the establishment of the Episcopal church be- 
came an easy matter and took some of the old substantial sup- 
porters of the Congregational church into it. 

If the records of the Derby church had been preserved, some 
things more definite might belearned. In Sprague's Annals^ Mr. 
Humphreys is mentioned as one with Dr. Bellamy and others 
who promoted the revival work in 1740. and it was in conse- 
quence of this, doubtless, that he fell into some little trouble as 
indicated in the following record. 

The following complaint against Mr. Humphreys is recorded, 
but whether it went any further is not known. 

" To the Clerk of the Parish or Society in Derby to which 
the Reverend Mr. Daniel Humphrey doth belong these may in- 
form that the said Daniel Humphrey, contrary to the true in- 
tent and meaning of a law of the Colony of Connecticut entitled 
an act for Regulating abuses and correcting disorders in Eccle- 
siastical afifairs, has presumed to preach in the Parish or First 
Society of New Haven. 

Dated at New Haven, Sept. 24, 1742. 

Signed per Samuel Bishop, Justice of the Peace, 

John Hubbard, Justice of the Peace." 

The effort made by those who sustained the half-way covenant, 
which method was called the Old way, and was at that time the 
legal way, to stop the progress of the New way, the followers of 
which were called New Lights, was very arbitrary and deter- 
mined, as given by Dr. Trumbull.'^ 

" While these things were transacted in the eastern and north- 
ern parts of the colony, a violent opposition was made in the 
county of New Haven, to the new lights, and to the religious 
revival which had been in the country. They appeared to hes- 
itate at no means to suppress the new light ministers. In 1741, 
when the grand council was to sit at Guilford, the association 
drew up several resolutions to be laid before the council ; 

^Vol. I, 315. 
18 



138 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

among which was the following: ' That Tor a minister to enter 
into another minister's parish, and preach, or administer the 
seals of the covenant, without the consent of, or in opposition 
to the settled minister of the parish, is disorderly ; notwith- 
standing, if a considerable number of the people of the parish 
are desirous to hear another minister preach, provided the same 
be orthodox, and sound in the faith, and not notoriously faulty 
in censuring other persons, or guilty of any other scandal, we 
think it ordinarily advisable for the minister of the parish to 
gratify them, by giving his consent, upon their suitable applica- 
tion to him for it, unless neighboring ministers should advise 
him to the contrary.' Mr. Humphreys of Derby had preached 
to a Baptist society, and on that account was soon after deprived 
of a seat in the association. The Rev. Mr. Timothy Allen of 
West Haven, who was an able and zealous Calvinistic preacher, 
was not pleasing to them, and for some little imprudences, the 
consociation dismissed him from his ministry. The principal ar- 
ticle alleged against him was that he had said, ' that the read- 
ing of the scriptures, without the concurring influence and oper- 
ation of the spirit of God, will no more convert a sinner, than 
reading an old Almanac' Though it was true, that no external 
means would convert a sinner, yet, Mr. Allen lamented the 
manner of expression, and offered his confession to the associa- 
tion for it ; but the council dismissed him, and it is said with 
this ill-natured triumph, that they had blown out one new light, 
and that they would blow them all out. Mr. Allen was a man 
of genius and talents, and an able defender of the doctrines of 
the gospel, as appeared by some of his publications ; he was also 
a man of strict morals, and a powerful and fervent preacher. 
Though his light was not permitted to shine in the county of 
Nev^ Haven, yet it shone in other churches until he was be- 
tween eighty and ninety years of age. In the year 1800 he 
was pastor in Chesterfield, in Massachusetts, in the eighty-sixth 
year of his age. 

"In 1744, a church was formed in Salsbury, on the princi- 
ples of the Cambridge platform, and the town and church made 
choice of Mr. Jonathan Lee for their pastor ; and, among other 
gentlemen, made choice of the Rev. Mr. Humphreys of Derby, 
and the Rev. Mr. Leavenworth of Waterbury, and the Rev Mr. 



NEW EXPENSES. I 39 

Todd of Northbury, to assist in his ordination. He had re- 
ceived a liberal education at Yale College, and studied divinity 
under the care of Mr. Williams of Lebanon ; was of a good 
moral character, and a zealous preacher of the Calvinistic doc- 
trines. The association suspended these gentlemen from all 
associational communion, for assisting in the ordination of Mr. 
Lee, because he and the church had adopted the Cambridge 
platform, and were not on the constitutional establishment of 
the colony." 

Therefore, Mr. Humphreys was twice suspended from the fel- 
lowship of the association, for holding just the views which are 
now generally entertained by Congregational ministers and 
churches. 

In those days as at the present, there was no end to expen- 
ses which called for extra taxes, for scarcely had one enterprise 
of progress, or an unusual calamity been provided for, when 
another would come. The settlement of Mr. Humphreys had 
been but just paid, and the regular order of expenditures reached, 
when it was found that the bridge over the Naugatuck was in 
a decayed condition, and a committee appointed to repair it if 
possible, if not, to rebuild it, and it was rebuilt in 1739. Two 
years later it went away with the flood. Then a company was 
organized, and petitioned the Assembly for a toll bridge, as a 
private or stock enterprise. The Assembly granted '' liberty 
to the memorialists, and such other persons as shall see cause 
to join with them, to build a bridge over the river aforesaid at 
the place aforesaid, or as near it as may be convenient, for all 
persons to pass and repass over said river ; and that the toll or 
fare for all persons, except the inhabitants of Derby, shall be six 
pence for man horse and load, and three pence for each person, 
and for each team one shilling ; and that the fare above said, 
shall be taken in old tennor-bills of all persons except the in- 
habitants of said Derby until this Assembly shall order other- 
wise. Oct. 1 741." Six years later the town voted to repair this 
bridge upon the town's cost, provided the proprietors would give 
the property to the town, and in 1752 they send a committee 
to the Assembly to ask for higher rates of toll. In 1760, the 
town " voted to make the bridge across the Naugatuck near 
the meeting-house free for one year," and in 1762 they voted to 



140 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

build a bridge across the Naugatuck at the town's expense, the 
old bridge being carried away by the flood." 

Straws tell which way the wind blows, is an old saying, mean- 
ing that very small items illustrate character, customs and man- 
ners. An item of this kind is recorded: "March 25, 1745, 
voted . . that the town of Derby do discharge the Selectmen, 
Samuel Riggs and Joseph Hull from that note of forty pounds 
old tennor which they became obliged to pay to Doctor Leaven- 
worth of Stratford upon demand for taking and keeping a cer- 
tain negro man named Nero, and also discharging the said 
town forever hereafter from any charge arising by said negro." 
This negro, probably, had escaped from the town of Stratford 
and was arrested by these selectmen of Derby, and detained so 
long that the owner demanded pay, and they gave their note, 
but having arrested the negro, as the selectmen of Derby, the 
town was obligated, and held the property ; this note gave the 
negro to these men and they were to pay the note. This trans- 
action reveals the fact that since 1681, the price of a slave had 
risen from eighteen pounds to forty, providing money values 
were equal. It has been often alleged that slavery was given 
up in Connecticut only when it was found that it would not pay ; 
but if it was profitable when slaves were worth one hundred 
dollars, why was it not when they were worth two and three 
and four and five times that sum ? Logic always demands an 
actual basis for the assertion made. 

In 1742, a little further extension of Derby territory was 
made by the purchase of an island in the Ousatonic river just 
above the mouth of Eight-mile brook. This island was really 
beyond the boundaries of Derby, and hence was not reserved 
when the adjoining land in Derby was sold. It was now bought 
by an individual for his personal possession and not as a town 
agent, yet he being a resident of Derby, the deed was recorded 
here.' 

A peculiarity about one name attached to the deed is, that 
this same person, apparently, signed the deed in 1731 as John 
Cuckson, but in this deed he had become John Cockshure, of 
whom more may be seen in the Indian history of this book! 

^We Manchero and John Cockshure and Hannah Tous, . . do sell . . to 
James Hard, his heirs etc., one small island of land, lying in Powtatuck river, being 



FLOURING MILLS. I4I 

It is quite evident that John Howd and John Cockshure were 
heirs or successors of Cockapatana. 

Notwithstanding the floods, the taxes, and the passing away 
of their great men, the town moved on in progress just as the 
world will for ages to come, profiting little by the experience 
ot the past, and giving but small attention to the lessons of that 
past, although on the whole making some progress as to the 
general good of humanity, 

hull's mills. 

• Samuel Hull's mill is mentioned in 1745, when a highway was 
made from Bare plains to it for the convenience of the people. 
When this mill was set up on the Old river, now the race to the 
Birmingham Iron Foundry, a little above the New Haven road, 
is not definitely known. In 1707, the town voted to pay "Major 
Ebenezer Johnson for work done on the old and new flour mill, 
and on the meeting-house," which is almost an assurance that 
Hull's mills were then standing, since no others are known to 
have been built up to that time; and in 17 14, the "old mill- 
pond " is mentioned. 

Samuel Hull, was the son of Captain Joseph, born in 1692, 
and it is very probable that his father built this mill,-at the first 
a small one, to which additions were afterwards made. In 1696, 
John Hull, brother of the first Joseph, received the old mill as a 
gift from his father, and it is most probable that he and his 
brother Joseph or Joseph alone, built the new mill about 1705 
or 6. 

The only mention of any mill enterprises other than the above 
seen in the records between 1696 and 1745 is in regard to a 
grant of land and liberty to Benjamin Stebbins of New Haven 
to set up the trade of tanning and shoe-making, with accommo- 
dations " on Meeting-house hill," which meant where the meet- 
ing-house then stood at the old town, but which was not erected. 
Samuel Hull's mills became a great institution, and continued 
thus, until within the memory of many now living, although all 

in quantity about eight acres, lying about the Eight Mile Brook, and is the first island 
above said brook, bounded on all sides with said river. 
Aug. 4, 1742. 

Hannah Tous her mark 

John Cockshure his mark 



142 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

physical traces of them are now nearly gone. They were called, 
many years, and are still known, as the Old Yellow Mills, and 
Hull's mills. There is not much doubt but that several of the 
Hull family were interested in them as owners, but this is not 
stated in any records seen. These mills secured profitable em- 
ployment to a considerable amount of capital. The flouring 
mill, in addition to the making of flour for the farming commun- 
ity, contained appliances for manufacturing kiln-dried meal 
which, being packed in hogsheads, was shipped to the West 
Indies, causing not a little mechanical and mercantile employ- 
ment. A saw-mill was attached, which not only did work for 
the use of the people of the town, but prepared timber and lum- 
ber of various kinds to be shipped to different sea ports, as is 
evidenced by the yearly appointment by the town of a person or 
persons as inspector of timber, which could mean nothing else 
than that timber was a mercantile product. 

The oil mill, for making oil from flaxseed, required a large 
capital, the oufit being extensive as well as the help employed, 
and the profits were very gratifying for some years. The ma- 
chinery was the first imported to this part of the country, and 
gave the company a monopoly of the business for some years. 
It was doubtless some years after 1745, when the oil mill at- 
tained its highest efficiency. But when the practice in Ireland 
of gathering the flax before the seed was ripe, was adopted in 
that country, an additional market was opened, at higher prices 
for American flaxseed, and the demand for the oil not equaling 
that for the seed, the work of the mill became unprofitable. As 
often occurs in such enterprises, the business was continued in 
hope of better times until former profits were consumed. 

There was also a cloth-dressing establishment as a part of 
these mills which had the first fulling mill and carding machine 
of any in this part of the country ; and which was not equaled 
until General Humphreys started a larger enterprise at Hum- 
phreysville. In later years, the brothers, Samuel and Richard 
Hull, with a son of Dr. Mansfield, were the owners of these mills. 
But the Old Yellow Mills have faded away ; 

" The mill wheel has tumbled in, 
And Ben Bolt lies under the stone ! " 

And "sweet Alice," also ! 



OLD YELLOW MILLS. 143 

Doct. A. Beardsley, gives the following interesting particu- 
lars in regard to these mills. 

The Old Yellow Mills, sometimes called Hull's Mills, recently 
demolished, located at the head of the present Birmingham res- 
ervoir water works, was a place of business for revolutionary 
times. For miles and miles the country round, even as far as 
Woodbury, Waterbury and New Haven, it was a central spot 
where farmers came with corn or rye in one end of the bag and 
a stone in the other, to get their "grist ground." A singular 
death occurred at these mills to a Derby citizen, nearly a hun- 
•dred years ago. The people were honest in those days, and 
locks and keys scarcely used, the miller vacated his premises 
one afternoon, leaving his customers, if any should come, to help 
themselves. Capt. Isaac Smith, grandfather of the late Sheldon 
Smith, Jr. of the Neck, went for his grist, and shouldering his 
bag, and while descending a flight of steps, as is supposed, fell 
to the outside door, where he was found next morning dead, 
with his burden on his back, his neck broken and his faithful 
horse standing by his side. The burial of this good man was 
in striking contrast with modern times, for his pall bearers con- 
sisted only of two horses, his remains being suspended between 
them, and were thus borne to their last resting-place. 

At these mills a set of stones were run day and night, which 
ground out monstrous quantities of linseed oil for exportation. 
Some of the credulous at one time, believed there was a sort of 
witchcraft about this turning flaxseed into oil. An apparatus 
was so connected with some portion of the machinery, that after 
a given number of revolutions of the stones were made, a bell 
commenced ringing in a remote corner of the mills. This un- 
seen signal told the story that the seed had run to oil, which 
was a great puzzler to some of the natives for a long time. 

The Old Yellow Mills finally run down and fell into the hands 
of one John Lewis, a speculative Yankee, who, in selling out his 
interest to Sheldon Smith of New York, in part laid the founda- 
tion of the present prosperity of Derby. 

Another flaxseed oil mill, was established on Two-mile brook 
some years later, but continued only a short time and that with- 
out much success. 

Another mill enterprise was planted further in the wil- 



1.)/] HISTORY OF DEKBV. 

derness, even to Little river, and the first introduction to it 
granted is as follows : 

"New Haven Aug. 5, 1747. I George Albott of Derby have re- 
ceived of Stephen Perkins of New Haven, five hundred pounds money, 
Old Tennor, in full for one-half of a Saw-mill, the whole of a Grist- 
mill or Corn mill, and a dwelling house ; the mills standing on the 
Little liver so called and the dwelling house near by, all in good order ; 
which house and mills I do sell. . . George Abbott." 

But Abbott's Mills, were not destined long to be the only fore- 
runner of what should beat Seymour. In 1760, the town granted 
" to James Pritchard the liberty of the stream of the Little river 
from its mouth up against the dwelling of said Fairchild to erect 
and keep in repair a corn mill or mills." 

The next mill enterprise was on the Naugatuck river at the 
Falls, and for this purpose about two acres and a half, including 
the Falls, at what is now Seymour, was purchased by Ebenezer 
Keeney, John Wooster and Joseph Hull, Junr., of the Indians.^ 
This was not all the land then owned by the Indians at that 
place, but only a small part of it, purchased in order to secure 
the water power ; and upon this land these persons as partners 
erected a saw mill, two fulling mills and a clothiers shop, all which 
they or their successors sold to General David Humphreys in 
1803, which was the beginning of the manufacturing age of the 
town of Derby. The town had previously manufactured vari- 
ous commodities, such as leather and staves for barrels, more 
than it consumed, but this was the beginning of enterprises 
without number that should be instituted for the production of 
large quantities of goods for exportation, not only out of the 
town, but to foreign parts to the end of the world. David Hum- 
phreys, stands before the world as the first great general of the 
manufacturing enterprises of Derby, as well as a celebrated mil- 



"*We Joseph Chuse and John Houde, Indians . . with the advice of Samuel 
Bassett, Esqr., agent for the said Indians . . for the consideration of eight pounds, 
lawful money to us paid by the said Ebenezer Keeney, John Wooster and Joseph 
Hull Junr., to our full satisfaction . . do confirm . . a certain parcel of land . . 
bounded . . and taking in the falls rocks, containing one acre against the falls and 
one acre and a half of land for a highway to said acre with privileges and appur- 
tinances belonging to said falls and land 

Oct. 4, 1763. Joseph Chuse 

John Hude." 



THE NORTH FARMERS. I45 

itary general, and whatever his native town may think of him, 
he will ever stand as one of the great men of enterprise and so- 
cial improvement of his own nation. 

OXFORD SOCIETY. 

Several records are found concerning the formation of Oxford 
into an Ecclesiastical Society, and by these records the thought 
involuntarily arises that Derby thought it the time to pay an 
old grudge by treating the North Farmers as Milford treated 
Derby at the beginning, and so they put in opposition towards 
the movement. 

In March, 1733, the town voted that " these Quaker Farm 
men whose names are under written, who petition for abate in 
the town's charge, we the said town declare that [we] will abate 
these our neighbors four pence upon the pound on the grand 
list for two years from this date." Caleb Terry, Josiah Terry, 
John Smith, Jr., Jonathan Griffin, John Towner, Abraham 
Wooster, Abel Holbrook, Ebenezer Hawkins. No reasons are 
given for this petition, and it is difficult to conjecture except 
these rates were abated from the support of the minister, and that 
in consequence of their distance from the meeting-house. 
Fourpence on the pound was Mr. Moss's rate for many years. 

In April 1740, " Capt. Samuel Bassett'^ was chosen agent to 
represent the town of Derby in May next to show why the me- 
morial of the north farmers in said Derby should not be 
granted." The petition failed as to that year, but the next May, 
upon the report of a committee, the petition was granted, mak- 
ing an ecclesiastical society named Oxford, Timothy Wooster, 
John Twitchell and John Towner leading the" names from the 
north farmers, and Isaac Trowbridge, John Weed, Jonas Weed, 
Joseph Weed, Thomas and Joseph Osborn, dwelling in the south- 
west part of Waterbury, and Isaac Knowles, Joseph Towner, 
Eliphalet Bristol, John Tift and Aaron Bristol, dwelling in the 
south-east part of Woodbury, were included within the parish. 

"^In 1738 the General Assembly appointed Mr. John Fowler of Milford, Capt. 
Samuel Bassett and Mr Gideon Johnson of Derby a committee to repair to said 
Waterbury, and at the charge of the people of the northwest quarter of said town, 
view the circumstances, and if they judge it best that the said northwest quarter be 
a distinct Ecclesiastical Society, that then they state the bounds thereof." 
19 



146 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

In December, 1740, while the matter was in the hands of the 
committee of the Legislature, the town appointed "John Riggs 
Esq., Mr. Francis French and Mr. Joseph Johnson agents for 
the town of Derby, to agree with a committee by the North Farm- 
ers to settle a dividing line between the south and north parts 
of Derby township in order to make an ecclesiastical society in 
the north part of said township; and the town declare they will 
excuse all the North Farmers paying any ministerial charge to 
the present minister of Derby for the year 1740 ; viz. : all whose 
dwellings are above the Five-mile brook bridge, and so above 
a line from said bridge that shall strike the south end of John 
Riggs's farm provided they hire preaching among themselves for 
the whole year." Thus in about six months their opposition 
gave way and they seem ready to work harmoniously with them, 
but why should they put on the last clause or condition : "pro- 
vided they hire preaching among themselves for the whole 
year .-• " Simply because they had not learned the idea of lib- 
erty in its general and full meaning. To let people do as they 
might choose as to religion, had not entered their minds ; and 
although there is some dawning of that coming day at the pres- 
ent time, yet, the clear and true light has not yet come. The 
Lord himself did not prohibit a known sinner to partake of the 
first sacramental bread and wine, but for a church not to take 
to itself greater authority than the Lord pretended to exercise, 
is thought to be so great a sin that the church would lose all char- 
acter, and the favor of Heaven ! The day is not past when the 
civil authority is invoked to try to make men religious, however 
much we abhor the thought. The requiring of all children in a 
public school to pray, any prayer, no matter what, without re- 
gard to their wish or pleasure, and under the fear of penalty, if 
compliance is not acceded, is of the same principle possessed 
by those who burned men at the stake by civil authority. Also 
the proposition to amend the Constitution of the United States 
by inserting the name of the Deity, in any form, is of the same 
quality ; viz. : to compel men to profess to be religious whether 
they desire so to do or not. When God shall sift the nations 
and plant Colonies for freedom a thousand or two thousand 
years longer, he may get them where they can understand His 
gospel, rather than the gospel of men. 



OXFORD MADE A PARISH. I47 

No man has a right to put a finger's weight on his neighbor 
to make him religious ; and if he had, it would do only injury 
and not good. The free reception of the truth by the individ- 
ual, is the only possible way human character can be elevated ; 
and any theory that does not give every intelligent being a fair 
opportunity, somewhere, for thus receiving the truth that would 
save him, is utterly to be rejected by the highest dictates of 
reason, and is a reproach to the Divine character. 

The good Christian people of Derby must put their neigh- 
bors and old friends, and their own children, under legal obliga- 
tion to hire a minister, or they would not release them from 
paying to the old society, as though some state authority must 
be exerted by somebody or they might not attend to religion. 

The town appointed in 1742, Samuel Tomlinson, Joseph John- 
son, sen., and James Wheeler, a committee to lay out a bury- 
ing place for the parish of Oxford upon the charge of said parish. 
That is, the expense of the laying out to be paid by the parish, 
but the land given by the town. 

In 1745, they voted to divide school money with Oxford 
parish according to their grand list; the sum to be received 
being forty shillings on every one thousand pounds in the list ; 
and in 1754, they sell the parsonage lands and divide with Ox- 
ford, the latter receiving forty pounds and Derby sixty. Thus 
did the people of the North Farms become the parish of Oxford ; 
and they completed their organization on the 30th of June, 1741, 
by electing the officers of their society. 

They immediately entertained the idea of building a meeting- 
house, and on the 6th of October of that year decided by a two- 
thirds vote to build it, and to request the Legislature, by com- 
mittee as was the custom, to designate the site, or in their 
terms, " fix the place whereon their meeting-house shall be 
erected and built;" which was finally fixed upon "at the south 
end of the hill commonly called Jack's Hill, and near the high- 
way that runs on the east side of the Little river, on land be- 
longing to Ephraim Washborn."' 

In May, 1743, they were authorized to settle themselves in 
"a church estate, by and with the consent and approbation of 
the neighboring churches and settle a minister according to the 



® Seymour and Vicinity, by W. C. Sharp, 44. 



148 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

establishment of the churches in this government " This was 
effected according to the order imposed, and the Rev. Jonathan 
Lyman was ordained the first minister of the parish, Oct. 4, 
1745, with a settlement of ;!^500, to be paid in four yearly- 
installments, and a yearly salary of ;^i25. This was when Con- 
necticut- lawful money, or bills, were valued at four dollars to 
one dollar in silver. 

Christ's church, derby. 

The difference of opinion as to church order which arose in 
the First Church of Derby, as well as most other Congrega- 
tional churches in Connecticut, opened the way for the com- 
mencement of the Episcopal church in this place ; and was, 
probably, an influence which hastened the organization of the 
Oxford Ecclesiastical Society. A custom grew up in Connecti- 
cut of receiving persons to the " watch and care" of the church, 
upon consenting to the doctrines of the church, and of baptiz- 
ing the children of such consenting parents. The old rule was 
to baptize no children unless one at least of the parents was a 
member in full standing in the church. The Council at Say- 
brook, Conn., in 1708, sanctioned the new practice, and the 
General Assembly confirmed this order or method in the church, 
and thereafter if any church held to the old way, they were called 
a dissenting church. In 1733, when a minister was to be ob- 
tained in Derby to supply the place vacated by the death of Mr. 
Moss, this church took its position avowedly as a " dissenting 
Presbyterian' church ; which, whatever else may have been in- 
tended by the expression, meant that no children were to be 
baptized except one of the parents should be a member of the 
church in full standing. 

The Episcopal church, or as then called "the Church of Eng- 
land," held views quite to the contrary of this, admitting any 
children to that ordinance upon the assured watch and instruc- 
tion in the Christian faith by some one, a member of that church. 

Several Episcopal churches had recently, that is, within thirty 
years, been established in the Colony ; the first at Stratford, in 
1707, one at Fairfield, and, some years later,- another at New- 
town, and others, so that there were some five Episcopal par- 
ishes in the Colony when Mr. Daniel Humphreys was ordained 



FIRST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 



149 



at Derby. Mr. Humphreys became quite zealous in upholding 
the dissenting opinions, and went out of his own parish to 
preach in so doing, and for which he was complained of as we 
have seen, by two justices of the peace of New Haven. 

It was soon after this that the movement began which event- 
uated in the organization of the Episcopal church in Derby. 

Just after the erection of the house of worship by the Church 
of England, the people of Derby passed the following vote, 
greatly to their honor, showing that the spirit of oppression was 
not in their hearts, whatever their views of church order may 
have been : 




THE FIRST EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN DERBY, ERECTED IN 1738. 

"Again the town made choice of Mr. Abiram Canfield and 
Mr. Samuel Botsford to cast Derby list for the year 1739, ex- 
clusive of the rates of Churchmen and what was granted to 
farmers (the north farmers,) to find what sum on the pound on 
said list will make one hundred and forty pounds which is 
granted to Mr. Humphreys. Voted and passed, Dec. 10, 1739." 

Here the Churchmen, in the beginning of their enterprise, 
were exempted from paying to the support of the Congrega- 



150 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

tional minister. The further history of this church is faithfully 
given by Dr. A. Beardsley. 

The cut gives a fair representation of the architecture of 
the first Episcopal Church built in Derby. A small band 
of Episcopalians in the year of our Lord 1737, composed of Capt. 
John Holbrook and seven others, commenced "to fell the trees 
and hew the timbers " preparatory to erecting this humble house 
of worship. It was located in the old churchyard, about six 
rods from the highway and almost directly in front of the resi- 
dence of Rev, Daniel Humphreys, in later times known as the 
Capt. Vose place ; as indicated by the following deed : 

" This indenture made this seventh day of Nov , in the Twelfth year of 
the Reign of our sovereign Lord, George the Second, by the grace of God, 
of Great Britain, France & Ireland, King Defender of the faith &c. and 
in the year of our Lord 1738 Between John Holbrook of Derby in the 
county of New Haven, . . with Abigail Holbrook his wife of the 
one part, and the Rev*^ Jonathan Arnold of New Haven afores*^ Mis- 
sionary from the Honorable Society in England for the propagating 
the gospel in foreign parts, and Rector of the Church at Derby afore- 
said, of the other part, whereas the said John Holbrook and Abigail 
Holbrook his wife, are seized in fee simple . . of one quarter of an 
acre and two rods of ground, situate . . in Derby afores"* butting, 
on the highway eastwardly, on land belonging to Mr. Humphries south- 
wardly on land belonging to and in the improvement of John Holbrook 
afores*^ ; westwardly and northwardly ; and whereas the said John Hol- 
brook and Abigail Holbrook his wife, out of their piety towards God 
and out of their zeal for the Protestant Religion, and the Church of 
England as by law established, have of their own free will resolved to 
give and grant the said premises to the said Jonathan Arnold and his 
successors in the ministry in trust ; nevertheless for the building and 
erecting a church (or finishing the house already raised thereupon,) 
for the worship and service of Almighty God according to the practice 
of the Church of England, and the rest of the land to be used as a 
Church yard for the burial of the dead ; Now this indenture witnesseth 
that the said John Holbrook and Abigail his wife upon the considera- 
tion aforesaid and of five shillings of lawful money to them in hand 
paid by the s^ Jonathan Arnold before the erecting hereof, . . and 
that the said Jonathan Arnold, or the incumbent for the time being or 
the Church Wardens for the time being, for the enclosing the above 
bargained premises, do faithfully make & maintain the fence forever ; 



REV. GEORGE WHITEFIELD. I5I 

have given granted, . , to the said Jonathan Arnold as minister of 
the Church of England & his successors in that place and in that order 
forever to the use interests or purposes herein before recited & men- 
tioned concerning the same ; and to no other use. interest or purpose 
whatsoever. John Holbrook. 

Abigail Holbrook." 

The entire expense of this edifice was borne by eight men, 
but it must have been constructed by piecemeals as it does not 
appear to have been completed until about the year 1746. The 
first "Meeting House" having been built in 1682, from that 
ti"me until about 1737, Presbyterianism or Congregationalism 
was the dominant religion of the town, supported by taxation. 
An incident is here worth relating that shows how the first dis- 
ciple of Episcopacy in Derby was made. During the labors of 
the celebrated Rev. George Whitefield in this country he visited 
in Derby and preached in a private house now standing Up 
Town. Quite a religious stir and an exciting revival took 
place in Derby, about that time. A Mrs. Plum living near 
Plum Brook became so much excited concerning her spiritual 
welfare, that she hastened on foot to Milford to see and con- 
sult with her mother upon the subject. While there she had 
an interview with a colored woman who had been brought up 
and instructed in the Church of England. The colored Church- 
woman talked feelingly to Mrs. Plum and gave her several 
books, (some of which are still preserved,) on the doctrines and 
worship of the English church. She read them prayerfully and 
thus became the first open and known Episcopalian in the town. 
The religious awakening caused by Whitefield's preaching, pro- 
voked much inquiry and warm discussion as to the qualifications 
of church members, but his converts by no means were the only 
ones benefited by his labors. John Holbrook and his compan- 
ions became more interested in serious matters, and chose to 
worship God after the manner and discipline of their mother 
church. Episcopal gatherings became frequent in the neigh- 
borhood and from house to house, in the largest room of some 
dwelling, church services were held, and the seed sown a cen- 
tury and a half ago in this way has borne abundant fruit. A 
central place of worship had become most desirable. There 
was a rude park "where three roads meet" near (now 1879) 



152 HISTORY OF DEKin. 

Joseph H. Reemer's residence, called the Commons. The 
few who dissented from the "Meeting-house" on Riggs Hill, 
resolved to locate their house of worship on one corner of 
the Commons, which was then the court end of the town, but 
they were unexpectedly met with opposition, for a town meet- 
ing was called and a vote passed against the right of any one to 
build a house of worship on the Commons, Capt. Holbrook, 
more earnest than ever in a good cause, then donated the lot in 
front of Mr. Humphreys's residence, for a burying ground and 
a church. From that day to this it has been called " the Epis- 
copal grave yard," and many a departed one from a long dis- 
tance has been brought here to be placed in his narrow cell 
by the side of his endeared ancestors. With slender means the 
church as above stated was completed in 1746. It was called 
Christ's Church, a designation not uncommon at that period in 
the Colony, for Episcopal churches that could have no fixed 
name and consecration by a Bishop. It belongs to the office of 
a bishop to consecrate churches, and there were none in this 
country before the Revolution. Here in this little barn-like 
structure, with its raftered walls, the godly shepherd Mansfield 
was married, and here the worshipers for half a century went 
in and out to their morning and evening devotions, loving the 
church as the apple of their eye. The " Sabbaday House" as 
it was called, in which resided a mother in Israel, Mrs. John- 
son, stood near by the little church. When suffering from cold 
or tired of a dull, prosy sermon, the people often sallied out and 
congregated here to warm themselves and partake of refresh- 
ments from their scanty bags or baskets. In those days the 
luxury of heat from stoves or furnaces was unknown to church- 
going people. On one occasion the slowest and most uninter- 
esting of preachers found his congregation almost wholly retired 
into the "Sabbaday House," which obliged him to omit the 
"tenthly and lastly" part of his sermon. The first stated ser- 
vices held in Derby by an Episcopal minister were those of 
Rev. Jonathan Arnold, an itinerant missionary of the Society 
for the Propagation of the Gospel and formerly a Congrega- 
tional minister at West Haven. He declared for the Church 
of England in 1734, and afterwards went to England to receive 
Holy Orders. His residence was in West Haven, and the chief 



EPISCOPAL GLEBE. I 53 

places beyond it where he most frequently officiated were Derby 
and Waterbury.'' He was succeeded by the Rev. Theophilus 
Morris, a second missionary from England, who preached about 
these parts and the neighboring towns nearly three years, when 
Rev. James Lyons, a third missionary, followed, whose labors 
ceased in Derby soon after the church edifice was completed. 
Dr. Mansfield was the fourth missionary of the society ; a par- 
ticular account of whom will be found in his biographical sketch. 
Two parcels of land were deeded by Samuel Hull, William 
Clark and Mordecai Marks, April 13, 1747, "in consideration of 
the sum of four hundred and fifteen pounds current money . . 
paid by John Holbrook. Jonas Smith, Thomas Wooster, Abel 
Gunn and sundry other persons who are professors of the 
Church of England . . do by these presents with the advice and 
concurrence of the best of our neighbors therein concerned, all 
professors of the Church of England ; do hereby give and grant 
the following pieces of land hereafter expressed intending the 
same for the first glebe lands to endow a certain parish church 
in the township of said Derby now erected and carrying on 
called Christ's Church by us the said Hull, Clark, Mordecai 
Marks and the rest of our neighbors concerned therein ; For the 
better accomplishing the endeavors aforesaid in great reverence 
and regard to the Church of England as established by law, 
and her excellent doctrine, service, piety and order, prefera- 
ble to any other upon earth ; for the honor of God, the surest 
peace and comfort of ourselves, neighbors and posterity ; have 
founded the parish church aforesaid for the use aforesaid, and 
for the endowment thereof do by these presents freely give, 
grant, convey and confirm unto the society for the propagating 
the gospel in foreign parts, two certain parcels of land, within 
the township of Derby lying near the meeting-house ; one of 
said parcels of land contains by estimation three acres be it 
more or less, with an orchard and barn thereon standing, . 
the other containing six acres lying near the other . . be- 
ing part swamp and part upland with a house and orchard 
thereon standing ; . . to said society and their successors 
forever, but in trust and for the special interest and purpose 
hereafter mentioned, to say as soon as there shall be a rector 

' Beardsley's History of the Church, Conn. vol. I, p. 3. 
20 



154 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

according to the order of the Church of Enj^land by law estab- 
lished, instituted and inducted, the premises shall be and inure 
to the use of such rector incumbent and his successors for the 
glebe lands of the said church in fee simple forever. In wit- 
ness etc. Samuel Hull. 

William Clark. 

Mordecai Marks." 

This was the home of the Rev. Richard Mansfield as long as 
he lived. 

The growth of Episcopacy in Derby from 1737 to 1797, called 
for a more commodious house of worship. The enterprise and 
even the population which had centered " Up Town " seemed 
now to be centering towards the Narrows, which in 1797 com- 
mercially and in other respects, was in the hight of its pros- 
jierity. The parish with great unanimity, voted to remove the 
church edifice half a mile down towards the Narrows, then called 
New Boston and located it on the beautiful knoll overlook- 
ing the Naugatuck, and in front of the house now (1879) owned 
by Mr. P. McEnerney, but formerly long the residence of the Rev. 
Calvin White. This edifice, spacious in dimensions and in keep- 
ing with the style of churches then built, was commenced in 
1796, and its corner stone laid the following year. After its 
completion, the members of the parish voted to change the 
name of Christ's to that of St. James's Church, and in 1799 it 
was consecrated with this name by Bishop Jarvis. 

The parish continued to flourish under the rectorship of Mans- 
field, Jewett and others, but after a period of forty-two years, 
the question of again changing the location of the church was 
agitated. Birmingham then was growing rapidly as a manu- 
facturing village, and the worshiping members of the languish- 
ing parish were drifting away from the old edifice. Rev. Joseph 
Scott, then rector, importuned by his parishioners, made a re- 
port to a parish meeting. May 5, 1841, setting forth "the bad 
condition of the old church with regard to its location, and ad- 
vancing reasons in support of its immediate removal to a more 
central part of the parish as being vitally connected with its 
prosperity and permanent welfare."** At this meeting, a com- 



*Parish Record. 



ST. JAMES 5 CHURCH. 155 

mittee of three was appointed, viz. : E. N. Shelton, Birmingham, 
Benjamin Hodge, Up Town, and Levi Hotchkiss for the Nar- 
rows, to take a look at the situation and report progress. The 
removal was not opposed by a7iy but approved by all, yet the 
new location was not so easily settled. Some favored the 
Narrows opposite the Congregational church, but here a suit- 
able lot could not be obtained. The good and pious Leman 
Stone, a tottering pillar in the parish, favored the Causeway 
and urged the building of a mound raised above all freshets, 
whereon to locate the church, while a large majority was for 
Bil-mingham. A census of the families of the parish was taken, 
and the committee, May 26, 1841, reported strongly in favor of 
Birmingham. An additional incentive was, that a spacious lot 
in front of the public park would be donated by Smith and 
Phelps for church purposes. The parish at the same meeting 
voted unanimously to build their new edifice at that place, 
provided the money could be raised by subscription for that 
purpose. A liberal spirit was awakened and the money raised. 
A stone church was decided upon, its corner stone laid by Rev. 
Stephen Jewett in 1842, and a historical discourse was deliv- 
ered on the occasion, by Rev. Dr. Coit of Bridgeport. April 
1 1, 1843, it was consecrated St. James's Church, by Bishop Brow- 
nell " in the twenty-fourth year of his consecration." 

At the regular Easter meeting, April 17, 1843, the parish in 
full vote, passed the following resolution. "That the regular 
services of St. James's Church shall be held in the new church 
edifice at Birmingham, and that the bell, organ and other fix- 
tures belonging to said church or parish, be removed into the 
same,"'' which was done. 

Naturally tenacious of precious and long cherished associa- 
tions, some of the church people up town felt aggrieved that their 
candle-stick had been removed, and at once withdrew from 
"their first love" and formed a nucleus which resulted in a 
" new parish which was admitted June, 1844, into the diocese 
as such by the name of Christ's Church, Derby, "^'' the history 
of which will be found in its proper place. 

The rectors connected with this parish, are Mansfield, 

^Parish Record. 

I'^See Church Journal, 1844. 



156 



HISTORY OF DERBY. 



White, (assistant,) Blakeslee, Jevvett, Bradley, (assistant,) Scott, 
Ashley, Guion, Flagg, Coxe, Fuller, Brainard, Chamberlain and 
Baldwin, — only six now living. Keeping within the record, it 
will thus be seen that St. James's parish with its long roll of 
worthy and devoted rectors, through all its vicissitudes, has 
comedown unbroken from its origin in 1737, to the present 
time. 

In the division of lands at various times, various tracts were 
left, which at the time it was thought unwise or inconvenient 
to divide, or no one desired to settle on them. Such a tract 
was held at Great Hill consisting of something over one hun- 
dred acres. This division was made on the 20th of March, 
1756, to the propyietors, which meant all who had paid toward 
the original purchases of the Indians, and none others except by 
a special vote of the town. Hence rigJits are named to the 
original settlers who had been deceased many years ; and hence 
there are many deeds recorded, signed by the heirs of such 
original proprietors. Others had sold their rights to all lands 
in the town, whatever they might be, to new settlers, or per- 
sons resident out of the town. The division was made mostly 
to the original owners, and then the new owners must prove 
their right to possession. Hence this list of names brings up 
nearly all the persons, familiar in the history of the town one 
hundred years. This land it is said belonged to the fourth 
division, and was parceled in lots of about one and a half acres 
to each, to the rights of : 



1. Jonathan Miles, 

2. Joseph Hawkins, 

3. Ephraim Smith, 

4. Edward Riggs, 

5. John Smith. 

6. Samuel Nichols, 

7. Thomas Wooster, 

8. Samuel Russell, 

9. Gideon Johnson, 

10. Joseph Nichols, 

1 1. Ebenezer Riggs, 

12. Nathaniel Bowers, 

13. John Weed, 

14. John Towner, 

15. Stephen Pierson, 

16. Capt. Joseph Hull, 



I/- 


Samuel Clark, 


18. 


Samuel Bassett, 


19. 


Samuel Brinsmaid, 


20. 


Samuel Hull, 


21. 


John Smith, 


'»'> 


John Chatfield, 


23- 


Samuel Bovvers, 


24. 


Samuel Gunn, 


25- 


Abraham Pierson, 


26. 


John Prindle, Jun., 


27- 


Ebenezer Johnson, Jun., 


28. 


Heirs of David Wooster 


29. 


Moses Wooster, 


30- 


Andrew Smith, 


3'- 


Ebenezer Harger, 


y- 


Joseph Johnson, 



A NEW TOWN HOUSE. 



157 



33 


John Hull. 


59- 


Heirs of Sylvester Wooster 


34 


Samuel Harger, 


60. 


James Humphrey, 


35 


Bridget Bovvers, 


61. 


Wm. Tomlinson, 


36 


John Twitchell, 


62. 


Francis French, 


37 


Heirs of Samuel Bryan, 


63- 


Samuel Moss, 


38 


John Davis, 


64. 


John Johnson, 


39 


John Tibballs, 


65. 


John Riggs, 


40 


Peter Johnson, 


66. 


Israel Moss, 


41 


Wm. and Abigail Moss, 


67. 


George Black, 


42 


Martha Beaman, 


6S. 


Col. Ebenezer Johnson, 


43 


Wm. Woolcott and wife. 


69. 


Timothy Russell, 


44 


Stephen Pierson, 


70. 


John Holbrook, 


45 


John Munson, 


71- 


Jonathan Hill, 


46 


Samuel Washborn, 


■^72. 


Eliphalet Gillett, 


47 


Samuel Tomlinson, 


73- 


Abel Holbrook, 


48 


Micah Denman, 


74- 


Barnabas Baldwin, 


49 


John and Elizabeth Durand, 


75- 


John Prindle, 


50 


.Samuel Riggs, 


76. 


Lsaac Tomlinson, 


51 


Joseph Summers, 


-/-77- 


Jabez Harger, 


5- 


Abraham Tomlinson, 


78. 


Abel Gunn, 


53 


Joseph Moss, 


79- 


John Bowers, 


54 


Joseph Smith, 


80. 


Benjamin Stiles, 


55 


Timothy Wooster, 


Si. 


Jonathan Lumm, 


56 


Jeremiah Johnson, 


82. 


Nathan Smith. 


57 


John Tomlinson, 


83- 


William Washborn. 


58 


Abiram Canfield, 







Another effort was made for the erection of a town house in 
1767, and the place designated by a Court committee, the re- 
port not being seen, the location is unknown, but it was prob- 
ably on Meeting-house hill ; now known as Academy hill, at 
Ansonia, but at Derby and Birmingham as Up Town. The 
committee to build this house was Capt. Joseph Riggs, Dea. 
Eliphalet Hotchkiss and Ens. Nathan Smith. Here is the old 
builder, Eliphalet Hotchkiss, who has been found on two other 
occasions at the same business ; but he has become deacon and 
therefore, as a matter of certainty, must be a far better work- 
man than before, making money all the faster ; for whoever 
knew a deacon that was not rich ? 

A town house had been built some years before according to 
the following town action : 

"Dec. 23, 1745. Voted that the place for building a town 
house for the use of the town of Derby shall be at a place called 
Cankwood Plain, and that said house may be improved for a 



158 HISTORY OF DERBY, 

school-house for the use of schooling for the inhabitants of the 
said town." 

This house was built, since a record was made in 1747, of 
fifty pounds paid towards the cost of it. 

The late William R. Lewis of Huntington, a native of Derby, 
had left the following valuable information of 

LAND SLIDES. 

" Mr. J. W. Barber in giving publicity to the land slide that 
occurred in 1764, a few rods south of Mr. Edward N. Shelon's 
residence, leaves the impression that something like a volcanic 
eruption occurred at that place. I wish to remove that impres- 
sion. There have been three land slides in Derby of which 
this was the first. The second was on the Baldwin lot, so 
called in former times, in the prolongation of the road leading 
up the hill, passing the school-house in the Narrows, some six 
or eight rods beyond the angle where the road turns to the 
right. This was about 1790, and some remains of it may be 
seen yet. Another since came into the road between the house 
of Col. Gates, formerly Jesse Beach's and that of Wyllis Hotch- 
kiss. These land slides are common in all mountainous, tem- 
perate and arctic countries, and take place during a warm rain 
after a long, severe frost has compacted a mass of earth, some- 
times strengthened by intertwining roots. Frost expands the 
mass with great power. If the surface is curved a little upward 
or other things favoring, the mass of earth rising a little, leaves 
a vacancy under it, into which water insinuates itself, and hav- 
ing entered higher up the acclivity through a crack, an animal's 
burrough, a spot protected from frost by snow or other cause, 
creates an upward pressure, proportioned to the difference in 
the altitude of the water where it enters the ground, and where 
its descent is arrested, and it exerts a force, the amount of which 
may be appreciated by reference to hydro-mechanical law as dis- 
played in the hydrostatic press used to lift ships out of water, and 
as used to place the tube of the Victoria bridge on its piers at 
Montreal in 1859, when ten thousand tons of iron was raised 
from floats and placed on the piers with ease and safety. This 
upheaval detaches the mass from its surroundings and then 
ofravitation sends it thundcrin<r down the hill. 



SCHOOL DISTRICTS. I 59 

" The Birmingham land slide was on a declivity lying at an 
angle of about forty-five degrees from the horizon in a geologi- 
cal drift formation destitute of adhesiveness, — no rock /// situ, — 
and below the frozen mass the earth was easily washed away 
by running water. The lightnings, the sulphur and the sub- 
terranean winds as represented to Mr. Barber, were ' of imagi- 
nation all compact.' The land slides of the White hills of New 
Hampshire are similar, and with which all are familiar. That 
of 1826, at the Notch, overwhelming the Willy family of nine 
persons was similar to this only incomparably larger and mov- 
ing about two miles." 

This natural science of Mr. Lewis is well, but the fact still 
remains that this was a peculiar land slide ; for Mr. Lewis 
Hotchkiss, who assisted in removing a part of this land slide 
some forty years since, informs that a large heap of earth, some 
rods in length was thrown out from the hill some six or eight 
rods, leaving the level plane over which the earth passed. 
Allowing that the interval between the hill and the heap of 
earth may have filled in during fifty years, although there was 
no appearance of such process, still the distance of such a mass 
of earth from the bank is scarcely explained by an ordinary land 
slide. 

Some considerable idea of the inhabitants of the town as set- 
tled within its territory, just before the Revolution, may be ob- 
tained from the laying out of the school districts. A commit- 
tee for this purpose was appointed and made their report in 1766. 
"The first district is on the east side of Naugatuck river and 
shall be bound westerly on the Great river and Naugatuck river, 
southerly and easterly on Milford line, northerly the line shall 
begin half-way between the Rev. Mr. Daniel Humphreys's 
dwelling house and Mr. Oliver Curtiss's dwelling house and so 
a west line to Naugatuck river and so run northeastward forty 
rods, northwesterly of Mr. Joseph Loveland's dwelling house and 
thence an east line to Milford line, — forty-seven families. 

" The second district is on the east side of Naugatuck river, 
and is bounded southerly with the north line of the first district, 
and westerly on Naugatuck river, easterly on Milford line, and 
northerly from Milford line to the head of Riggs's swamp west 
ten degrees north to Naugatuck river, — twenty-nine families. 



l6o HISTOKV OF DERBV. 

" The third district is on the east side of Nau^atuck river, 
and is bounded southerly on the north line of the second dis- 
trict, easterly on Milford line, northerly on Waterbury line, and 
westerly on Naugatuck river, as low as the mouth of the Little 
river as far as the little brook that runs into said river out of 
Mr. Jonathan Miles's swamp meadow, and thence with the high- 
way to the great bridge below the falls, — twenty-two families. 

"The fourth district is bounded southerly with the Little river, 
easterly with the Naugatuck river, northerly with Waterbury 
line as far west as to the east side of Mr. Jonathan Miles's farm, 
and westerly with the highway that runs the east side of said 
Miles's farm down to the Little river, taking Lieut. John Woos- 
ter and Mr. Abraham Bassett into the said district, — fourteen 
families. 

"The fifth district is bounded with the line of the fourth, as 
high north as to the south part of Mr. Jonathan Miles's farm, 
and then runs westerly two rods north of Thomas Wooster's 
dwelling house, and then a straight line to the south end of John 
Bassett's meadow to the Little river, and thence to Israel Trow- 
bridge's barn, and thence to the Little river at the north end 
of Wooster park and so to the highway where the fourth dis- 
trict is bounded, — twenty-one families. 

"The sixth district is bounded southerly with the fifth, east 
with the fourth, north with Waterbury and Woodbury line to 
the Little river, and westerly with the Little river down to the 
corner of said Bassett's meadow, — fourteen families. 

" The seventh district is bounded north with Woodbury line, 
west with the Great river down to the mouth of the Five- 
mile brook, south with the Five-mile brook to Woodbury road, 
and thence to Lsrael Trowbridge's barn, and east with the fifth 
and si.xth districts, thirty-two families. 

"The eighth district is bounded north with the seventh, west 
with the Great river down to the south end of Paul's plain, and 
thence the south line runs eastward twenty rods south of Noah 
Tomlinson's dwelling-house, and thence to the Rock spring, 
and thence to the mouth of the great brook that runs into 
Naugatuck river, and easterly with Naugatuck ri\er and the 
third district and the Little river, — forty families." 

"The ninth district is bounded north with the eighth district, 



SCHOOLS. l6l 

west with the Great river to the mouth of the Naugatuck, and 
eastwith the Naugatuck, — thirty-seven families. 

These two hundred and fifty-six families, if averaging five to 
a family, which is the usual method of numbering, gives twelve 
hundred and eighty persons, or possibly thirteen hundred per- 
sons in the town.'^ 

In 1779, some change was made and a new district was 
formed out of the fourth and fifth, including the following fami- 
lies, west of Tobie's rock. 

'Joseph Davis, Isaac Beecher, 

Abraham Bassett, Abraham Beecher, 

Samuel Smith, jun., Ebenezer Riggs, 

David Pierson, John Riggs, 

John Davis, Bradford Steele. 
John Church, 

In the same year another district was formed, taking a "part 
of the north district, a part of Great hill district and a part of 
Rimmon district, including the following families :" 

Bradford Steele, William Gordon, 

Ashbel Steele, John Botsford, 

Hezekiah Wooden, Edward Harger, 

Reuben Perkins, Josiah Washborn, 

Ranford Whitney, Abraham Wooster, 

Lois Riggs, Daniel Davis, 

John Wooster, Benjamin Davis, 

Eunice Pritchard, Ebenezer Keeney, 

James Pritchard, jun., Theophilus Miles, 

Samuel Wooster, Jonathan Miles. 

In 1 78 1, liberty was granted "Capt. Ebenezer Gracey and the 
rest of the inhabitants of the district for schooling, to build a 
school-house on the new highway that leads, from Stevens's 
ferry (the Narrows), down to Milford." 

The second district had had a school-house since 171 1, but 
no others are mentioned before the Revolution, except one on 
Great hill, spoken of in 1777, after that a thorough changing of 
boundaries west of the Naugatuck river was perfected. 

There had been schools kept in various parts of the town 
from 1708-9 up to this time, but they were kept in private 

''Derby contained in 1756, 1,000 inhal)itants; in 1774, 1,889; '" 'ZOO- ->994- 



1 62 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

houses, except at the village, Derby, now Academy hill, at Cank 
wood town house, and for a short time previously at Great 
hill. 

DERBY LANDING. 

Among the first records of the town the FishitK^ Place is men- 
tioned, and in 1666 a highway was made by Edward Wooster, 
through the Long Lot to the Fishing Place, which place it ap- 
pears, was at or near Derby Landing, or possibly a little above 
it, at first. At that time there was no river on the east side of 
the meadow land ; nothing but a little brook. The History of 
Seymour says there were no islands or meadow below the cause- 
way between Birmingham and Derby, and that there was deep 
water where the meadow now is, but it seems almost impossible 
to have filled up in so short a time, two hundred years ; be- 
sides, the first records mention several islands as then existing, 
namely, "Two-mile island," below the Narrows, "Walnut tree 
island," at the junction of the rivers, owned some time by 
Stephen Pierson, the "Fish island" or fishing place, and the 
island lying in the Ousatonic, south of Lieut. Thomas Wheeler's 
house on Birmingham point, and which Mr. Wheeler bought of 
the Indians, and still later the westernmost island in the Ousa- 
tonic is purchased of the Indian chief. There were then three 
islands at this place, at the first settlement, besides Two-mile 
island. After a few years from the making of the highway to 
the Fishing Place, a landing was constructed at that place for 
shipping ])roduce. This highway through the Long lot was the 
only road up and down the river at the time, except Milford 
road that went over the hill by the Swift place, and no road 
from the Narrows east. 

All commodities brought to the Landing were carted up this 
highway to the old village. Up Town. There was a landing all 
this time at Birmingham point on the Ousatonic. At first, and 
for a few years this was on the east side of the point, but after- 
wards went to the west side. Sometime before 1700, there was 
a house built at the Fishing place, that was called the fish 
house, but which served, doubtless, somewhat as a warehouse, 
for some years. A little after 1700. the principal shipiiing place 



CAPT. ITHIEL KEENEY. 1 63 

was at Joseph Hawkins's warehouse on the west side of Bir- 
mingham point, and continued there nearly fifty years. 

In 1745, the old road through the Long lot was given up, or 
nearly so, and a new highway made from the Narrows on the 
bank up to Old Town, and in 1772, this road was changed some- 
what and improved, being about where it now is. A little be- 
fore 1 78 1, the first highway was made from the Landing out 
south- east towards Milford. In laying the highway on the 
bank, from the Narrows, in 1745, although a full description of 
its boundaries is given, no dwellings or buildings are mentioned, 
and hence it is probable none were there at that time, except 
possibly the old fish house at the Landing. 

In Barber's History it is said that Capt. Ithiel Keeney was 
the first white child born at the Landing; the date of his birth 
being March 17, 1755. This information Mr. Barber obtained 
from Mr. Keeney himself, and is no doubt correct, as Mr. 
Keeney was one of the most reliable men ever in the town. 
The fact that for more than thirty years he was the treasurer 
of the town, is sufficient proof of this statement. Ebenezer 
Keeney, the father of Ithiel, came into the town a young man 
and married Betsey Davis in 1738, and resided on the road a 
little way south-east from Old Town until he built his house at 
the Landing in 1754, for Ithiel's sister Abigail was born in 
1753, yet Ithiel was the first born at the Landing. It is, there- 
fore, very probable, that the Keeney house was the first at the 
Landing. 

Stephen Whitney bought a piece of land at New Boston, ad- 
joing Mr. Keeney's, in 1762, and another in 1764, and built on 
this land a store, and continued in business as a merchant until 
he delivered it to "James Juancy, Samuel Broome and Com- 
pany, with all that were the said Whitney's creditors in New 
York, on the i6th day of September, 1768, and Abraham 
Demill of Stratford, . . which said store house stands on the 
bank of the river, with some land west side of the store house 
called store-house square." 

The next movement for building this place, then called New 
Boston, is recorded in town meeting as follows : "December 18, 
1769, voted that Capt. Ebenezer Gracey (spelled also Grassee) 
have liberty to build a wharf adjoining the landing place at New 



164 HISTOKV OF I)KK15V. 

Boston, beginning at the bassvvood tree northward of Stevens's 
ferry, and to extend northward sixty feet, and also to build a 
warehouse on said wharf, and to build three feet into the bank 
with this reserve, that all the inhabitants in this town that 
freight upon said Gracey's vessel, shall have liberty to stjore 
any goods or grain in said warehouse so long as they shall stand 
in need, store free, provided the said Gracey build the same 
within three years from this date." 

The next year, Capt. Gracey bought ninety-one feet front on 
the river, of Joseph Wheeler, " bounded northerly on Betty 
Keeney, and southerly on the land of Samuel Broome of New 
York, and company." 

"Dec, 1770. Voted that the town of Derby thinks that it 
will be a public advantage to have a ferry started on Derby side 
of the river at the Narrows, and that Mr. Joseph Wheeler's 
wharf is the most convenient place, and that the town desires 
the Hon. General Assembly to start a ferry there on said 
Wheeler." This indicates that Stevens's ferry which had been 
running one year certain and probably longer, from the then 
Stratford side of the river, but Derby people proposed to have 
one on Derby side. The amount of generosity toward Mr. 
Stevens, who had been at the expense of starting a ferry, is not 
spoken of ; probably they thought it not " enough to speak of." 

A ferry was continued, at least until 1833, when a proposi- 
tion was made in town meeting to give it up, but just when it 
did stop is not ascertained. 

From 1770, onward for some years, there was much specula- 
tion in lots of land at Derby Narrows, the people supposing 
that really a New Boston was to arise to be a great city, if not 
to eclipse any other city of that name. 



CHAPTER VI. 



DERBY IN THE REVOLUTION. 




1774—1783- 

HE history of the American Revolution is yet to be 
written, and when such a work shall be completed it 
will have been gathered as well from local history as 
the more public prints and archives. It is also within 
the narrow scope of local history, giving particulars for which 
the general historian cannot find room, that we may gain some 
of the most definite views of those hardships which were apart 
of the great sum by which our fathers obtained their freedom, 
and in order to know the full force of such an event on the lo- 
cal community it is necessary to understand the relations of such 
local town to the state and of the state and nation to the causes 
of such an event. And, as it is the practice at the present day 
to give a distorted or perverted meaning to the actual relations 
and principles which caused the Revolution, it is important to 
repeat and delineate those causes, in order that those who are 
disposed may have a just understanding of those principles. 

The policy of England with reference to the American Colo- 
nies had long been of a nature to produce uneasiness and re- 
sistance in the minds of the more intelligent classes. The Eng- 
lish who came hither were from the first unwilling to be con- 
sidered as having lost any rights they had possessed at home, and 
boasted themselves as loyal subjects to the ruler whoever it 
might be of the parent country in almost every written trans- 
action and deed of land executed in the country. One of the 
principles concerning which they were most tenacious, was 
that of taking p^rt in framing the laws by which they were to 
be governed. It was held at an early day that no law of Eng- 
land ought to be binding upon the people of the Colonies with- 
out their own consent, and as they were not allowed a repre- 
sentation in the English Parliament they claimed that all enact- 
ments of Parliament for the Colonies were without force until 



l66 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

assented to by the Colonial Assemblies ; and this idea had been 
instituted and cherished under the idea of Constitutional Gov- 
ernment as maintained by a large proportion of the people of 
the mother country. Had England at that time possessed 
statesman of no extraordinary ability, instead of arbitrary dicta- 
tors there would have been no Revolution in the Colonies. 
This claim was especially insisted upon in regard to measures 
for their ta.xation, whether direct or by way of import duties. 

Little account, however, was made in England of the pre- 
tended rights of the colonists as subjects of the crown, although 
they had in part sanctioned these claims for many years, both 
in their parliamentary legislation and the grants of the crown. 
It became necessary to increase the revenue of the kingdom, 
and the British ministry determined to do this by means of a 
tax on the people of America. 

There was the religious element, also, that came into consid- 
eration. It was well known that after the restoration of Charles 
II. there was a strong purpose in the government and a large 
party, to make the Church of England the ruling church in 
America, and it was in regard to this idea that much contro- 
versy had been indulged among the leading men of the Colo- 
nies for more than fifty years previous to the Revolution. The 
starting point to the re-establishment of church authority was 
to subjugate the Colonies politically or by governmental author- 
ity and hence they maintained that the power of Great Britain 
to tax them without their consent, must be asserted and main- 
tained at all costs, and to this end many efforts had been j^lanned 
but failed to be effective. 

The French war had left the Colonics greatly reduced and 
some of them heavily burdened. In 1762, the public debt of 
New York was ;^300,ooo and the population of that province 
was taxed ;!{^40,ooo per annum to discharge it; yet the Assem- 
bly granted a new appropriation demanded by England for the 
support of the army. Connecticut had been issuing bills, dur- 
ing the war against Spain from 1740 to 1750, and again to sup- 
port the war against France from 1755 to 1763, until the mother 
country ordered the Colony to stop, (about 1760,) at which time 
it took eight dollars of paper to buy one of silver, or there- 
abouts, and suddenly they came to flat hard times. Then in 



OPPRESSIVE ACTS OF PARLIAMENT. 167 

March, 1765, Parliament passed the Stamp Act. This law, 
which provided for the raising of a revenue in the Colonies by 
requiring the use of paper bearing a government stamp for 
every legal or commercial instrument in writing, produced so 
much disturbance, and awakened so much opposition both in 
England and in America, that it was repealed the next year. 
But the determination to tax the Americans was by no means 
abandoned. In 1767, a bill was passed imposing duties upon 
tea and certain other articles imported from Great Britain into 
the colonies. This law, more directly than any other measure, 
led to the conflict which resulted in the Revolution. A passive 
resistance was at first offered throughout the country, to the 
designs of the government, by an agreement of the people not 
to import the articles upon which this tax had been laid. The 
first meeting held for the purpose of entering into such an agree- 
ment took place in Boston, October 28, 1767, and was followed 
by similar meetings in the towns of Connecticut and New York. 
The firmness and self-denial with which these resolutions were 
very generally carried out, tended greatly to increase a spirit 
of self-reliance and independence in the popular mind. 

Other measures of the British government excited the colon- 
ists to more violent resistance. The Stamp Act, which was re- 
ceived with riotous demonstrations in various places, had been 
accompanied by another bill quite as offensive, which remained 
in force when the former was repealed. This bill obliged the 
several Assemblies of the provinces to provide quarters for the 
British troops maintained in America, and to furnish them with 
sundry supplies, at the expense of each province. New York 
refused to make any appropriation for this purpose ; and Parlia- 
ment to punish the refractory colonists, passed a law depriving 
that province of all powers of legislation until its orders should 
have been complied with. This was an infringement of their 
liberties which greatly alarmed the colonists. About the same 
time, their irritation was increased by the stringent measures 
taken with a view to the enforcement of the revenue laws. Un- 
der the oppressive and arbitrary system of duties which had 
been established, smuggling had come to be considered as a 
matter of course. The colonists, denied of all participation in 
making of laws which affected their interests, thought it no 



1 68 HISTORY OF DKKBY. 

wrong to evade those which were manifestly unreasonable and 
injurious. The attempt at this moment to enforce them led to 
repeated disturbances, especially in Boston and New York. 
These various acts of the British government tended to one 
result, which every deed of violence and bloodshed hastened, 
namely, the union of the Colonics in a pronounced opposition 
to the control of the mother country. 

It may be imagined with what interest the news of public 
events at this period must have been received by the inhabi- 
tants of Derby. The doings of Parliament ; the meetings of the 
Colonial Congress; the proceedings of the "sons of liberty;" 
the outrages of the British soldiery ; the risings of the exasper- 
ated people ; these and other tidings came from week to week 
to this quiet neighborhood, in the columns of the small gazettes, 
whose dingy pages wear such an old-fashioned look at present, 
but which to them were so full of fresh and lively import. 

The course of events was watched with various feelings, for 
there were warm partisans of the British cause at Derby, as 
well as a large number who earnestly espoused the side of re- 
sistance, which they regarded religiously as well as civilly a 
righteous thing in the sight of the Lord. The prevailing mood 
was one of uncertainty. As yet none had any thought of the 
matter reaching any state except resistance to these special 
acts of Parliament. 

The first recorded action of the town of Derby took place at 
a legal town meeting, November 29, 1774. It was after the 
closing of the port of Boston, in consequence of the famous tea- 
party which occurred in Boston on the i6th of December, 1773, 
and in j^unishmcnt the government declared the port of Boston 
closed. Upon this, public meetings were held throughout the 
Colonies, renewing the agreement against the use of tea and ex- 
pressing sympathy with the people of Boston. At the meeting 
in Derby, "Daniel Ilolbrook, P^sq., was chosen moderator of the 
meeting. 

" At said meeting the extracts of the doings of the respect- 
able Continental Congress held at Philadelphia, Sept. 5, 1774, 
were considered, and the same appearing to us to be a wise and 
judicious plan, and most likely to effect the much to be desired 
union between Cjrcat Britain and the American Colonies; there- 



LOYALTY TO GREAT BRITAIN. I69 

fore, we do resolve that we will faithfully adhere to and abide 
by the association entered into by said Congress. 

"Again, voted that the gentlemen hereafter named be a com- 
mittee to see the same carried into execution, viz. : 

Capt. John Holbrook, Capt. John Coe, 

Mr. Henry Tomlinson, Capt. Nathan Smith, 

Major Jabez Thompson, Lieut. John Bassett, 

Mr. Joseph Pickett, Capt. Henry Whiting, 

Capt. Thomas Clark, Capt. Joseph Riggs, 

Mr. Abraham Smith, Lieut. Bradford Steele, 

Mr. Thomas Gale, Lieut. Ebenezer Buckingham. 

"Again, voted that in case a county Congress should be 
agreed upon in this county, then the aforesaid committee shall 
choose and appoint two of their number to attend such Congress. 

"Again, the town have taken into their consideration the 
needy and distressed circumstances of the poor of the town of 
Boston, by the operation of a late act of Parliament blocking 
their harbor, the town is of opinion it is necessary and their 
duty to contribute for their relief." 

Here it may be seen that they declare it to be their opinion 
that this movement was the " most likely to effect the much to 
be desired union between Great Britain and the American Colo- 
nies," as though the idea of a permanent separation had scarcely 
entered their minds, and much less was it entertained as a 
probable event, showing that nothing but persevering violations 
of their rights by Parliament ever drove them to revolution. 
This was the case throughout the country wherever action was 
taken at this period. Dr. P>anklin, just before the fight at 
Lexington, told the Parliament committee that he had more 
than once traveled almost from one end of the continent to the 
other, and kept a variety of company, eating, drinking, and con- 
versing with them freely, and never had heard in any conversa- 
tion, from any person, drunk or sober, the least expression of a 
wish for a separation, or a hint that such a thing would be ad- 
vantageous to America." John Adams said afterwards : "There 
was not a moment during the Revolution when I would not 
have given everything I possessed for a restoration to the state 
of things before the contest began, provided we could have had 
a sufficient security for its continuance." 



170 HISTORY OF DEKRY. 

As confirming this sentiment and showing the public senti- 
ment of the people at the time, a quotation is given from the 
records of the town of Rye, N. Y., a near neighbor to Derby 
in associations at the time, expressed at a public meeting, held 
July 6, 1774:' 

" This meeting being greatly alarmed at the late proceedings 
of the British Parliament, in order to raise a revenue in Amer- 
ica, and considering their late most cruel, unjust and unwar- 
rantable act for blockading the port of Boston, having a direct 
tendency to deprive a free people of their most valuable rights 
and privileges, an introduction to subjugate the inhabitants of 
the English Colonies, and render them vassals to the British 
House of Commons. 

'^Resolved First: that they think it their greatest happiness 
to live under the illustrious House of Hanover, and that they 
will steadfastly and uniformly bear true and faithful allegiance 
to his Majesty, King George the Third, under the enjoyments 
of their constitutional rights and privileges, as fellow subjects 
with those in England. 

" Second, That we conceive it a fundamental part of the 
British Constitution, that no man shall be taxed but by his own 
consent or that of his representative in Parliament ; and as we 
are by no means represented, we consider all Acts of Parlia- 
ment imposing taxes on the Colonies, an undue exertion of 
power, and subversive of one of the most valuable privileges of 
the English Constitution." 

The fourth resolution of that meeting in Rye, reveals the 
object for which the colonists were seeking at that time, and is 
the same as intimated in the resolution of the people of Derby, 
a little later in the same year : viz. : " That the unity and firm- 
ness of measures in the colonies, are the most effectual means 
to secure the invaded rights and privileges of America, and to 
avoid the impending ruin which now threatens this once happy 
country."" 

The fifth resolution of that meeting, expressed the purpose 



iMany like resolutions were passed in public meetings throughout the state of 
Connecticut at that time. See Hinman's War of the Revolution. 

^Many like resolutions were passed in the towns in Connecticut at that time. 
See Hinman's Hist, of the Revolution. 



PRIVILEGES OF FREEDOM. I7I 

to support the counsels and doings of the General Congress, 
as was expressed with marvelous unanimity throughout the 
country. Many extracts like these might be made, but are un- 
necessary, as the oneness of the people at that time, in the 
general, is a conceded matter. 

But what were the rights and privileges that the people of 
the Colonies claimed, or were striving to maintain ? Certainly 
not those of tinivetsal liberty and freedom, as entertained in the 
United States since the Revolution. No such liberty was then 
dreamed -of. The statement of Dr. Benjamin Trumbull in the 
commencement of his History of Connecticut, that, "The set- 
tlement of New England, purely for the purposes of religion, 
and the propagation of civil and religious liberty, is an event 
which has no parallel in the history of modern ages," is clearly 
true in a limited sense, but the extent and broadness of religious 
and civil liberty as developed by the American Revolution 
was no part of the plan of the first settlers, nor of the 
claims of the people of New England up to the battle of Lex- 
ington, on the 19th of April, 1775. When Patrick Henry said 
" Give me liberty or give me death," he made the key that 
unlocked the mind and heart of man, to the grand idea of Hii- 
viaji Liberty. Since tJiat day it has .been very easy to declaim 
about freedom, but before that it was but certain, or particular 
rights and privileges that were claimed by anybody, anywhere 
in Christendom. These particulars as claimed by the Colonists 
were, first to order their churches as they had done from the 
first, as they judged the Bible directed, without being governed 
by the English, or any other church ; and second, the civil 
privileges guaranteed, as they believed were guaranteed, and as 
they had enjoyed by and under the British Constitution. These 
are the historical facts, according to hundreds of sermons and 
public documents of those times. The Rev. Alexander Gillet, 
one of the most learned young men of the period, preached a 
sermon of two hours and a half in length, in Wolcott, Conn., on 
Fast day, 1774, in which these definite points and claims are 
stated, and this is corroborated by hundreds of other sermons 
of that time, as well as by the declaration of rights by the Co- 
lonial Congress in September, 1774, and the Declaration of In- 
dependence. 



172 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

If then the fathers before the Revolution are found acting 
upon principles not in accordance with universal freedom, it 
should be no mystery ; for they knew of nothing of the kind, 
and profess.ed nothing of the kind. If any be so unfamiliar 
with history as to ask whether the fathers propagated a larger 
degree of liberty in these Colonies than they could and would 
have enjoyed in the mother country, it would be easy to answer 
in the affirmative, by a mass of historical testimony sufficient 
to convince any but the willful. Obedience to the majority 
vote of the persons interested, was a principle not allowed in 
England, but practiced here by extending the application, from 
the first. The Rev. John Beach of Newtown, in writing to 
England in 1767, said;'' " It is some satisfaction to me to ob- 
serve that in this town, of late, our elections, the church peo- 
ple make the major vote, which is \.\vq. first instance of that kind 
in this Colony, if not in all New England." How strange 
such an expression. The people of Derby, an adjoining town to 
Mr. Beach, had practiced on that principle from 168 1, nearly 
one hundred years, in all their church business. Mr. Beech 
could have learned the fact if he had been disposed to look at 
the records of the town, at any time. Mr. Beech also says in 
the same communication, "And I am full in the opinion, that 
if those great men, upon whose pleasure it depends to grant us 
such a blessing, [a bishop] did but know as we do that the church 
people here are the only fast friends to our subjection to, or 
connection with England, as hath lately appeared, they would, 
even upon political reasons, grant us the favor which we have 
so long wished and prayed for." What was the significance of 
the ^"45,000 raised in Connecticut, to aid England in the war 
against Spain, in 1740, and the equipping and sending the sol- 
diers who with Massachusetts captured Louisburg, where sev- 
eral millions of dollars worth of war material were captured, and 
not a dollar's worth allowed to those who did the work ; and 
the fitting a vessel, TJie Defence^ on which were sent in 1741, 
two hundred soldiers, to Cuba in this same Spanish war } What 
meant the immense taxes levied in Connecticut, and soldiers 
sent in the French war of 1755 to 1763, in which Connecticut 
had but little to gain and much to lose, if it did not mean loy- 

^Beardsley's History of The Church in Connecticut, vol. i, 251. 



()PEMN(; OF THE WAR. 173 

alty to, "and connection with" England? Connecticut raised 
about 5,000 soldiers during the first three years of the French 
war, for the several campaigns against Crown Point ; and the 
whole expenses of that war, to Connecticut, must have exceeded 
;!^500,ooo ; a sum immense for the number and circumstances 
of the people. What is loyalty, if this is not ? 

At a meeting of the General Assembly in April, 1775, a law 
was passed to raise one-fourth of the militia for the special de- 
fense of the Colony, formed into companies of one hundred men 
each, and into six regiments. A major general, two brigadier 
generals and six colonels were appointed. This force was sent 
to Boston immediately after the fighting at Lexington. Major 
Jabez Thompson, Captain Nathaniel Johnson and their thirty- 
two men from Derby were among the companies sent, and after- 
wards drew ten pounds and four shillings as part pay of the 
expenses of that journey. Therefore Derby had a part in the 
first rally in the great struggle for freedom. 

The officers from Derby at this time were : David Wooster, 
Esq., major general ; Jabez Thompson, ist major of the ist regi- 
ment, and captain of the 2d company; Bradford Steele, ist 
lieutenant in the same company ; Nathan Pierson, ensign, and 
Nathaniel Johnson, captain, of another company. 

This company was probably in the battle of Bunker Hill, 
June 17, 1775. 

On the first day of the next July, the Connecticut Assembly 
ordered two more regiments, the seventh and eighth, to be 
fitted at once and sent forward to the army at Boston. Wil- 
liam Hull of Derby was appointed first lieutenant in the second 
company of the seventh regiment.* While the Derby troops 
were on this expedition to Boston, one of the most brilliant ex- 
ploits of the Revolution, the capture of Ticonderoga, was 
planned, principally by General David Wooster, a Derby citizen, 
in consultation with some of his associates in the Legislature, 
and the expedition started on its war mission ; the accomplish- 
ment of which surprised both the Old and the New World. 
General Wooster and some others became responsible for the 
expenses of this expedition, but they were afterwards relieved 
from them by the Colony. 

*Royal R. Hinman's War of the Revoluti(jn — Connecticut. 



1/4 HISTORY OF DEKBV. 

The fall of Ticonderoga alone gave to Congress, aside from 
the importance of the place, about one hundred and twenty iron 
cannon, fifty swivels, two mortars, one howitzer, one coehorn, 
ten tons of musket balls, three cart loads of flints, thirty new 
carriages, a large quantity of shells, one hundred stands of 
arms, ten barrels of powder, two brass cannon, to say nothing 
of materials for ship building, pork, flour, beans, peas and other 
valuables. 

In August of the same year, Giles Hall was appointed cap- 
tain of the brig Minerva, and Thomas Horsey of Derby first 
lieutenant on the same vessel. 

In the summer of 1775, General Wooster in command of a 
regiment nearly full of Connecticut troops, in which were some 
from Derby, was sent to New York for the defense of that 
place. A correspondent of those times has given the following 
pleasant notice of these soldiers : 

" Our people now begin to see something of the pomp and 
circumstance of war. June 12, 1775, the Connecticut forces 
encamped near Greenwich are reviewed by General Wooster. 
A great number of gentlemen and ladies and a prodigious con- 
course of the inhabitants of the surrounding country have gath- 
ered to witness the review. The troops are an exceeding fine 
body of men and perform their exercises and evolutions with 
spirit and exactness, much to the satisfaction of their officers 
and to the spectators also. On the 27th instant, these troops, 
or a portion of them, pass through Rye on their way to New 
York, and they are to encamp a short distance from the city. 
General Wooster with seven companies of his regiment, and Col. 
Waterbury with his regiment complete, constitute the force. 
They appear to be a healthy, hearty body of men, about 1,800 
in number, and some of them at least were destined to become 
well acquainted with Rye, for General Wooster afterwards had 
his head-quarters here for a considerable length of time."^ 

After the battle of Bunker Hill it became very evident that 
a heavy struggle of war was at hand, and the hope of a friendly 
settlement seemed to have departed forever. The courage of 
the Americans was high, for, although defeated at Bunker Hill, 
that defeat was in effect equal to a victory, from the fact that 

6 History of Rye, N, V., 224. 



COMMITTEE OF INSPECTION. 



175 



a few militia soldiers had resisted so successfully for some 
hours the regular army of England. The colonists now began 
to act with great vigor in putting the country in a state of de- 
fense. The long line of sea coast, without a navy to protect 
it, demanded and received as far as possible, particular atten- 
tion, especially that of Connecticut, which was greatly exposed 
to the enemy. Some considerable division of sentiment existed 
as to the propriety and right of engaging in a war of resistance 
to the mother country. This made it necessary to watch the 
movements of all persons throughout the country, lest enemies 
at home might do more harm than any abroad ; and therefore 
it became necessary to appoint in each town a Coimnittee of In- 
spection, as the following for Derby, appointed Dec. ii, 1775 : 



Capt. John Holbrook, 
Mr. Henry Tomlinson, • 
Col. Jabez Thompson, 
Mr. Joseph Pickett, 
Capt. Thomas Clark, 
Mr. Abraham Smith, 
Mr. Thomas Yale, 
Mr. John Coe, 
Capt. Nathan Smith, 
Lieut. John Bassett, 
Capt. Joseph Riggs, 
Lieut. Bradford Steele. 
Capt. Ebenezer Buckingham, 
Charles French, Esq., 
John Davis, Esq., 
Eliphalet Hotchkiss, Esq., 



Capt. John Tomlinson, 
Daniel Holbrook, Esq., 
Capt. Zechariah Hawkins, 
Sheldon Clark, 
Mr. Noah Tomlinson, 
Capt. Nathaniel Johnson, 
Capt. Timothy Baldwin, 
Mr. John Howd, 
Mr. John Humphrey, 
Mr. John Riggs, jun., 
Mr. Ebenezer Keeney, 
Capt. Ebenezer Gracey, 
James Beard, Esq., 
Mr. Agar Tomlinson, 
Mr. Benjamin Tomlinson, 
Samuel Wheeler, jun. 



It should not be supposed that all the captains above titled 
were military men, unless all the men, women and children of 
Derby were soldiers, but some two or three of them may have 
been captains of vessels, yet having as much honor, or more than 
the military captains. 

It is worthy of notice that this list contains a very large pro- 
portion of the men who had been prominent in the town during 
the twenty-five years preceding ; prominent in offices and as 
citizens, and in paying taxes and sustaining England in her 
wars against Spain and France. Capt. John Holbrook, whose 
name heads the list, was the man who with his wife, Abigail, had 
given the land for the site of the first Episcopal church and bury- 



1/6 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

ing-ground thirty-seven years before, but who, on the breaking 
out of the war, withdrew from that church and returned to the 
Congregational church and supported the war vigorously to the 
end. Some of them had been engaged many years in exporting 
produce and importing all kinds of merchandise, until Derby 
was as well known in foreign parts as any town in the Col- 
onies, and especially so in the West Indies.'' Whatever, there- 
fore, affected the Colonies, affected Derby, and the people un- 
derstood the fact and prepared themselves accordingly. No 
locality took its position of resistance more coolly, yet decidedly, 
boldly and manfully, than Derby. David W^ooster, although 
born in Stratford, removing with his father into the tow^n when 
about ten years of age, retaining it as his residence fifteen or 
more years, had distinguished himself in the Spanish and 
French wars, becoming quite celebrated, now took his stand 
for the rights of his native land, with great decision and firm- 
ness, although his old Tory friends of Stratford said if he 
"turned against his king he ought to be shot." William Hull, 
a liberally educated young lawyer, accepted the appointment of 
his native town as captain for the Derby company, with manly de- 
cision to serve during the war. His father, Joseph, a sea cap- 
tain as well as a military, went at the first call to New York, 
doing noble service. Captain Jabez Thompson, of high stand- 
ing, went out at the first call to Boston with several other offi- 
cers of the town, and returned in a few months entitled colonel. 
And back of these stood this first committee of inspection of 
thirty-two first-class men. One company of thirty-two or more 
had been to Boston in the first campaign. The whole military 
company had been to New York with General Wooster in the 
summer of 1775. Truly, Derby's flag need not trail in the dust 
the first year of the Revolution; and what is said by Hinman^ 
may be appropriately said of Derby. "At this critical junct- 
ure of the war, no Colony was more deeply interested in the 
result than Connecticut, and none better prepared for the emer- 
gency. The people of this Colony had for more than a century, 
enjoyed one of the most beneficent colonial governments that 

''Produce was at that time carted from New Haven to Derby to be shipped to 
foreign parts. 

''Connecticut in the Revolution, Royal R. Ilinman, p. 7Q. 



DERBY CONSPICUOUS. I // 

ever fell to the lot of the subjects of a monarchical government. 
They had literally governed themselves, although nominally 
subject to the crown of Great Britain. Notwithstanding their 
extraordinary privileges, no colony stepped forth with more 
alacrity to the aid of the oppressed people of Massachusetts, 
than Connecticut ; and none exhibited more sympathy, or poured 
forth its blood and treasure more freely in the onset. In the 
campaign of 1775, she sent forth her thousands to the aid of 
Massachusetts ; and not only this, but she was the first to com- 
mence operations against Great Britain. Her citizens, unaided 
by any other colony, had conquered the forts on Lake Cham- 
plain, captured the garrisons, and brought the prisoners and 
munitions into Connecticut. She had also been the first to 
rally in sustaining the cause of the Revolution in the commer- 
cial city of New York, where she had sent her militia, under 
General Wooster, in the summer of 1775. Again in the autumn 
of the same year, her citizens had destroyed one of the most 
offensive royal presses in the colonies ; and finally, by the ad- 
vice of General Washington, Connecticut had raised a force, 
which, commanded by General Lee, had wrested New York 
from the royal authority early in 1776." Li all these move- 
ments except the printing press, Derby had an honorable, and 
in some of them, a conspicuous part. 

hi the summer of 1776, one-third of Washington's army 
in New York were from Connecticut, including from nine to 
ten thousand militia ; all the remainder of the militia of the state 
were ordered to Long Island, except two regiments. It is very 
probable, that all the soldiers or militia of Derby were at New 
York, and this too just at harvest time. In this year also, a 
company was enlisted at Derby ; William Clark, captain ; Edward 
Howd, lieutenant ; Jabez Pritchard, ensign. 

Joseph Hull, brother of General William, was appointed 
lieutenant of artillery, and went to New York where he was 
taken prisoner and detained two years. (See his Biog.) 

The real spirit of self-sacrifice and true loyalty of the Derby 
people to freedom is seen in the self-sacrifice of the following 
votes. It is easy to be patriotic when it costs nothing, but these 
votes were at the expense of every man that had provisions to 
sell. 



1/8 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

"February lo, 1777. Whereas the General Assembly of this 
state at their session at Middletown on the i8th of December 
last, by an act did regulate the prices of a number of articles 
in said act enumerated : and whereas it appears to this town 
that it is of the utmost consequence to the community in gen- 
eral, and to this town in particular, that said act shall be imme- 
diately carried into effect : 

"Voted, therefore, that the town will by every legal means 
endeavor to have the directions of said act strictly complied 
with ; this town being fully sensible that it is the duty of every 
friend of his country, to sell and dispose of the articles enu- 
merated in the act of Assembly fixing the price of labor, provi- 
sions etc., at the prices at which they arc therein stated ; there- 
fore : 

"Voted, that those of us who have any of them beyond what 
we want for our own consumption, will readily and cheerfully 
sell them, either for money or produce at the prices in said act 
stated ; and that we will esteem all persons who shall not do 
the same, enemies to their country, and treat them accordingly, 
provided such person is properly convicted thereof before the 
committee of inspection of this town, whom we empower to 
take cognizance of such offenses. 

"Voted, that this town do recommend the civil authority, se- 
lectmen, committee of inspection, constables and grand jurors, 
to proportion the several prices of the articles not enumerated 
in the act of Assembly and make the same public, that we may 
all know the same." 

In 1777, they first appoint a committee to take care of the 
families of the soldiers in the army, consisting of John Coe, Da- 
vid De Forest, Capt. Thomas Clark. 

In the autumn of 1778, the following committee to take care 
of the soldiers' clothing — that is, to invite and aid persons in 
making and forwarding such clothing and to see that the town 
received pay or credit, to balance for taxes to a certain extent, — 
were appointed. 

Samuel Hull, Capt. Joseph Riggs, 

David De Forest, Isaac Smith, 

Abraham Beecher, Reuben Tucker, 

Capt. John Tomlinson, Ebenezer Clracey, 



ANNUAL TAXES. 1/9 

Capt. Timothy Baldwin, Capt. Nathaniel Johnson, 

Nathan Buckingham, Joseph Russell, 

Capt. John Riggs, Capt. Hotchkiss, Esq., 

Lieut. Samuel Wheeler, Noah Tomlinson, 

Samuel Bassett, Thomas Clark, Esq., 

Daniel Holbrook, jun., John Howd, 
Capt. John Holbrook, 

" The town by their vote give to each soldier in the conti- 
nental army that counts for the town of Derby, ten pounds 
money each, in lieu of the linen overalls, linen shirts and 
shoes that were voted to them last year as a bounty." 

The following rate, fixed the same year, was the lowest im- 
posed at any one year during the war. " The town grants a 
rate of one shilling and ninepence on the pound lawful money 
on the grand list to pay the bounty granted to the soldiers and 
to defray town charges." In 1775, the rate was one-halfpenny. 
And it was not in consequence of depreciated currency that the 
rate was so high now, for they had just accepted the prices fixed 
by the Assembly, which made wheat six shillings per bushel, 
rye three shillings and sixpence, and all other things proportion- 
ate. The list for Derby stood a little less than twenty thousand 
pounds in 1775. The amount of tax would nearly equal one- 
tenth of the list ; or one-tenth of the valuation on the assessors' 
list. This indicates somewhat the burden sustained in that 
war. 

The following rates of tax were fixed by town vote in the year 
as indicated. There may have been other additional rates in 
some of the years named : 

1775, one and one-half penny on the jDOund. Eleazer 
Hawkins, collector. 

1776, two and one-half pence on the pound. David De For- 
est, collector. 

1777, threepence on the pound. 

1778, one shilling and ninepence on the pound for bounty 
and town expenses. 

1779, six shillings lawful money on the pound. Mr. Ebenezer 
Keeney, collector. 

1780, two shillings on the pound, lawful money. Mr. Eben- 
ezer Keeney, collector. 

1780, an extra rate of sixpence on the pound to pay soldiers' 



i8o 



HISTORY OF DERBY. 



bounties ; and a committee of Capt. John Riggs, Capt. Daniel 
Holbrook, Capt. Bradford Steele, to enlist continental soldiers 
and pay them their bounty. 



GRAND LIST OF THE COLONY IN 1775. 





I 


s. 


d. 




£ 


s. 


d. 


Ashford, 


^I^'^IZ 


II 


3 


New Haven, 


73,210 


6 


2 


Bolton, 


10,526 


I 





New Milford, 


28,169 


18 


3 


Branford, 


23.472 


8 


I 


New Hartford, 


8.837 


18 


6 


Coventry, 


20,856 


14 





New London, 


35,528 


17 


6 


Canterbury, 


20,730 








Norwich, 


66,678 


19 


2 


Canaan, 


15,212 


3 





Norwalk 


.41,955 


18 


I 


Chatham, 


22,881 


8 





New Fairfield, 


12.273 


3 


6 


Cornwall, 


9.358 


14 


6 


Newtown, 


23.737 


11 


II 


Colchester, 


34.763 


6 





Plainfield, 


14,216 


16 





Durham, 


12,205 


7 


6 


Preston, 


25,272 


14 


II 


Danbury, 


28,501 


10 


8 


Pomfret, 


27,711 


12 


4 


Derby, 


19.313 


19 


7 


Redding, 


14,263 


4 


4 


East Haddam, 


26,674 


18 





Ridgefield, 


17,491 


8 


6 


East Windsor, 


27.409 


15 


6 


Stonington, 


38,213 


5 


10 


Enfield, 


12,478 


15 





Simsbury, 


30.631 


8 





Eairfield, 


51,27s 


15 


6 


Suffield, 


19,140 


9 





Farmington, 


66,577 


3 


10 


Salisbury, 


17,087 


16 





Greenwich, 


24.632 


7 


II 


Stratford, 


52,611 


16 


7 


Groton, 


26,902 


6 


3 


Stafford, 


10,412 


10 





Glastenbury, 


18,752 


15 


7 


Saybrook, 


26,304 


8 





Guilford, 


36,406 


14 


5 


Stamford, 


34,078 


2 


9 


Goshen, 


11,348 


18 





Sharon, 


17,325 


16 





Hartford, 


48, 1 20 


10 





Somers, 


9,153 


19 





Hebron, 


23.815 


10 





Tolland, 


1,432 


S 





I laddani, 


16,591 


4 


7 


Torrington, 


5,816 


15 





Harwinton, 


8,023 


18 





Voluntown, 


13,801 


4 





Killingly, 


27,907 


12 


4 


Windham, 


32,222 


10 


7 


Killingworth, 


20,221 


I 


5 


Wethersfield, 


32,674 





3 


Kent, 


16,971 


9 


6 


Watcrbury, 


37,064 


3 


3 


Lebanon, 


41.632 


7 


8 


Wallingford, 


51,504 


2 


9 


Litchfield, 


23.396 


13 





Windsor, 


24,095 


2 


II 


Lyme, 


28,570 


16 


2 


Woodstock, 


20,S00 








Milford, 


29,181 


II 


5 


Willington, 


8,660 


7 


I 


Middletown, 


42,567 


12 


9 


Woodbury, 


56,495 


14 


10 


Mansfield, 


22,077 


18 


3 











The committees for the soldiers' families and clothing for the 
soldiers were continued from year to year. Sometimes the 
state was required to furnish a certain amount of clothing, and 
this was proportioned to the counties and then to the towns, 



TRYON S VISIT. I8l 

and the town committee were required to see that the cloth was 
obtained and the clothes made by the inhabitants of the town. 

In the midst of privations and heavy taxes ; the departure of 
soldiers, and the returning of the sick, or more dreaded news 
than sickness, there was the terrible fear of the raids of the 
enemy all along the shore of Long Island Sound, Derby escap- 
ed any very serious visitation, although General Tryon made 
them one call as described by Doct. A. Beardsley, as follows : 

PORK HOLLOW. 

During the dark days of the Revolution, Derby, in common 
with many other towns of the colony, suffered from the red 
coats of King George. Some weeks prior to the burning of 
Danbury, when the gallant Brigadier General David Wooster 
was mortally wounded, the tory Governor of New York, Gener- 
al Tryon, with his two thousand men, learned that valuable 
military stores were secreted in Derby, which was then a sea- 
port town in advance of New Haven, carrying on a brisk trade 
with the West Indies. The stores consisting mostly of pork, 
were packed in the old building located on the Ousatonic, on 
land now owned and occupied by Messrs. A. H. and C. B. Ail- 
ing, a few rods east of the rear of L. L. Lomer's brick block 
recently erected on Main street in Birmingham. In architec- 
tural beauty and finish this structure would contrast oddly with 
the custom houses of to-day. The lower story, its wall, three 
feet thick, was built of rough stone, exteriorly resembling a 
coarse stone wall ; the upper story was of heavy wood work, 
roofed over with rent clapboards, many of our older citizens, 
including the writer, well remember its antique appearance, 
though demolished fifty years ago. 

General Tryon, whose barbarous footprints polluted the soil 
of Connecticut among its first invaders, sent a detachment to 
New Haven to annoy the people of Derby, and as this old tory 
was ever bent on plunder, but when this could not be accom- 
plished, he delighted in applying the torch of destruction to 
houses, churches, barns and other buildings, scattering in wild 
confusion defenseless women and children into narrow lanes 
and public streets, he determined to visit Derby. When his 



102 HISTORY OF DERHV. 

forces arrived at New Haven, Capt. John Tomlinson, who then 
lived at Derby Neck, in the old mansion now owned by Truman 
Piper, happened to be in that city, and, mistrusting the object 
of their mission, quickly mounted his horse, and spurred him on 
in hot haste over the hills until he reached the peaceful hamlet 
of Derby Narrows, when he shouted at the top of his voice 
"The British are in New Haven ; look out for your pork, look 
out for your pork !" 

Now this Captain Tomlinson was a reliable man, a convert to 
the Whitefield doctrine, and it is said he did more praying and 
exhorting than half the town. He labored for the good of his 
fellow men. He lived to be ninety years old. In his last sick- 
ness a neighbor was called in to watch with him who was not 
particularly a religious man ; and who had on a short coat, but 
he was soon relieved of his expected night's work. When he 
entered the sick chamber Mr. Tomlinson greeted him with the 
salutation, " Be gone, thou enemy of all righteousness, the Devil 
never looked worse than when in a short coat." 

When Tomlinson brought the news to Derby Narrows con- 
cerning the British, the day was far spent and the shades of 
evening were closing thick and fast, but in those times Yankee 
Doodle, ever on the alert, ready to fight for country and fireside, 
was equal to the emergency. Alarmed at the near approach of 
the enemy, men, women, and even boys sallied out, and soon 
the work of removal to a place of safety commenced. Among 
others, a tall, slender lad aged sixteen years, named Isaac 
Smith, whose son in his old age still resides on the shores of the 
Ousatonic, was singled out to assist in taking care of the mili- 
tary stores. His father, by the same name, was then an officer 
in the militia company from Derby stationed at Danbury, and 
we may here mention that the old slave. Quash, father of Gov- 
ernor Roswell Quash [colored] who died about two years ago, 
was his body guard. Young Smith full of patriotic fire, yoked 
his father's oxen, hitched them to his cart, and soon the work 
of hauling the pork f om the old building was in lively opera- 
tion. Load after load was conveyed up the lonely cart and cow 
paths, zigzag here and there among the shrub oaks, guided only 
by the glittering stars, and dumped into the famous hollow 
about a quarter of a mile below the almshouse on the right of 



I'ORK HOLLOW XO FIC'lIOX. 1 83 

the main road as you now go to Seymour in West Ansonia. 
This hollow was dense with low shrub oaks, furnishing a capital 
hiding place. Yet some have attempted to establish the hollow 
a little to the east of the one named, but this is of little conse- 
quence since each is in close proximity to the other. 

It is said that the British appeared on the east hill near the 
old Col. Jackson place, but the tory sentinels of the town, few 
in number, from some cause failed to connect with their allies, 
and thus General Tryon was cheated out of his coveted game. 
It has been believed by some that the hiding of pork in Derby 
from the tories in the Revolution was more of romance than 
reality, but reliable testimony obtained through patient re- 
searches establishes its authenticity beyond a question. Pork 
Hollow should live in our memories. 

More than a hundred years have rolled away ; the shrub oaks 
are gone, and the farmers ploughshare has made smooth and 
even the rough places in this deep, deep hollow, yet the passer by 
as he lingers around this revolutionary spot, may drink in admira- 
tion for the noble efforts of our rude forefathers, who helped to 
lay deep and broad the foundations of the government under 
which we now live. Here the selfish patriots of to-day may 
learn that neither inglorious love of money, nor the rewards of 
ambition, were the incentives to defeat, in his madness. General 
Tryon, that remorseless and implacable foe to the interests of 
the American Colonists. 

The committees appointed, and the objects for which they 
were appointed, constitute a large proportion of the town records 
of the Revolution. If the town treasurer's book for that time 
could be found, the amount of work and expense would more 
fully appear, but diligent search does not secure so valuable a 
prize, although the book with accounts beginning just after the 
war is well preserved ; when one is starved to death of what 
value then is abundance of food .■* 

1779. Committee to procure soldiers' clothing, etc. : 

Benjamin Bassett, Joseph Wheeler, 

Isaac Smith, Capt. Bradford Steele, 

Capt. Timothy Baldwin, James Pritchard, 

Joseph Chatfield, Samuel Hull, 

Amos Bassett, Ca]it. Daniel Holi)r()ok, 



1 84 



HISTORY OF I)P:RBV'. 



Agar Tomlinson, 
Capt. John Tomlinson, 
Eli Hawi<ins, 
Abiel Fairchild, jun., 
Robert Wheeler, 
Jonathan Lumm, jun., 
Samuel Bassett, 
Moses Wheeler, 



Noah Tomlinson, 
John Coe, 

Nathan Buckingham, 
Isaac Beecher, 
Abraham Bassett, 
Capt. John Riggs, 
Joseph Russell. 



Early in March, 1780, another committee, unnamed before, 
appears, as inspectors of provisions : 



Capt. John Tomlinson, 
Capt. Daniel Holbrook, 
Reuben Baldwin, 
Capt. Bradford Steele, 
Capt. Nathan Pierson, 
Lieut. Joseph Riggs, 
Josiah Smith, 
Terrell Whitmore, 
Gideon Johnson, 
Capt. Henry Whitney, 
1-ieut. Abraham Smith, 



Agar Tomlin.son, 
Lieut. John Basset, 
Webb Tomlinson, 
Abiel Fairchild, jun., 
Samuel Bassett, 
Capt. Daniel Chatfield, 
Capt. John Riggs, 
Lieut. Levi Hotchkiss, 
Ithiel Perkins. 
David Tomlinson. 



ELEGY, BY GENERAL DAVID HUMPHREYS, ON THE BURNING OF 
FAIRFIELD, IN CONNECTICUT. 

Ve smoking ruins, marks of hostile ire. 
Ye ashes warm, which drink the tears that flow. 

Ye desolated plain, my voice inspire. 
And give soft music to the song of woe. 

How ]:)leasant, Fairfield, on th' enraptur'il sight 
Rose thy tall spires, and op'd thy social halls ! 

How oft my bosom beat with pure delight, 

At yonder spot where stand the darken'd walls ! 

But there the voice of mirth resounds no more, 
A silent sadness through the streets prevails : 

The distant main alone is heard to roar. 

And hollow chimneys hum with sullen gales — 

Save where scorch'd elms th' untimely foliage shed. 
Which, rustling, hovers round the faded green — 

Save where, at twilight, mourners frequent tread, 
'Mid recent graves o'er desolation's scene. 



" Written in 1 779, on the sput where that town stood. 



BURNING OF FAIRFIELD. 185 

How chang'd the blissful prospect, when conipar'd, 
These glooms funereal, with thy former bloom, 

Thy hospitable rights when Tryon shar'd, 
Long ere he seal'd thy melancholy doom ! 

That impious wretch, with coward voice decreed 
Defenseless dooms and hallow'd fanes to dust ; 

Beheld, with sneering smile, the wounded bleed, 
And spurr'd his bands to rapine, blood and lust. 

Vain was the widow's, vain the orphan's cry. 

To touch his feelings, or to soothe his rage — 
Vain the fair drop that roll'd from beauty's eye. 

Vain the dumb grief of supplicating age. 

Could Tryon hope to quench the patriot flame, 

Or make his deeds survive in glory's page .' 
Could Britons seek of savages the fame. 

Or deem it conquest, thus the war to wage ? 

Yes, Britons ! scorn the councils of the skies, 

Extend wide havoc, spurn th' insulted foes ; 
Th' insulted foes to tenfold vengeance rise. 

Resistance growing as the danger grows. 

Red in their wounds, and pointing to the plain, 

The visionary shapes before me stand — 
The thunder bursts, the battle burns again. 

And kindling fires encrimson all the strand. 

Long dusky wreaths of smoke, reluctant driven, 

In black'ning volumes o'er the landscape bend : 
Here the broad splendor blazes high to heav'n. 

There umber'd streams in purple pomp ascend. 

In fiery eddies, round the tott'ring walls, 

Emitting sparks, the lighter fragments fly ; 
With frightful crash the burning mansion falls, 

The works of years in glowing embers lie. 

Tryon, behold thy sanguine flames aspire. 

Clouds ting'd with dyes intolerable bright ; 
Behold, well pleas'd, the village wrapt in fire; 

Let one wide ruin glut thy ravished sight ! 

Ere fades the grateful scene, indulge thine eye, 

See age and sickness, trenudously slow. 
Creep from the flames — see babes in torture die, 

And mothers swoon in agonies of woe. 
24 



1 86 



HJSTORY OF DERBY. 



Go gaze, enraptur'd with the mother's tear, 
The infant's terror, and the captive's pain. 

Where no bold bands can check thy curst career; 
Mix fire with blood on each unguarded plain ! 

These be thy triumphs I this thy boasted fame ! 

Daughters of memr'y, raise the deathless songs ! 
Repeat through endless years his hated name, 

Embalm his crimes, and teach the world our wrongs. 



In 1777, Congress provided that in order to pledged fidelity 
to the United States, persons should take an oath of fidelity in 
addition to the freeman's oath to the state. It was this oath of 
fidelity that was accepted by the following persons ; and in it 
Derby showed a noble list of loyalty to the new nation. Dur- 
itg several years thereafter two oaths were administered, the 
freeman's oath and the oath of fidelity. 

"Derby, Sept. 16, 1777. The persons hereafter named, had 
the oath provided by law for freemen administered to them in 
open freemen's meeting, viz. : 



Rev. Mr. Daniel Humphrey, 
Rev. Mr. David Bronson, 
Charles French, Esq., 
John Davis, Esq., 
Eliphalet Hotchkiss, Esq., 
James Beard, Esq., 
Thomas Clark, Esq., 
Capt. John Ilolbrook, 
Agar Tomlinson, 
Joseph Durand, 
Benjamin Tomlinson, 
Capt. Joseph Riggs, 
Abraham Bassett, 
David DeForest, 
Philo Johnson, 
John Coe, 
Daniel Chatfield, 
Reuben Baldwin, 
Gideon Johnson, 
-Nathan Mansfield, 
Joseph Pickett, 
Bradford Steele, 
E. Turrel Whitemore, 
Henry Whitney, 
Abraham Beecher, 



John Howd, 

David Johnson, 

John Riggs, jun., 

Noah Tomlinson, 

Thomas Yale, 

Deacon Daniel Holbrook, jun. 

Capt. Nathaniel Johnson, 

Abraham Hawkins, 

Isaac Smith, 

Capt. John Tomlinson, 

Capt. Nathan I'ierson, 

Daniel Todd, 

Levi Thompson, 

Peter Johnson, 

Webb Tomlinson, 

Isaac Tomlinson, 

Doctor Edwa'-d Craft, 

Eleazer Hawkins, 

Capt. William Clark, 

Capt. Timothy Baldwin, 

Amos Bassett, 

Samuel Wheeler, jun., 

Joseph Davis, jun., 

Jeremiah Johnson, 

Tnhn Botsford, 



ENLISTED UNDER THE OATH. 



187 



Enos Bradley, 
Jonathan Hitchcock, 
Noah French, t^ 
Daniel Todd, 
Joseph Pierson, 
Ebenezer Gracey, , 
Nathaniel French. 
David Pierson, 
Samuel French, '' 
Joseph Chatfield, 

April 13, 1778. 

Capt. Joseph Lumm, 
William Hine, 
Joseph Loveland, 
Lemuel Lumm, 
Eleazer Lewis, 
Enoch Smith, 
Ebenezer Bassett, 
John Crawford, 
John Humphrey, 
Ranford Whitney, 
Isaac Durand, 
Jehiel Spencer, 
Capt. Nathan Smith, 
Thaddeus Hine, 
Ebenezer Johnson, - 
Gold Bartholomew, 
Samuel Russell, 
Joseph Tomlinson, 
Nathan Buckingham, 
Zechariah Fairchild, 

y^^'athan Mansfield, 
Freegift Hawkins, 
Edward Howd, 
Lieut. Oliver Curtiss, 
Samuel Smith, 
Nathan Davis, jun., 
Micah Pool, 
Jehiel Spencer, 
•Joseph Canfield, 
Ithiel Perkins, 
John Roe, 
Israel French, jun., 
Hezekiah Johnson, 
Thaddeus Baldwin, 
Joseph Wheeler, 
Ebenezer Hitchcock, 
Samuel Bots^ord, jun., 

^ Eleazer Lewis, 



Joseph Riggs, jun., 
Samuel Allen, 
Ashbel Loveland, 
Timothy Baldwin, jun. 
Benjamin Bassett, 
John Adee, 
Elijah Hotchkiss, 
Asahel Johnson, 
Abraham Downs, 
Samuel Johnson, jun. 



Eben Hinman, 
Joseph Sherwood, 
Nehemiah Botsford, 
Samuel Hull, jun., 
David Hitchcock, 
Noah French, 
Jonathan Lumm, jun., 
Elijah Davis, 
David Bassett, 
Reuben Perkins, 
Thomas Horsey, 
•Joseph Canfield, 
Doctor Silas Baldwin, 
Abijah Hull, 
Andrew Smith, 
James Humphrey, 
Lewis Hubbell, 
Nathaniel Johnson, 

"t' Moses Riggs, 
Samuel Wheeler, 
Robert Wheeler, 
Andrew Smith, 
Beman Hall, 
Philo Holbrook, 
Isaac Johnson,- 
Noah Durand^ jun., 
James Pritchard, jun., 
Benjamin Carpenter, 
Richard Smith, 
Elisha Griffin, 
William Burrett, 
Freegift Hawkins, 

"Y-Capt. Jeremiah Gillett, 
Joseph .Smith, 
Joseph Johnson, 
Joseph Hawkins, 
Ebenezer Bassett, 
Daniel Davis, 



105 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Enoch Smith, Joseph Russell, 

Ebenezer Heeney, Nathaniel French, 

Ebenezer Durand, John Prindle, 

~AXhomas Yale, Abel Pierson, 

Henry Tomlinson, Francis French, 

Joseph Bassett, Zephaniah Tucker, 

Eleazer Hawkins, Robert Pope, 

Eli Hawkins, Beeman Hall, 

Levi Hotchkiss, Moses Clark, 

Dan Tomlinson, Moses Wheeler, 
David Tomlinson, 

April 8, 1782. 

Charles Whittlesey, John Churchel, 

Jonathan Lyman, Edmond Clark, 

Samuel Pierson, Abraham Smith, jun., 

William Grinnell, Jonah Tomlinson, 

Nehemiah Candee, James Bassett, 
Eleazer W^ooster, 

Several of these last names were new-comers in the town, or 
young persons. 

March 9, 1780. Voted, that Abraham Hawkins, James Beard, 
Esq., John Humphrey, Capt. Nathan Pierson, Noah Tomlinson, 
Major Nathan Smith, David Tomlinson, Lieut. Levi Hotch- 
kiss, Walter Wooster and Ebenezer Warner, be a committee 
to assist the officers of the several companies in the town of 
Derby in raising their quota of men that shall be requested in 
this town for the continental and state service at the expense 
of the town, with discretionary orders to give such premiums 
as said committee in their wisdom shall judge reasonable. 

Although the prospect of the final success of the Colonies be- 
gan to look more hopeful, yet the heaviest burdens of the war 
came during this year and the one following ; the great difficulty 
in obtaining soldiers, made it necessary to offer high premiums ; 
and to supply the soldiers with equipments, food and clothing, 
cost a very great effort, and after all that was done there was 
much suffering for want of these things, by the soldiers. The 
following efforts put forth during the year 1780 will show that 
the town of Derby was not indifferent to the soldiers' comfort 
nor slow to support the effort of the colonies for freedom. 

"July 3, 1780. Voted, that the town will give each man that 
shall enlist as a soldier into the continental army during the 



BOUNTIES AND DIFFICULTIES. 1 89 

war, as a bounty, the sum of ^{^20, to be paid in bills of credit 
of this state at the time they pass the muster, and ;!^20 at the 
commencement of the second year of their service, and ^20 at the 
commencement of the third year of their service ; and all such as 
enlist for three years into the continental army, shall receive 
in bills of credit of this state, ^20 at the time of passing mus- 
ter, and ^15, at the commencement of the second year, and 
;^io, at the commencement of the third year of their service; 
and also all such persons as have, or shall enlist into the con- 
tinental service for one year and seven months from the date 
of these presents, shall receive ;^io, at passing muster, and jCS' 
at the commencement of the second campaign, including what 
shall have already been given by the town." 

The following vote passed at the same time shows the re- 
strictions, perils and difficulties through which the inhabitants 
passed to secure home necessities while they worked to pro- 
vide and maintain the soldiers required of them : 

" Whereas the inhabitants of the town, viewing themselves 
imposed upon by the eastern boatmen trading up our river, 
and said town having resolved not to trade with them unless 
they trade at a more moderate rate ; and considering salt a 
necessary article ; whereupon the town by their vote request 
the civil authority and selectmen to petition his excellency the 
Governor of this state to grant a permit to some meet per- 
son of this town to carry provisions from this town to other 
parts of this state or the neighboring states to purchase salt 
necessary for the use of said town, and said persons and provis- 
ions to be under the civil authority and selectmen of said town." 

Derby being a seaport town where centered the products of a 
large region of country, it was looked to by the Assembly for 
great assistance in extremities ; and hence special commissions 
were sent to be executed in behalf of the state in addition to the 
town's proportion of war support. Not only so, but Derby had 
become celebrated through its officers and men in the army for 
efficiency and success in business transactions, so that much 
confidence was placed in it in the time of special need. 

" Nov. 13, 1780. The town appointed Eliphalet Hotchkiss, 
Esq., to receive the state salt and to receive and put up the 
provisions for the army agreeable to a late act of the Assembly. 



190 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

"The town by their vote direct the selectmen to draw out of 
the town treasury a sufficiency of money to defray the charges 
of purchasing barrels, and receiving and putting up the above- 
said provisions. 

"Voted, to grant a rate of sixpence halfpenny on the pound in 
good pork, beef and wheat flour, on the list of 1779 ; beef of the 
best quality to be computed at fivepence per pound, and that of 
an inferior quality, being good and merchantable, at four and a 
half pence per pound ; the pork not exceeding five score pounds 
per hog, at fivepence per pound ; and between five and eight 
score, at five and a half pence per pound ; and that above eight 
score, at sixpence per pound ; and the flour at twenty-four shil- 
lings per hundred gross weight; the beef to be paid by the fif- 
teenth of December next, and the pork and flour by the fifteenth 
of January next; and if not paid by the time above set, then 
each person so neglecting, to pay double the value of said prov- 
isions agreeable to a late act of the Assembly entitled an act for 
collecting and storing a quantity of provisions. 

"Again, voted, that Mr. Jonathan Hitchcock, Capt. Thomas 
Clark, Capt. Micah Pool, Mr. John Howd, Capt. John Tomlin- 
son, Mr. Jonathan Lumm, jun., and Lieut. John Bassett, class the 
people agreeable to a late act of the Assembly for filling up and 
completing the state's quota of the continental army. 

"Again, voted, that the committee for purchasing clothing be 
directed as soon as possible to collect two shirts, two pairs of 
stockings, one pair of shoes, and one pair of mittens for each 
continental soldier whose time does not expire before the first 
day of March next, and send said clothing to them taking a 
receipt therefor." Hence the whole town were set to work knit- 
ting stockings, and mittens, and making clothing, just as they 
had done considerably already for four years, but now more 
systematically than before, and also by the requirement of law. 

At this time also a large committee was appointed to take 
care of the soldiers' families, since that class was fast increasing 
in the town. Think of the number there must have been to 
require seventeen committee men to look after them and see 
that they received and did not waste the appropriations made to 
them ! and these families too, who had never before known what 
real want meant! 



CLOTHING FOR THE SOLDIERS. I9I 

"Dec. 25, 1780, voted, that the following persons be collectors 
to collect the rate and assessment in each class to raise recruits 
for the continental army, viz.: for the first class, David Hitch- 
cock ; second class. Gold Bartholomew ; third class, John 
Howd ; fourth class, Levi Tomlinson ; fifth class, Dan Tomlin- 
son ; sixth class, Bradford Steele ; seventh class, Webb Tomlin- 
son ; eighth class, Jonathan Lumm, jun. ; ninth class, Abraham 
Downs ; tenth class, Ebenezer Plant ; eleventh class, Ebenezer 
Buckingham ; twelfth class, Naboth Candee. 

" Voted, that the town will raise recruits for state guards by 
classifying agreeable to a late act of the Assembly. 

Jan. 15, 1781, voted, that the town will classify the inhabitants 
into forty-one classes on the list of 1780, to procure clothing for 
the soldiers, and Eliphalet Hotchkiss is appointed to classify 
accordingly." 

It is probable that each class was required to furnish the 
material and make the clothes, since the classes were to be 
arranged by, or according to the grand list, as is indicated in 
another vote ; or if the cloth was furnished by the general com- 
mittee, still they must have appointed certain persons to the 
spinning and weaving of the same before they could furnish it 
to the makers of the clothes. There were no large manufac- 
turers then to take contracts, and make large sums of money 
for themselves and turn off shoddy clothing for the soldiers to 
freeze in. 

The whole town of Derby became a manufacturing shop with 
twelve apartments, each with its regularly appointed overseer; 
and the general overseer of all these apartments or different por- 
tions of the town was Deacon Eliphalet Hotchkiss, the master 
house builder of the town. This turning Derby into one great 
manufacturing shop was almost prophetic of what it should 
become in less than one hundred years, and what it now is ; only 
the variety of productions is greatly enlarged. If Eliphalet 
Hotchkiss, the general "Boss "of 1781, could have gone through 
the various departments of manufacturing in his old town in 
1876, one hundred years after the l.'eclaration of Independence, 
how astonished and amiazed and bewildered he would have been. 
And then also would he have known what Freedom meant; and 
what the incalculable value of the struggle, work and sufferings 



192 HISTORY OF DEKBV. 

of the people in the American Revolution. But he could not 
live a hundred years to see the results which were destined to 
follow that great conflict He was the general at home in pri- 
vate life, while William Hull was general in the army, winning 
laurels in the sight of men. What was the contrast of life expe- 
rienced by the two .-* The Deacon passed on in the even tenor of 
his way, to a quiet, peaceful, but victorious end ; while General 
Hull was betrayed by public officials, disgraced and dishonored 
and forsaken of his own countrymen, of whom he deserved 
better things, but they knew it not, but finally history vindicated 
him and restored him to higher honor still, when in the satis- 
faction of his righteously earned vindication he departed to the 
sleep of his fathers. 

The following indicates the consequences of not performing 
the work of making clothes as assigned: 

"Dec. 25, 1780. Voted, that each class or any individual of 
said class be notified of such persons as are classed for the pur- 
pose aforesaid in their class and the number of clothing and 
when notified they are to furnish the full complement of clothing 
required of them by the 30th day of March next and in case 
any class or any individual of either class shall neglect or refuse 
to procure said clothing by the time aforesaid they shall be 
emerced or doomed to pay double the value thereof in gold or 
silver on the list of the year 1780, which forfeiture from each 
neglecting class shall be delivered to Mr. John Howd, treasurer 
of this rate, who is hereby empowered to collect such clothing 
as is wanting and when any individual shall neglect or refuse as 
aforesaid the forfeiture shall be paid to such of said class as shall 
procure the said clothing." 

This indicates the extremity of the government, and of the 
soldiers in the field, and the wonderful, marvelous spirit of con- 
secration to the cause of freedom, or independency from the op- 
pressive and tyrannical acts of the British government professed 
by the American people ; and it is no wonder that that spirit 
has become the criterion for the judgment of all parties and 
nations, as to heroic endurance, from that day to the present, 
for liberty. , 

Well done, ye first-born sons and daughters oi liberty ! 

The year 1781 opened with a call for more soldiers, and 



FREEDOM AND SOLDIERS. 1 93 

Derby proceeded to meet the claims on her in the following 
manner : 

"Jan. 15, 1781. Voted, that the authority and selectmen be 
empowered and directed to give certificates to Capt. Daniel 
Holbrook and Capt. John Wooster, to free and emancipate 
their servants, negro men, on the condition that the said negro 
men enlist into the state regiment to be raised for the defense 
of the state, for the term of one year." 

These two captains did well in freeing their slave men, even 
on such conc]itions, but there was another man who did better 
apparently, some years before, as indicated by the following 
deed of freedom without any conditions : 

"Derby, Sept. i6, 1777. This may certify all persons, that 
I, Ebenezer Johnson of Derby, do hereby free my negro man 
named Roger from my service forever, and give him his time 
to deal and act for himself, as witness my hand. 

" EbexNezer Johnson." 

This was the grandson of Colonel Ebenezer Johnson, who 
freed Tobie sixty years before, and was an act worthy of the 
grandson of such a colonel. This slave Roger when made free 
may have enlisted and received a good bounty with which to 
begin the world for himself, but the deed did not require it, but 
says he was to "deal and act for himself forever." 

"Jan. 15, 1781. Voted, that Charles French, Thomas Clark, 
Esq., and Capt. Micah Pool, be appointed a committee with 
full power to doom such inhabitants that have not paid the full 
of the six and a halfpence tax in provision due by act of Assem- 
bly, double the value thereof, and take out warrants for said 
collector who is to collect the same and dispose thereof accord- 
ing to law in whole or in part, and the committee aforesaid to 
abate such of the inhabitants which they shall judge to be un- 
able to pay the said provisions or an equivalent in value, agree- 
able to the provision made by this town for the relief of the 
needy and indigent inhabitants of said town." 

"April 2, 1781. Voted, that the four soldiers ordered to be 
raised for the state service in addition to what has already been 
raised, be raised by classifying the town into four classes. 

" Voted, that the four classes heretofore ordered to raise one 
25 



194 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

man frofn each of said classes for the post of Horse Neck, be 
directed to raise one man in each of said classes in addition to 
the former. 

*' Voted, that the selectmen be empowered and directed to pro- 
cure the horsemen and horses and the accouterments for the 
said service ordered from this town." 

THE LAST DRAFT. 

"Feb. 25, 1782. Voted, that the town be classified into 
seven classes to raise seven men to be state guards for the post 
of Horse Neck, and that Eliphalet Hotchkiss, Hsq.. be ap- 
pointed to classify the town for the purpose of raising the seven 
guards." 

No words are necessary, even if they could add any force to 
the impression made by this long record of struggle, sacrifice, 
suffering and mighty effort to obtain justice, righteousness and 
freedom. The record itself, viewed in all its j)arts and with all 
the attendant circumstances, is simply amazing and bewilder- 
ing 

A somewhat erroneous impression has been accepted by pub- 
lic writers in regard to the position of the members of the Epis- 
copal churches in Connecticut towards the Revolution and those 
who supported it. It is maintained that a large proportion of 
the communicants of that church were loyalists or tories through 
the war, and that there were no tories except Episcopalians. 
Both of these suppositions are quite erroneous. There were 
many tories who had no particular sympathy with the Episcopal 
church. There were numbers of Episcopalians who were strong 
patriots, and suj^ported valiantly the American cause. The fol- 
lowing language is recorded in regard to Derby people : 

" The Rev. Mr. Mansfield of Derby, the guileless pastor, who 
thought he must do his duty to his country in every emergency, 
undertook, as soon as "the sparks of civil dissension appeared,' 
to inculcate upon them, both from the pulpit and in private con- 
versation, a peaceful submission to the King and to the parent 
state ; and so successful were his eflforts and his influence, that 
out of one hundred and thirty families which attended divine ser- 
vice in his two churches, he reported (December 29, 1775,) one 
hundred and ten to be ' firm, steadfast friends of the govern- 



I 



EPISCOPALIANS NOT ALL TORIES. 1 95 

ment,' having no sympathy with the popular measures, and de- 
testing the ' unnatural rebellion.' Five or six persons, professors 
of the Church of England, plunged themselves into it, guided, 
as he thought, by the influence of Captain John Holbrook, who 
for many years past had entertained a disgust against him and 
his brethren of the church, and seemed to have meditated re- 
venge, merely because they did not gratify some private views 
he had about the place on which to build the Oxford church."^ 

This Captain John Holbrook was the one who with his wife 
gave the land for the site of the first Episcopal church and 
graveyard, who left that church at the opening of the war and 
united with the old church and stood among the foremost sup- 
porters of his country. It was an imputation of a very small 
spirit to suppose that Capt. Holbrook would leave all he had 
done for the Episcopal church, under such pretenses, to gratify 
" some private views " about the location of Oxford church. 

In December, 1774, the whole town was loyal as is indicated 
by their vote, as seen on page 168, and in December, 1775, 
many people besides Episcopalians were still unwilling to enter- 
tain the thought of a full separation politically from the old 
country, but when the Declaration of Independence was passed 
and the question became one of loyalty to England or America, 
there zvas a great change in favor of their native homes. This 
was true not only in Derby, but elsewhere. . Captain Holbrook 
left the church and all he had done for it, but many others re- 
mained in the church and at the same time supported the Revo- 
lution. It would have been morally impossible for the whole 
town of Derby, then including Oxford, to, have sustained the 
war as she did if one hundred families had remained loyal to the 
king ; and it would have been very difficult if half that number 
of important iamilies had so continued. 

William Clark's family were Episcopalians, but his son Shel- 
don, a merchant, was a prominent man on committees for the 
support of the war. 

Samuel Hull, junior, was the son of one of the first Episcopal 
families, but he sustained the war by being on the committees. 

When the list of those who took the oath of loyalty in lyjj-S 



^Beardsley's History of the Church in Conn., p. 30S. 



196 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

is examined closely, it will be seen to contain so large a propor- 
tion of the men of the town as to make the idea of one hundred 
remaining tories quite ridiculous. Dr. Mansfield's son Nathan 
was among the first to record his name in that honorable list. 
That list received seventy names at the first meeting, Decem- 
ber, 1777, an "open Freeman's meeting." In the next April, 
ninety-nine more were added, and the vvar was not half through 
at that time. 

In 1766, when the whole town was laid into school districts, 
the number of families was reported to be 256, which number 
may have been increased twenty families, to the year 1775. This 
would give the Episcopalians in 1775, [according to Doctor 
Mansfield] one hundred and ten families, and the Congregation- 
alists one hundred and sixty-six, or only fifty-six over half of 
the families in town who gave their support cheerfully to the 
American cause. That such was the state of the matter during 
the Revolution is opposed by all tradition and all records. 
When the true feeling of the English government toward the 
colonies became manifest in 1777, it is not probable that in the 
whole town of Derby including as it did, the parish of Oxford, 
there were over thirty families that definitely assumed the tory 
platform. It is quite certain that quite a number of the most 
influential Episcopal families were true patriots to their native 
country. 

At first (1774) the whole town was loyal to the king, and en- 
tertained no thought but reconciliation ; in December, 1775, a 
large majority were strongly in favor of supporting the war; 
in 1777, a little over one year after the Declaration of Independ- 
ence, only a fraction — not to exceed one-eighth was found in 
the tory ranks. 

It is true also, that in other places the Episcopalians, in large 
proportion supported the vvar. We are told'** that " as early as 
1774, not a man in Stratford was ready to dissent from revo- 
lutionary measures, and from the movements in various places, 
expressive of sympathy for those who s'ufifered from the oppres- 
sive acts of the British government. Undoubtedly, the influ- 
ence of Johnson, the patriot and statesman, [son of the first 



^•^Beardslev's Hist, of the Church, 310. 



THE KING THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH. 1 97 

Episcopal pastor] was felt in shaping the popular sentiment of 
his native town, and in guiding the course of churchmen there 
to a quiet, inoffensive neutrality." [If none "dissented from 
revolutionary movements," it was scarcely an " inoffensive neu- 
trality."] 

As to the church at Hartford it is said : " A permit was 
granted James's Church at Hartford, to send to Providence by 
water three hundred bushels of wheat to be ground for the 
army at Boston, which was done with great doubt of its expe- 
diency, lest, it might fall into the hands of the British. Aug. 

24, 1775-"'' 

In the years 1776 and 1777, there were other special permits 
to this church, for the execution of like efforts in the support 
of the war. 

It should be remembered also, that at the time of the Revo- 
lution it was supposed by Episcopalians as well as others, that 
as the king was the head of the Church of England, that church 
could have no existence except where the king held political 
reign, and hence that, if the colonies should become independent 
of the king, the Episcopal church could not maintain its exist- 
ence here, from the very nature of the relations of the church 
to the government. If it had been supposed that the church 
of England could have existed as it now does in America, with- 
out the king at the head, there is but little doubt but that the 
support of the war by the Episcopalians would have been more 
general and earnest than it was. Under this view they chal- 
lenge our respect and honor, for all that a true Christian hath 
will he lose, if need be, for his church. 

It is more evident that this was the belief of many in the 
Episcopal church, from the fact that at the close of the war 
quite many removed from the jurisdiction of the United States 
into British dominions, not only to live under that government 
but to enjoy the services of that church. Mordecai Marks, v^ith 
some others, removed to St. Johns, New Brunswick, although 
all ties of kindred feeling were confined to Derby. 

The following anecdote is furnished by Doct. A. Beardsley 
from most authentic sources : 



I'Hinman's Hist, of Conn, in the Revolution. 



198 HISTORY OF DERRV. 

During our Revolutionary struggle the commerce of Derby, 
in rather a clandestine manner furnished aid and comfort to the 
enemy. While the British were stationed on Long Island, 
Capt.'" Joseph Hull, eldest brother of General William Hull, 
though true to the interests of the American Colonies tried a 
dangerous experiment by acting as a sort of spy and at the same 
time extorting money from the British. 

He had command of some boats on the river and the sound. 
Poultry, fish, and especially salt shad caught in the Ousatonic 
were tempting to the palates of His Majesty's subjects. Hull 
with a gang of picked men in the night season left Derby in 
a small boat laden with chickens, turkeys, salt shad, and the 
like, and sailed for the nearest point on Long Island where lay 
encamped a detachment of the British army. The experiment 
proved a success and gave encouragement for future trials. On 
his second adventure Hull became intimate with a British officer, 
who invited him to play a game of cards. He accepted the in- 
vitation and being an adept in that line, after playing until morn- 
ing, the officer found himself pretty well drained of " the one 
thing needful." A little exasperated over his loss, he accused 
Hull of cheating. He denied the charge, when after some warm 
words the officer challenged Hull to fight a duel. Whereupon 
Hull said " I am your man." " Choose your weapons," replied the 
officer. " Kings arms and two balls." " State your distance," said 
the officer. " Eight paces — face to face — then at the word fire." 
The officer was dumfounded, and seeing the Yankee pluck in the 
flashing eye of Derby's hero, replied,. " Well I guess we won't 
fight." 

In " Lambert's History of Milford " the following is found : " 

"A company of twelve cowboys was captured in 1780, on an 
island in the Ousatonic, against Turkey Hill." This was Two- 
mile Island, and was coming very near Derby. The cow boys 
were men, who received their name in Westchester county, from 
their stealing and driving off cows and cattle and selling them 
to the British, while in occupation of New York. They, or per- 
sons of this description, were feared on Long Island as well as 
in Westchester and Connecticut. 



12. He was a sea captain, but lieutenant in the army. 

13. Lambert, 135. 



YORKTOWN FLAGS. 



199 



It is a matter of particular honor to Derby that in the great 
event which was virtually the closing of the Revolutionary war, 
General David Humphreys had a conspicuous part. In the 
battle of Yorktown, which was concluded by the surrender of 
Lord Cornwallis, General Humphreys particularly distinguished 
himself, and, "As a mark of the approbation of General Wash- 
ington, Colonel Humphreys was dispatched to Congress with 
copies of the returns of prisoners, artillery, arms, ordnance, etc , 
which had been surrendered, and twenty-five stands of colors." 
General Washington in his letter to the President of Congress, 
says, " These returns and colors have been committed to the care 
of Colonel Humphreys, one of my aids-de-camp, whom, for his 
attention, fidelity and good services. I beg leave to recommend 
to Congress and to your excellency." 




GENERAL HUMPHREYS DELIVERING IHL 1 LAO* lAKL.N AI \Ul:KTO\VN. 



The above engraving represents Colonel Humphreys deliver- 
ing the standards surrendered under the capitulation of York- 
town, at Congress Hall, in Philadelphia, Nov. 3, 1761. It is 



200 HISTORY OF DEKI5V. 

from a painting in the Trumbull Gallery in New Haven, which 
was executed under Colonel Humphreys's direction, in Spain by 
a Spanish artist. 

Thus closed the war of the Revolution. No event in the 
history of the world has had the effect of liberation of thought 
and hence of action, on the mind of the whole world as the 
American Revolution, and next to that event, for the same 
effect, was the sustaining the authority of the National Gov- 
ernment in the late rebellion. The list of Revolutionary sol- 
diers, so far as obtained will be found in the appendix to this 
volume. 



« 

i 






fltg~>_0S:, 



0^. 



IQ>\\ 



CHAPTER VII. 

AFTER THE REVOLUTION. 
I 784- 1 800. 

HE war of the Revolution had reduced the Colonies to 



extremity in almost everything but courage. The 
simple and only fact of freedom and independency, 
filled the country with rejoicings and celebrations. 
The day dawn of freedom, such as they had not at first dreamed 
of, had come with its high promises of future greatness and 
shining glory for the whole world. From the north to the south 
and from the east to the far west, even to the depths of the 
wilderness, and to the shores of far off lands ran the thrilling 
joy of a nation's birth ; a nation of Freemen ! While the tears 
of affection ran down the faces of the people like floods in nearly 
every household in the land, for the dear ones who would come 
no more to greet them, as in other days, the thrill of freedom 
sent up a shout, long and high, of victory and triumph, and the 
past seemed only as a dreary night now gone, and the morning 
bright and clear, filled with hope and promise, come. 

At the very dawn of promise, Derby began to stretch her 
arms for progress and improvements, and nothing daunted her 
courage but the extremity to which she, as all other towns, was 
reduced, because the war had eaten up everything but the houses 
and lands and the devastated inhabitants. 

During the wars which had fallen upon them the preceding 
forty years, with only short intervals, the most that was done as 
a plantation, was to maintain the stage of acquirements to which 
they had arrived before the war race began. 

The condition of the town in this respect is quite clearly re- 
vealed in a preamble and a vote which was recorded December 
23, 1782, when they had resort to 

A LOTTERY. 

"Again, considering the great expense this town has been at 
in building and supporting two large bridges across the Nauga- 



202 HISTORY OF DERHV. 

tuck river, and said bridges now want to be rebuilt ; also a 
highway from Woodbury to Derby by the Ousatonic river, all 
which as computed will amount to five hundred pounds; this 
in addition to other burdens lying on said town in supporting 
highways and other public burdens, the town feel themselves 
very unable to bear, therefore voted, that Capt. Thomas Clark 
and Capt. Daniel Holbrook be appointed and directed to peti- 
tion the General Assembly for liberty to set up a lottery for the 
sum of five hundred pounds, for the purpose of building said 
bridges and making said highways ; said lottery to be at the risk 
of said town." 

At an adjourned meeting two months later, they appointed the 
managers of the lottery, which the Assembly had granted, which 
consisted of the following persons : Mr. Samuel Hull, Capt. 
Daniel Holbrook, Mr. David De Forest, Mr. John Humphrey 
and Lieut. Joseph Riggs. These persons were put under oath 
and required to give sufficient bonds to secure the money which 
might be placed in their hands. They also directed that after 
a certain time all tickets unsold should be called in and depos- 
ited in the hands of the selectmen before drawing the tickets 
that might have been purchased. On the first day of March. 
1784, they voted to draw the lottery tickets on the 21st day of 
April next ; but two days before that time arrived the town was 
called together, and they voted to postpone the drawing in 
consequence of so few tickets having b.een sold ; and then peti- 
tioned the General Assembly to extend the time allowed for 
the drawing. 

In February, 1783, as soon as the privilege of the lottery was 
granted, the town appointed Ashbel Loveland " to oversee and 
build a bridge over Naugatuck river below the falls," and Mr. 
Samuel Hull to build a bridge over Naugatuck river " where 
the old bridge now stands, called the lower bridge, and Capt. 
Zechariah Hawkins to oversee and make a new highway from 
Woodbury to Derby by the Ousatonic river." In the next 
March the town's committee were directed to lay out a high- 
way through Wesquantuck or Rock House hill purchase, by the 
Great river, and make returns of their doings." They seem to 
have no doubt but that the lottery would bring the money and 
proceeded in that faith, and it is probable that the work was all 



LOTTERY TICKETS. 



203 



done sometime before the lottery reported its net proceeds. 
All that is recorded of the results is that in February, 1785, they 
voted that the managers be directed to draw "the lottery ; and at 
the same time voted that the "selectmen be enabled when the 
lottery is drawn, to tax the town to raise money to secure the 
managers and pay the necessary expenses that shall arise 
thereon." After this there are no more lotteries talked of in the 
town records. From all the records say, it seems probable that 
some considerable number of tickets were sold, possibly to half 
the amount desired, out of which the costs must be taken, and 
the result would not warrant another trial. And there has not 
been a time since then when so great need of foreign aid ex- 
isted, or when the town has been driven to such extremities to 
raise money for necessary repairs and expenses. At the pres- 
ent day a large majority of the better classes of community judge 
all lotteries, great and small, to be immoral, dishonest, and that 
they ought to be discountenanced by all true Christians. 

An old book is still preserved having been made for the pur- 
pose of keeping the account in building one of these bridges, for 
the payment of which the lottery was granted. It explains 
itself. 

"An account book kept by Ashbel Loveland who was appoint- 
ed a manager or a committee by the town of Derby to build a 
bridge across Naugatuck river, near Rimmon Falls, containing 
the costs which said town of Derby has been at to build said 
bridge. 

"Posted alphabetically. The bridge cost ^^144 lis. Qd." 

This book shows eighty-eight tickets bought by thirty-three 
persons at twelve shillings a ticket, and most of them paid for 
by work done on the bridge and material furnished. 

The work began in March, 1783. 





tickets. 




ti 


;kets. 


Joel Chatfield, 


3 


Levi Hotchkiss, 




3 


John Crawford, 


2 


Moses Hotchkiss 




3 


James Baldwin, 


1-3 


Joel Hine, 




S 


Abiel Canfield, 


I 


Amos Hine, 




21-3 


Daniel Davis, 


2 


Hiel Hine, 




2 


Ebenezer Dayton, 


3 


Gideon Johnson, jun.. 




I 


Enoch French, 


6 


Asahel Johnson, 


• 


2 


Isaac Foot, 


T 


Hezekiah Johnson, 


3 



204 



HISTORY OF DERBY. 



Levi Johnson, 
Joseph Johnson, jun., 
Gideon Johnson, sen., 
Ebenezer Keeney, 
William Keeney, 
Ashbel Loveland, tickets 

sold, 
Peter Nostrand, 
Elisha Pritchard. 



tickets. 
I 

4 
I 
I 

2 



17 



David Parsons, 
Polycarp Smith, 
Samuel Smith, 
Benjamin Twitchell, 
Benjamin Tomlinson, 
Ebenezer Warner, 
Hezekiah Wooden, 
John Wooster, 
Turrel Whittemore, 



tickets. 
I 

1-3 
I 
2 
6 1-2 

1-3 
3 



After the Revolution the school districts were re-arranged, 
and for some years much attention was devoted to education ; 
first, to meet the requirements of the new laws made in regard 
thereto, and also, a spirit of emulation and ambition in regard 
to education seems to have come upon the whole people as the 
consequence of freedom, and they moved harmoniously to the 
inspiration. In 1785, a proposition to build a new school-house 
at the then village of Derby (Old Town) resulted in the end 
in an academy. Apparently, a number of persons agreed to unite 
in certain proportions to furnish the money to build a new 
school-house at this place, the lower story of which should be 
used for the common school, and the upper story for a higher 
branch of education. The building was put up in the winter or 
early spring of 1786, and finished that summer. When the 
building was completed, the items of cost were collected and the 
amount divided according to the agreement. By an agreeable 
fortune the paper containing this account is preserved, but bears 
no date. 



THE SCHOOL HOUSE COMPANY. 



The whole amount of the bill is ;i^240 is. 3 i-2d. 

The proprietors Dr. for their several shares as follows, viz. : 





£ 


s. 


d. 




I 


s. 


d. 


Samuel Hull, 


25 


5 


5 


Richard Mansfield, 


12 


12 


81 


John Humphreys, 


25 


5 


5 


Jabez Thompson, 


12 


1 2 


81 


Daniel Holbrook, 


25 


5 


5 


John Howd, 


1 2 


12 


8i 


Joseph Riggs, jun., 


25 


5 


5 


David Hitchcock, 


I '^ 


12 


81 


Sheldon Clark, 


25 


5 


5 


Edward Craft, 


12 


12 


81 


James Beard, 


12 


12 


81-2 


Joseph Hull, 


12 


12 


Si 


Levi Tomlinson, 


12 


12 


8 1-2 


David Tucker, 


12 


12 


Si 



One bill is i)rcscrved and shows something of the material 
used*and the cost of such items at that time. 



£ 


S. 


d. 


o 


3 


6 


o 


9 


6 


o 


8 


o 


o 


12 


o 


o 


lO 


o 


o 


3 


6 


5 


14 


o 


o 


6 


o 


3 





o 


I 


5 


6 


2 


14 


o 


2 


14 


o 



ACADEMY BELL. 205 

March, 1786, School House Company, Dr. to Joseph Riggs, jun.. 

To one load of timber, ' 

To studs and plank for turret rafters. 

To two days getting window frame timbers, 

To timber for the window frames. 

To carting three load of window frame timber, 

To one day carting sand and slacking lime. 

To 3,800 brick delivered at the school house a 3 per C, 
Jan., 1787. To cash paid Mr. Hull, 6s., 

To 1,000 feet of white oak floor boards delivered at the school-house 
from O.xford, a 6s. pr. C, 
June 9, 1789, To 512 feet of boards a 5s., 

To 900 feet of white wood clapboard from Isaac Wooster, a 6s. pr. C, 

To 3,000 shingles, a i8s, 



Joseph Riggs, jun." 

Although some of the items of this bill are of a later date, yet 
it is probable the house was completed in 1786, and thereafter 
for a time the upper part was devoted to accademic studies, but 
after some years the whole building was devoted to such studies 
and called the academy. 

THE ACADEMY BELL. 

The further account of the academy and the academy bell is 
very graphically given by Doct. A. Beardsley; 

The old oblong house with its two chimneys now standing 
midway between Merritt Clark's and Patrick McEnerney's was 
long known and somewhat celebrated as the Derby Academy, 
located on elevated ground, commanding a fine view, the build- 
ing was an imposing structure when first built. Within its 
walls many an aspiring youth, then experiencing that the root of 
learning was bitter while its fruit was sweet, studied Sallust and 
Virgil, conquered his Greek, and fitted for venerable Yale. The 
people of the town evinced a lively interest in the institution, for 
to them it was a pride and boast. Among other features show- 
ing the good will of the people towards the academy was the 
supplying it with a bell purchased jointly by the Episcopalian 
and Presbyterian churches, then located in Up Town, and for a 
long time it was the only bell in Derby which on the Sabbath 
day rang out its merry notes, calling the pious to the house of 
prayer. Those who were to join in the long supplication of the 



206 HISTORY OF DERRV. 

Pilgrims' faith or the solemnity of the Church, alike pressed their 
footsteps, hastened by the academy bell. 

The academy fell into financial embarrassment and was dis- 
continued, but its bell, like Noah's dove was given to unrest, for 
in process of time it became a bone of contention and finally 
fell a victim of dishonor among its friends. 

We must not forget to mention, that old Todd was its ringer, 
and on the advent of a death or a funeral he was always on hand. 
On one occasion he came near ringing the bell for his own de- 
parture. The bell was so constructed as to require the going 
into the belfry to ring it. One morning he ascended the belfry 
to toll the bell, and slipping his foot-hold, tumbled out on the 
roof and fell a distance of thirty-five or forty feet, but, fortu- 
nately he was caught in a peach tree standing close to the 
academy and escaped serious injury. A few years after this he 
slept over night in the old town house, and from a loft fell a dis- 
tance only of seven feet, and was instantly killed. 

Being poor he now and then obtained a little loose change for 
his services at the bell. One night at high twelve he was asked 
by a man ripe for fun at the old tavern at the Narrows, if he 
was the Derby bell ringer. "I am," said he; "got a job .^ " 
" Yes," was the reply. " My name is Gillett, from Hell Lane 
(now Seymour) and I want to get out of the town. My horse 
travels best with music. If you will ring the bell till I get over 
the line I will give you this silver dollar." " Agreed," said the 
bell-ringer, and he was soon tugging at the bell, when Gillett 
mounted his horse and galloped away. The neighborhood, 
quiet as a graveyard, was startled from its midnight slumbers, 
and among others, Samuel Hull rushed out in his night-clothes, 
hurried up to the academy and brawled out, " You crazy man, 
what are you doing with that bell this time of night ? " Old 
Todd answered from the belfry, " I am ringing a man out of 
Derby into Hell Lane, on contract." 

From long and constant use this bell became cracked, the 
academy boys palsied its tongue, and for a time its music was 
silent upon the hill. It had the misfortune of having many 
owners, and they one by one lost interest in its care and keep- 
ing. It was said the Presbyterians owned the largest share, 
but it was difficult to divide the stock, and so some of the wise 



THE STOLEX BELL. 20/ 

heads down in the Narrows attempted to make a corner, and if 
possible to steal the bell from the Up Towners. A plan was con- 
cocted and the program arranged. A few boys, and some of 
older growth, on a certain night, armed with some good old 
Jamaica, ventured up to the academy, ascended the belfry and 
rolled off the bell. For safe keeping and to elude the search 
of the aggrieved, they lowered it into a secret place about the 
premises, there to remain until the excitement and noise over 
its loss should die away. Every one of these nocturnal thieves 
was sworn to keep the secret and some have done so even to 
this very day. Next morning, the honest people of Up Town 
found out that the old academy bell was missing, and so6n the 
whole neighborhood was in uproar, and filled with indignation. 
Detectives from all parts were sent out to seek diligently for the 
lost treasure. Day after day and week after week, the inquiry 
was anxious as to the stolen metal, but all was a mystery. . 
After a while, in the dead of night, some who participated in 
the first movement went up and hauled from its hiding place the 
bell, put it upon a stone drag and conveyed it to the Narrows, 
where they dumped it into a certain cellar near what was then 
called Swift's Corner. A roguish boy who held the candle on the 
occasion started the story some days afterwards, that he "guessed 
Capt. Kinney knew where the bell was, but before search could 
be made it was buried out of sight. The boy was closely ex- 
amined and cross-examined, which led to the belief that he had 
not far deviated from the truth. Suspicion at once rested upon 
one young Downs as the ring-leader, who has long since in 
good faith been gathered to his fathers. Downs was even ap- 
proached by the sheriff with a view to intimidation, but one Mr. 
Harvey, the shrewdest man of the neighborhood, publicly declared 
that he had plenty of money and would defend the accused to 
the last dollar. " A halt between two opinions " delayed matters 
for a while, but believing they were on the right track, the Up 
Towners now threatened the Narrows people in a body with a 
lawsuit, if the stolen property was not forthwith returned and 
the matter settled up. Much was said upon both sides, men 
and women entering into the discussion. Capt. Thomas Vose, 
who was a sort of moral regulator in the town and who had a 
holy horror of wrong doing, argued that as the bell was owned 



208 HISTORV OF DERBY. 

by two religious bodies and others outside of the church, it was 
sacred property, and to use his own words he " fancied that 
state's prison would follow conviction of the guilty parties," and 
entreated and begged for the peace of the town, that the bell 
might be returned and no questions asked, for he was "afraid 
the affair would make more noise in the future than it had done 
in the past." 

But the missing bell could not be found, while the Up Town 
people wondered and grew sorely vexed. During the painful 
suspense, a similar bell was landed one evening at the Derby 
dock opposite Col. R. Gates's store, which stood near the pres- 
ent Naugatuck depot. This bell was designed for the back 
country and it was in charge of Col. Gates. A splendid 
opportunity now offered itself to get up " a good sell " on the 
Up Towners. The keeper of this bell, brim full of fun, sanction- 
ed any proceeding, provided the "up country bell was returned 
safe and sound on his wharf next morning." So the lovers of 
sport made all due preparation. The right men were selected 
and this bell in the stillness of night was hauled up near the 
academy and quietly hung in a tree with a long rope attached 
stretching over a stone wall where a boy was stationed and 
ordered to ring it at a certain signal, when its ding dong awoke 
the sleepers who exclaimed in ecstacies, "Oh ! our bell has come 
back — our bell has come back !" a victory surely had now been 
gained. Peace for a moment breathed upon the troubled waters, 
and the perversity of human nature was ready to make full 
atonement for offenses committed. The advice of Capt. Vose 
had been heeded. Some rushed out to examine the premises, 
but alas ! all was silent and nothing to be seen. They returned 
to their homes in wonder, when again the bell sounded. They 
were now doubly sure and went to their repose, fully satisfied, 
but in the morning no bell was to be found for it had quietly 
been returned to the Derby dock where it belonged. A warm 
dispute now arose among the people, whether a bell really 
had been heard or not on the night in question, many declar- 
ing it was all an empty dream of the Up Towners. Some were 
positive, others very doubtful, no one could satisfactorily unfold 
the mystery ; but finally, honest Capt. Tucker, who had heard 
much music on the battle fields of the Revolution and who 



RESTORATION' OF THE BELL. 2O9 

believed in ghosts and witches settled the question, for he 
declared that he " heard it a mile in the distance and if there 
was no bell, he believed that there was either some witchcraft 
about it or the spirit of old Todd had returned, and it was high 
time that Derby people were honest and without trifling in 
matters so serious." 

After a long silence the bell, undiscovered, was returned to 
the arches of the old academy and Mr. Coe, who settled up its 
fallen fortunes, turned it over to the Up Town school district 
where it rested for years without creating further dissensions. 
Good nature had scarcely outlived the moss of ill feeling, how- 
ever, when the once olive branch of peace again stirred up the 
passions of men, for as it was the first bell of the town, in time 
it became the first church bell in Birmingham. Laying idle 
without notoriety, a well meaning church member very adroitly 
obtained possession of it without valuable consideration and it 
was soon rigged, new tongued and hung in the steeple of the 
Methodist church, by Lewis Hotchkiss, in the then infant village 
of Birmingham ; when its first notes were heard Up Town its 
sound was familiar to old Capt. Curtis, who vehemently ex- 
claimed, " There goes our old academy bell ! another trick on 
us ! They'll steal in Birmingham as bad as they used to in the 
Narrows." 

Capt. Curtis fidl of indignation set himself about ferreting out 
the offenders, declaring the bell should come back as he was 
still one of its owners, and the Methodists, unwilling to be sac- 
rilegious or provoke any discord in the town, forthwith returned 
it and its sound was again silent. 

About this time in the good providence of God the members 
of St. James's parish voted unanimously to change the location of 
their church edifice from Up Town to Birmingham. This con- 
templated an entire and final change in the full services of the 
church. After a hard struggle the new edifice was completed 
and consecrated in 1842, and then the church bell, organ, 
etc., were at once removed to Birmingham. Very naturally this 
created much warm and ill feeling among the good people Up 
Town, for nothing sublunary did they love and cherish with 
more veneration than this their mother church. Long had they 
lived and flourished under the very droppings of the old sanctu- 
27 



210 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

ary. Honest differences of opinion, however, led to a swift 
decision and the disaffected resolved on separate services 
simultaneously in the old parish. Without a church they could 
occupy, the little district school-house was selected for religious 
services, a belfry forthwith erected upon its roof, and again the 
old academy bell was brought out from its obscurity and once 
more devoted to a sacred purpose. The first Sunday morning 
that the deep mellow tones of the Episcopal bell in Birmingham 
sounded the old academy bell responded up the valley, and soon 
the pious and devoted, in hope and trust, with the spirit of for- 
giveness and charity, were assembling in their respective abodes 
of worship. Thus among its last services did this instrument 
of varied musical discords, ring out the nucleus of a new church 
organization which now flourishes with great harmony in 
Ansonia. 

Once again this pet of the town fell into disuse, and a few 
years ago the school district committee sold it to the Birming- 
ham Iron Foundry for old metal. If its tongue had been gifted 
with speech what "a tale could it unfold." In its ancient vicis- 
situdes it is said the old men planned while the boys executed. 
Its early friends have mostly gone to their rest, while its history 
with all its lessons in human nature still lives in the recollec- 
tions of the past. 

The academy of which much might be said was built in 1786, 
and was made a sort of joint stock corporation. Through the 
long years of its existence it was favored with only seven differ- 
ent teachers, viz. : Kerkson, Whittlesey, Dr. Pearl 

Crafts, Shelden Curtis, Josiah Holbrook, Truman Coe and John 
D. Smith. Whittlesey distinguished himself for his novel mode 
of punishment. When a boy disobeyed the rules of the 
academy he punished him by sandwiching him between two 
colored scholars seated on a bench in one corner of the school 
room. This mode of discipline worked well until Whittlesey 
lost one of his best pupils from New York, rather high toned, 
when the practice was abandoned. Trueman Coe for many 
years was a most acceptable teacher and established the reputa- 
tion of the school as a successful classical academy. Many young 
men were here fitted for college, and the ins^titution was a credit 
to the town, but it fell into disrepute from a want of sufficient 



HOLBROOKS SEMINARY. 211 

patronage and was finally merged into the district school and 
the old academy building passed into other hands for private use. 

AN AGRICULTURAL SEMINARY AT DERBY. 

The following account of this institution was furnished by one 
of its pupils, and is taken from a published memoir of Mr. Jo- 
siah Holbrook : 

" You ask me what I remember about the academy of Messrs. 
Josiah Holbrook and Truman Coe. It was established in the 
town of Derby, in this state, in the spring of the year 1824, and 
was, I believe, discontinued after one or two years. The pros- 
pectus published in the newspapers of that day gives an outline 
of the course of study and the plan of operations. It is as 
follows : 

'"The exercises designed are the study of the Latin, Greek, 
French and English languages, Rhetoric, Elocution, Geography 
and History ; the mathematics, as Arithmetic, Algebra, Geom- 
etry, Plane and Spherical Trigonometry, Mensuration and 
Fluxions ; Natural Philosophy in its various branches ; Astron- 
omy, Chemistry, Mineralogy, Botany and Zoology. No efforts 
will be spared to render these sciences practical and fitted to 
common life. With that view, particular attention will be given 
to Composition, Declamation with extempore debates, the uses 
of the higher branches of Mathematics in common business, 
Practical Surveying, the application of Natural Philosophy to 
various kinds of machinery and agricultural instruments ; test- 
ing the principles of chemical science in mixing and preparing 
soils, farming manures, making cider, beer, spirit and various 
other articles of agriculture and domestic economy, agricultural, 
geological and botanical excursions into various parts of the 
country, examining and analyzing soils, and practical agriculture. 

"'One prominent object of the school is to qualify teachers. 
The most approved methods of instruction will be introduced, 
and lectures will be given on most of the Physical Sciences, at- 
tended with demonstrations and illustrations sufficiently plain 
and familiar to admit of their being introduced into common 
education. Courses on Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, Miner- 
alogy and Botany will commence at the opening of the semi- 
nary. Ladies will be admitted to the lectures, and there will 



212 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

be a department connected with the institution where females 
can pursue any branch of education they may desire.' 

" The number of scholars of both sexes during the summer of 
1824, was perhaps fifty or sixty; among whom were five boys 
from New Haven, about as many from New York, and some 
from other places, near and remote. The school was certainly 
an attractive and pleasant one, and those who were so disposed 
made good progress in useful learning. Several of the boys 
were intrusted with surveying and leveling instruments, and 
used them frequently and successfully. Mr. Coe gave special 
attention to the mathematical studies, and Mr. Holbrook gave 
lectures and instruction in natural history and allied subjects. 
The boys rambled extensively over the hills of that region, did 
some work in hoeing and digging potatoes and in making hay, 
and once made a pedestrian excursion for minerals to Lane's 
mine in Monroe. 

"" The working of the school was harmonious ; a spirit of study 
generally prevailing among the pupils, and the supply of out- 
door exercise and sports was ample." 

If Mr. Josiah Holbrook could step into one of the agricultural 
colleges or universities of the present day he would find his little 
seminary grown to robust manhood, but not quite to perfection. 

It is customary at the present day to represent the people as 
having become more dishonest, unreliable and unworthy to be 
trusted than the people were one hundred years ago. It is rep- 
resented that public officers make all the expense they can and 
waste the property of the people. It is represented that public 
expenses were so small in old times that the people could lay 
up money and become independent. Two selections of illustra- 
tions will show the error of these statements, and also that offi- 
cers of old sometimes made larger bills than were ever paid. 

When there were comparatively few fences and vast tracts of 
land over which cattle, horses and sheep roamed or would roam 
if once strayed, it frequently occurred that a strayed horse or 
other animal was found and put into the pound. After a cer- 
tain time they were advertised, and if no owner appeared to 
prove property, they were sold at public auction. The follow- 
ing shows how such proceedings frequently resulted : 

" Derby, Dec. 12, 1794. A bill of expenses on one colt taken 



OFFICIAL "honesty. 213 

and impounded by Henry VVooster of said Derby, and the said 
colt was put into my care as one of the constables of said town 
on the 23d day of August, 1794, and the said colt was sold at the 
sign-post in said Derby town at public vendue, on the 12th day 
of September, for the payment of expenses and damages as fol- 
lows, by me, Joseph Riggs, constable of Derby. 

£. 5. d. 

Aug. 29, 1794. To advertising and pasturing. 

To looking for pasture and driving the colt, 

To paying pasturing bill, 

To do. for damage and expense to Henry Wooster, i 19 

To attendance and expense on vendue, o 

To poundage and baiting, o 

To recording, cash paid town clerk, o 



4 


II 


4 





6 





9 


6 


S 


6 





II 


I 


6 



3 5 4 
Credit. Bv sale of the colt, 211 o 



There remains e.xpenses and damages not paid, o 14 4 

About the same time four sheep were taken up, advertised 
and sold, and "there remained five shillings not paid, or the 
sheep sold for five shillings less than the charges brought against 
them. In only one case observed did the receipts surpass the 
expenses connected with the sale, and therefore the times and 
the people have not so materially degenerated within one hun- 
dred years, in respect to such transaction. These are but small 
items in themselves, but are just what occurred over and over 
during more than one hundred years. 

The first mercantile enterprise started at Derby Narrows 
failed in six years, and an assignment was made to New York 
and Stratford creditors. We know not the cause of this failure, 
but know that the events of those times were very much like 
the present, with the exception that ghosts and witches were 
believed in and feared, but this can scarcely be said of the pres- 
ent age. The reason, we apprehend, is because so many ghosts 
have been found to be mundane animals rather than of a higher 
or lower sphere, that knowledge banishes fear. This was the 
case in a story related by Doctor A. Beardsley, which is far too 
good to be lost, and hence is here recorded. 

Many are the stories, true or false, which our mothers and 
grandmothers used to tell the children, to excite their curiosity 



214 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

and increase their bump of veneration, now and then loading the 
memory with some moral and useful lesson. If any, with old 
Dr. Johnson are inclined to " listen with incredulity to the 
whispers of fancy, or pursue with eagerness the phantoms " of 
witchcraft demonology, ghosts, hobgoblins or modern spirit rap- 
pings, we commend to their perusal the following adventure, 
which is not only founded on fact, but in the language of the 
novelist, actually and circumstantially true. 

Though of no political reminiscence, our story dates back 
nearly to our national epoch ot 1776. An inhabitant wearied 
with a day's journey, was returning from one of our northern 
villages up the valley, at midnight, by an unfrequented route to 
his home not a thousand miles from Derby. His path though 
" straight and narrow," carried him across a secluded burial 
ground, which he could not in the darkness of a starless night 
very well avoid. Perhaps some, in the degeneracy of these 
modern times, may be surprised at the courage which would pre- 
fer a shorter walk through a grave-yard, to a longer and more 
circuitous one in another direction, especially in the night sea- 
son. But such was the resolution of our traveler, and he entered 
boldly, " at high twelve " and without mental reservation, the 
dwelling-place of the ancient dead. He paused ; but, solitary 
and alone, his line of safety impelled him forward. He had 
scarcely passed the silent enclosure when, as is usual on such 
occasions, he saw a figure in white moving slowly and conspicu- 
ously at some distance. Unused to pray, our trembling hero 
raised his eyes toward heaven, but before he had time to re- 
cover from the shock of his vision, he was suddenly raised from 
the ground by some invisible agency, carried a few rods and 
as unceremoniously deposited again on terra firina. The fig- 
ure in white in his Jim Crow movements, brought to his imagin- 
ation a thousand frightful and solemn fancies of the sleeping dead. 

Can the legends of witchcraft furnish anything more terrific 
or a situation more dreadful .' Many a heart which at Lexing- 
ton and Bunker Hill, ^t Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, stood 
unmoved in front of the hottest battle, and quailed not when the 
dead and the dying lay thick around them, would have trem- 
bled and begged for mercy in that dark and trying hour, for it 
was not a dream but a reality. 



SLAVES IN DERBY. 215 

But we hasten to the denouement that relieved our traveling 
" Hervey in his meditations among the tombs." A black colt 
sent forth a shrill cry a few moments after depositing his un- 
welcome and involuntary rider who had unconsciously stepped 
astride him, and was answered by his white mother at the other 
end of the grave}'ard. 

From that hour until the day of his death, our adventurer 
would never believe m the ghost and fairy stories so common 
among the good people of olden times. 

The leading men of Derby, including ministers of the gospel, 
held slaves and thought it no sin, while Connecticut was a slave 
state, but from an early day they were required by law to learn 
their slaves to read. The slave trade was carried on in Derby 
both for shipping purposes as well as the home market. Nicho- 
las Moss, it is said, bought and sold, and now and then sent a 
slave to the West Indies He was engaged in this business as 
shown by the following bill of sale : 

" Know all men by these presents, that I, William Cogswell of New 
Milford in Litchfield county, do sell and convey unto Nicholas Moss 
of Derby in New Haven county, one certain negro girl named Dorcas, 
about eighteen years of age, which girl I sell to the said Nicholas Moss 
(Turing her natural life, and I have good right to sell the same, and do 
bind myself and my heirs to warrant her to him and his heirs, for forty- 
five pounds lawful money, from all other claims and demands whatever. 

"In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day of 
July, Anno Domini, 1773. 

In presence of us, 
Daniel Moss, 
Ephraim Keeney. William Cogswell." 

Slaves were owned in Derby nominally as late as 1840, they 
not having accepted their freedom, their owners being obliged 
to maintain them in their old age. Bennet Lumm, Esq., and 
Joseph H. Riggs, both of Derby, were the last to care for slaves 
in this town. 

"New Haven County, February 7, 1791. 
"Personally appeared Mr. Agar Tomlinson and made oath that he 
has in his possession a negro boy named Peter, belonging to the heir 
of David Tomlinson, deceased, aged five years and three months want- 
ing one day. 

" Entered per John Humphreys, town clerk. 



2l6 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

" Before me, John Humphreys, justice of the peace. 

•'On April 21, 1791, Mr. Daniel Wooster made oath that he was 
possessed of a mulatto boy called Peter, aged one year and four months 
and two days. 

"On March 22, 1792, Capt. Timothy Baldwin made oath that he 
was possessed of a negro girl aged four years, eight months wanting 
five days. 

"In December, 1792, Mr. Agar Tomlinson made oath to the pos- 
session of a negro boy named Timothy, aged one year and twenty-five 
days. 

"On April 20, 1795. Mr. Agar Tomlinson made oath that he was 
possessed of a negro girl named Olive, aged eight months the first day 
of May, 1795- 

"April 4, 1797. Personally appeared before me Mrs. Anna Hum- 
phreys and made solemn oath that she is possessed of a negro girl 
named Twinet, aged one year and nine months wanting seven days. 

'' Before me, John Humphreys, justice of the peace." 



GREAT HILL. 

The tract of land including Great Hill was purchased of the 
Indians in 1670, and was bounded "with Potatoke river on tl;e 
west side, and with a little brook and the English purchase on 
the south side (extending south nearly to the old Bassett place), 
and with a brook that runs from Naugatuck river to a brook 
called Four-mile brook, the which Four-mile brook is the 
bounds northerly, and Naugatuck river is the east bounds of 
the above said tract of land." This purchase was made by 
Alexander Bryan of Milford, to whom the Indian deed was 
given, the consideration being seventeen pounds, and it was by 
him, for the same consideration, turned o\'er to John Brinsmade, 
sen., Henry Tomlinson and Joseph Hawley, all of Stratford, on 
the third of December, 1670. This purchase was included with 
another on the south side of it in the difificulty which arose, 
and was placed in litigation between Mr. Joseph Hawley and 
the town of Derby, and which was finally settled by a commit- 
tee from the General Court, ten or eleven years later. It was 
a part of this land that Sergt. Robert Bassett of Stratford 
bought of Mr. Hawley and ga\e to his son Samuel Bassett, the 
first settler of this name in Derbv, in 1716, soon after which 



(IREAT HILL. 21/ 

this Samuel Bassett settled on this land, making his residence 
at the foot of Great Hill. 

Soon after 1700, lots began to be laid on Great Hill, and the 
work continued some years before all who had a right to land 
in that purchase were accommodated. In 171 1, quite a number 
of lots were surveyed and assigned to different parties of the 
former settlers. On pages 156 and 157 of this book are re- 
corded the names of those who held rights to this land. 

This locality is well named Great Hill, being nearly the high- 
est elevation in the town, and extending from north to south 
on the Woodbury road about three miles, and from east to 
west about two miles, l^^rom it most charming views may be 
had in every direction, esi^ecially on Long Island Sound. 

Several old houses remain, indicating quite satisfactorily the 
antiquity of their existence, but others are in good repair, and 
present the comfort, quietude and success of a farmer's home. 

GREAT HILL ECCLESIASTICAL SOCIETY. 

In 1775, Timothy Russell and others, inhabitants of Derby, 
some of them residing in Oxford society, petitioned the Gen- 
eral Court to release them from paying ministerial taxes to 
either of those societies in order that they might support 
preaching and church services among themselves. This memo- 
rial was granted, and the limits of the district so exempt con- 
fined between hMve-mile brook, the Great river, down to the 
old Bassett place and the Naugatuck river. 

In the records of this society the first entry made reads 
thus : "A book of records of the votes of the inhabitants 
included in a memorial, part in Derby and part in Oxford, for 
winter preaching. Nov. 29, 1775." They then appointed 
Benjamin Tomlinson uKKlerator of the meeting, and Joseph 
Canfield, Joseph Tomlinson and Noah Tomlinson, the society's 
committee, John Bassett collector of the one and a half penny 
rate, and Samuel Russell clerk of the societ}'. 

The first meetings of the society and for religious services 
were held in the school-house, standing then on the site of the 
present one. This arrangement for winter preaching con- 
tinued four years, when they sent a memorial to the Assembly 
to be made a distinct society. 
28 



2l8 HISTORY OF DKRHV. 

In May, 1779, "Upon another memorial of John Holbrook 
and others, inhabitants of the south-westerly part of the town- 
ship of Derby, praying this Assembly to grant and enact that 
that part of Derby laying within the following bounds, viz. : 
beginning at the southerly corner of Benjamin Bassett's land 
by the Great river, running thence a straight line to the mouth 
of Hasekey meadow brook, where it empties into Naugatuck 
river, thence up said river to the Great new bridge, thence 
running north-westerly as the county road runs, to the easterly 
corner of David Wooster's meadow, thence running to Abner 
Johnson's dwelling house leaving the same on the north side 
of said line, from thence to the Five-mile brook, where it 
crosses Woodbury road leading to Derby, thence down said 
brook to the Great river, and from thence down said river to 
the first mentioned boundary, be constituted and made an 
ecclesiastical society by the name of the Great Hill society, 
with all the privileges, immunities and advantages that other 
ecclesiastical societies by law have and enjoy. 

''Resolved by the Assembly, That all the inhabitants dwelling 
in that part of the township of Derby, lying within the above 
described lines and boundaries, be, and the same are hereby 
constituted and made an ecclesiastical society by the name of 
the Great Hill society, with all the privileges, immunities and 
advantages that all other ecclesiastical societies by law have 
and enjoy." 

After this the first record made by the society, they denomi- 
nate, "The first society meeting of the third society in Derby, 
Sept. 20, 1779." After a few years they learned to use their 
legal name, Great Hill society. 

In the above memorial we are introduced to an old acquaint- 
ance, Capt. John Holbrook, the same that with his wife, Abigail, 
gave the land for the site and burying ground for the first 
Episcopal church of Derby, and who left that church to sustain 
the Revolution. 

It is said he built the Great Hill mccting-housc himself, that 
is, mostly at his own expense. He is said to have been cjuite 
wealthy, owning a thousand acres of land, a saw mill and 
much personal projicrty. He was elected the first deacon of 
the Great Hill Congregational church, and was to all appear- 



SFXURING A MINISTER. 2I9 

ance a grand, noble, generous man, seconded always by that 
noble woman whose name joined with his in the deed to the 
Episcopal church. 

In April, 1781, they voted not to hire any more preaching 
for the present except one Sabbath. The next February they 
voted to "adjourn said meeting to the second Monday in 
March, 1782, to be holden at the meeting-house." Hence, 
probably that house was built in the summer of 178 1. It stood 
about half a mile north of Priest Smith's house, which is the 
gambrel-roofed house on the hill, still standing. 

"November, 1783, they voted to hire preaching every other 
Sabbath until the first of May next. 

"Voted, Mr. Abraham Canfield, Nehemiah Candee, Daniel 
Canfield, Benjamin Bassett, Joseph Bassett, Isaac Bassett, chor- 
isters of said Society 

" Voted, Capt. John Holbrook, Benjamin Bassett, Jonathan 
Lumm, jun., to appoint a burying place in the Society." Four 
weeks later they voted to have " a burying place east of John 
Holbrook, jun.'s land," part of it being of the highway, and a 
part belonged to Capt. John Holbrook. John Holbrook, jun., 
Enoch Smith and Benjamin English, were appointed to dig the 
graves for the society." 

The choristers thus appointed began a system of vocal culti- 
vation that made the place celebrated in this respect for many 
years, the fame of which is still spoken of with great delight, 
although the singers are all passed on to the new life. 

December 3, 1782, they voted to hire Mr. Birdsey to preach 
until the first of the next May, which is the first minister's 
name mentioned in the records. 

They continued thus to hire preaching for certain specified 
terms of a few weeks or a few months, until Dec. 28, 1786, 
when they voted that the society committee should confer 
with Mr. Abner Smith to preach four Sabbaths from the first 
of January, 1787. 

On the 2 1st of Dec, 1787, they voted to give Mr. Abner 
Smith a call, with a settlement of one hundred pounds, a salary 
of seventy pounds, and his fire-wood. 

Mr. Smith's letter of acceptance of this call, dated March 8, 
1787, is still preserved, and is a mo.'St beautifully written letter. 



220 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

The penmanship is elegant, and the whole production is very 
honorable to him. That he was a man of no pretentiousness 
is very apparent, but a man sincere, intelligent and devoted. 
He was ordained and settled soon after, but no records of the 
services, nor of any doings of the church, or marriages, deaths, 
and baptisms, have been seen, nor is it known that there are 
any records of these events. 

In the first starting of raising rates, or taxes, for the support 
of the gospel, they say the rates are to be paid in silver, or 
gold, or Connecticut money, which is a record very seldom 
seen. 

About 1790, a law was passed that those desiring to be 
released from paying rates to the minister, should present a 
writing that he belonged to some other denomination, and that 
thereupon he should be exempt. 

" Derby, August 24, 1801. This may certify that Richard 
Holbrook, of Derby, has this day subscribed his name to the 
clerk's book belonging to the Episcopal Union society, and 
considers himself holden to pay taxes to said society. 

Test, Samuel Sanford, clerk. 

The above certificate received by me, Jonathan Lumm, 4th, 
clerk of this book." 

Rev. Abner Smith, not long after his settlement, bought 
land, or the society did for him, and he built a good sized gam- 
brcl-roofed house on the most picturesque location on Great 
Hill. The house is still standing, and is said to be about 
ninety years old. In this house Mr. Smith and family resided 
until 1829, when he sold this farm and removed west. 

After his removal the old meeting-house was converted into 
a school-house, although meetings were held in it occasionally 
some years later, both by Congregationalists and Methodists. 

After a time it was taken down, very much to the grief of 
some of the old members of this church. The communion set 
is still preserved in the care of Mrs. Thomas C. Holbrook, of 
Great Hill. 

GREAT HILL M. E. CHURCH. 

It is said that this is one of the oldest Methodist churches in 
Connecticut, and that from the time the Rev. Jesse Lee 



fiREAT HILL U. E. CHURCH. 221 

preached in the valley of the Naugatuck, services were held 
here by his successors. 

The first minister sent into the New England states by a 
Methodist conference, was the Rev. Jesse Lee in 1789. In 
1790, the appointments for New England were: Jesse Lee, pre- 
siding elder, John Bloodgood at Fairfield, John Lee at New 
Haven, Nathaniel B. Mills at Hartford, Jesse Lee and Daniel 
Smith at Boston.^ 

If then Methodism began on Great hill, as said, it must have 
been about the year 1790, but no written dates have been seen 
confirmatory of this tradition. 

Previous to the organization of the Congregational society 
for winter preaching at this place, the Rev. Dr. Mansfield' 
of Derby had held services some years in Great hill school- 
house once a month, and the same at Oxford and Quaker's 
Farm. The Congregationalists held their services in the same 
school-house six or seven years, until their meeting-house was 
completed in the autumn of 178L When, therefore, the Metho- 
dists began preaching here, they probably held their services 
in the school-house, and continued so to do until regular ser- 
vices were given up in the meeting-house after Rev. Abner 
Smith became feeble in health or after he removed west in 
1829 or 1830. After this, by common consent, the Methodists 
occupied the meeting-house until they dedicated their present 
church on Wednesday, October 25, 1854. The Great hill soci- 
ety became one of the strongest points on the Derby circuit, 
which at first extended up the Naugatuck valley as far as Water- 
bury. The Rev. Elijah Woolsey, circuit preacher here in 17 14, 
gives in his book called "The Lights and Shadows of the Itin- 
erancy," space to incidents of his experience on Great hill, and 
the Rev. Heman Bangs, who was presiding elder about 1820, 
said Great hill was his main support. 

After the close of the ministerial labors of Rev. Mr. Smith, 
Congregational services grew more and more infrequent, and 
the Methodist people occupied the old meeting-house until they 
built their new one. 

Several ministers and laymen are spoken of in connection 
with this society as specially serviceable to the church. The 

^Stevens's Hist, of Methodism, IL 417, 41S. 



222 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Rev. George C. Fuller, pastor in 1825-6, is remembered for his 
eccentricities, earnest and successful labors. Cyrus Botsford, 
the music teacher, was chorister many years from about 18 10. 
Capt. Isaac Bassett and wife, grand parents of Capt. Elliot 
Bassett, are said to have been among the first Methodists in this 
place. The late Judson English was closely identified with this 
church during half a century.'^ The " History of Seymour'" tells 
fi^ us that Anson Gillett was the first class leader over sixty-five 
years ago. If it is intended to indicate by this that the first class 
leader was appointed sixty-five years ago, it must be a mistake, 
since preaching began here by Jesse Lee, or his successors, 
about twenty-four years before that time, and a regular preach- 
ing service held by the Methodists of that day twenty-four years 
without a class and a class leader, is an unheard of thing. 
Methodists were not of that kind in those days, nor do we 
know of any such in these latter days. It is said in the same 
book that "Almost the only preaching on the hill for forty 
years preceding 1854, had been by the Methodists."* The Rev, 
Abner Smith was here and services were kept up most of the 
time until about 1829, and after that Congregational ministers 
have preached in the place frequently, and are cordially invited 
and frequently accept the invitation to preach in the present 
Methodist church. 

THE SMALL POX. 

The era commonly assigned for the first appearance of small- 
pox is A. D. 569 ; it seems then to have begun in Arabia, and 
the raising of the siege of Mecca by an Abyssinian army is 
attributed to the ravages made by the small-pox among the 
troops. Razes, an Arabian physician who practiced at Bagdad 
about the beginning of the tenth century, is the first medical 
author whose writings have come down to us who treats 
expressly of the disease-; he however quotes several of his pre- 
decessors, one of whom is believed to have flourished about the 
year of the Hegira, A. D. 622. Inoculation was introduced into 
civilized Europe from Constantinople through the sense and 

^Three or four of these items are taken from the Hist, of Seymour. 
8Wm. C. Sharp, 1879. 
*Hist. of Seymour, 119. 



INOCULATION. 223 

courage of Lady Mary Wartlv Montagu, but since the discovery 
of vaccination by Dr. Jenner has been discontinued. 

Vaccination (Latin, vacca, a cow), inoculation for cow-pox as a 
protection against small-pox was first practiced by Dr. Jenner, 
an English physician, in 1796. 

Inoculation for small-pox and for cow-pox are very different 
things as to the diseascbut the same in preventing small-pox, 
the latter, however, being a much milder disease and far less 
dangerous. It was the former of these that was first introduced 
into this town. 

The following petition was presented in town meeting 
January 7, 1793, " To the inhabitants of Derby in town meeting 
assembled, sirs : we the subscribers of said Derby, physicians, 
beg liberty of said town that we may have liberty to set up the 
inoculation of the small-pox in. said town as there are many of 
the inhabitants that are now going into other towns for said 
purpose, and the younger people are much exposed to have it 
the natural way if not inoculated. . , 

Edward Crafts, 
Samuel Sanford, 
Liberty Kimberly. 

"December, 1793, Voted that John Humphreys, Esq., Capt. 
Joseph Riggs, Mr. Samuel Hull, Col. Daniel Holbrook, be a com- 
mittee to inspect the inoculation of the small-pox, and make 
further rules and regulations respecting the small-pox as they 
shall judge necessary for the inhabitants, and to put a stop to 
the inoculation if they judge best." 

No report of this committee has been observed, but a fair 
conclusion is that the physicians were allowed under very care- 
ful restrictions to make some experiments, which proved suc- 
cessful so that the following risk was ventured four years later. 

" December ir, 1797. Liberty is hereby granted to twenty- 
six persons and no more to receive the small-pox, viz. : Isaac 
Smith, Elizabeth Smith, Clark Smith, Edward Smith, Joseph 
Smith, Elizabeth Smith, jun., Susan Smith, Milly Keeney, 
Sheldon Keeney, Betsey Keeney, Sally Keeney, Isaac Keeney, 
Linda Keeney, Medad Keeney, Abijah Canfield, Charity Can- 
field, Sarah Canfield, William Canfield, Joseph Hawkins, Joseph 



HISTOKY OF nKKMV, 



Hawkins, jun., Knos Smith, jun., Joseph Durand, Samuel P. 
Sanford, Mamerry Sanford, provided they receive it by the 
evening- of the twelfth instant, and give bonds that they receive 
it at the dwelling house of Mr. Benjamin Davis in Derby 
and not depart said house until liberty obtained from the 
authority and selectmen, and that the physicians who inoculate 
shall also give bonds not to spread the small-pox, and that the 
bonds be made payable to the selectmen, and that the select- 
men and civil authority or their committee shall set limits to 
said house and have the superintendency of the physician and 
patients ; and that those who receive the small-pox shall pay all 
expenses and save the town harmless." 

This last clause is the only surprising one in this whole rec- 
ord ; for if anything like the benefit hoped for should result, 
the town could well afford to pay all expenses and send nurses 
if needed, to take the care of the patients while ill. There is 
no excuse for the penuriousness of public bodies in regard to 
health, while lavish with money on improvements and ornamen- 
tation. 

The strictness of the town in the conditions imposed on the 
physicians and the patients in this matter, may provoke a smileat 
the present stage of medical knowledge, but at that time it was 
the only reasonable course to be followed. Such had been the 
terrible scourge of the small-pox, that every possible precaution 
was demanded of physicians and all public authorities, and 
any other course than that pursued would have been justly 
chargeable with the heaviest penalties if adverse results had 
befallen the practice, and it was then as at the present day, no 
pestilence equaled in frightfulness, the small-pox. 

THK KKSULT. 

In December, 1798, a i)etiti()n signet! by thirty-three i)ers()ns 
was presented, requesting the town to give liberty to Doctors 
Sanford and Crafts, to practice inoculation, assuring the town 
that they were capable in that practice. 

The petition was granted, and each physician was required 
to inoculate in a separate hospital under the restrictions of the 
authority and selectmen. 



DEER HUNT AND LAW-SUIT. 225 

THE DEER HUNT. 

In the famous deer hunt, which occurred in the western part 
of this town about seventy-five years ago, while there were no 
dukes, major-generals nor Spotted Tails such as we read of in 
the Great West at the present day, joined in the chase, yet 
there was real fun. A little south of the community known as 
Quaker Farms, was Wooster's park, an inclosure of between 
one and two hundred acres, safely surrounded by a high rail- 
fence. Within this inclosure Jacob Wooster had gathered a 
large number of valuable deer, and it was a state law at that 
time, that if any one should kill a deer from this park he should 
pay a fine not less than eight dollars. During a storm in Janu- 
ary, the wind blew down the fence, and the largest deer es- 
caped and wended his way towards the Ousatonic, near Zoar 
bridge. A posse of men sallied out and made at him several 
shots, but unharmed at this firing he darted down the river 
as far as the Red House where he encountered young Leaven- 
worth, familiarly called Uncle Ned. Some eight or ten men 
under his lead hotly pursued the panting venison and encoun- 
tered him on a spot near Alling's factory, in Birmingham. 
"Now," said oyr youiig hunter "stand back, boys, and I will 
fetch him the first fire." After due and careful preparations, 
he fired but the deer was still master of the situation. There 
was a great freshet in the rivers, and the meadows far up were 
covered with water, and tightly packed over with broken ice. 
Eluding his pursuers, the deer in triumph cut around the point 
near where the pin factory now stands, crossed over the mead- 
ows on the ice, and landed on Parsons Island, nearly opposite 
the residence of Mr. B. B. Beach. By this time, the quiet den- 
izens east of the Naugatuck became interested in the chase, 
and soon the whole neighborhood was in a blaze of excitement. 
Young Johnson, long known as Uncle Andrew, had just en- 
tered double blessedness, but forgetting his loving bride, seized 
his "king's arms," and hastened to the field of conflict. His 
fire only wounded the affrighted animal in the hind leg, and be- 
fore he had time to reload Leverett Hotchkiss, the second 
white male child born in the Narrows, came up, leveled his 
gun at the deer and shot him dead. The captors then hauled 
-9 



226 HISTORY OF OFiRMV. 

their booty up to the old blacksmith shop near by and com- 
menced the work of dissection. Before they were through 
Uncle Ned with his companions arrived, and claimed that as 
he had fairly bagged the game, he was justly entitled to a share 
of the venison. A warm dispute arose. Hotchkiss having made 
the dead shot wanted the whole, but he finally awarded to 
young Johnson the hide and one hind quarter, but Uncle Ned, 
less lucky than Alexis, could not get so much as the tail as a 
trophy for his day's pursuit. Chagrined at this treatment, he 
stirred up a lawsuit against the parties for violating the maj- 
esty of the Connecticut laws. Finding that the deer w^as from 
Wooster's park. Uncle Andrew, fearing the law, entered a com- 
plaint against Hotchkiss, although he had himself lugged off 
the hide and one quarter of the deer. The case was tried be- 
fore Justice Humphreys. After a two days' trial in which the 
Blackstones of the town exhausted all their wits, the court 
found a true verdict against Hotchkiss and fined him eight dol- 
lars and costs. 

The affair created quite a sensation, which lasted a long time, 
for at a town meeting subsequently held for the purpose, the 
people sympathizing with the defendant, voted to relieve him 
by paying from the treasury, at least the costs of the prosecu- 
tion. .So much for that hunt. B. 

THE RED HOU.se. 

The long red hou.se now standing at Leavenworth Landing, 
on the west side of the Ousatonic lake, is among our Derby rec- 
ollections. It was once a favorite stopping place between the 
two counties, when the place was lively with ship-building, and 
thousands flocked thither on a day when a vessel was to be 
launched. After the Leavenworth bridge, which spanned the 
river a few rods above, became rickety and unsafe for travel, a 
public ferry was kept up opposite this red house. A blunt, 
sensible, burly Yankee, familiar in his old age by the name of 
Uncle Ed., officiated as ferry-man. On one occasion he was 
aroused from his midnight slumbers by a signal to ferry over a 
friend from the opposite side. The river was high, the night 
dark and rainy, and the wind blowing a gale. With great effort, 
Uncle Ed. reached the Derby shore, when his tallow candle 



THE RED HOUSE. 22/ 

went out, leaving him in bad humor, and he exclaimed, " Who 
are you, out this time of night, when honest men should be 
abed and asleep ? It is enough to make a minister swear to 
turn out for a friend such a time as this ! " The traveler said 
not a word, but carefully placed himself, horse and wagon on 
board, when he was told, " Now take hold of this rope and pull 
with all your might, or we shall all go down stream," accom- 
panying his orders with language not polite nor very decorous. 
The order was rigorously obeyed, while the ferry-man continued 
his strain of epithets, clothed not in the choicest English. 
Safely over. Uncle Ed. demanded an extra ninepence if his 
friend refused to give his name. " Why," said the stran- 
ger, "the man toward whom you have been using such abusive 
language, is your reverend minister from Huntington Center." 
" Oh ! yes, parson, I've heard you preach many times, but I 
guess I won't take back anything I've said." B. 




CHAPTER VIII. 

THE TOWN OF OXFORD. 

HE Oxford ecclesiastical society was established in 
1 741, and in 1742 a burying-ground was laid out, and 
from that time until 1798 they exercised the rights of 
such a society, but remained a part of the township of 
Derby. The effort to make the parish of Oxford a town began 
in 1789, and was continued with intervals until that object was 
attained. In 1793 an agreement with Derby was effected and 
the boundaries fixed by a committee, but the Assembly did not 
confirm the agreement. 

In December, 1796, the parish of Oxford having previously 
petitioned the General Assembly to be made a town, the town 
of Derby voted that "We will not oppose the incorporation of 
Oxford as a separate town on account of representation, but will 
consent to divide the representation and each district have only 
one member, and that we will as a town unite with Oxford in a 
petition for the purpose, and the lines to divide said town shall 
remain as agreed by a committee of said town about three years 
ago, and if the inhabitants of the respective districts cannot 
agree on a division of the burdens of said town, we will submit 
a division thereof to a disinterested committee who shall adjust 
and divide said burdens which shall be binding on each party." 
In the next April, Capt. John Riggs was appointed to carry 
the petition' to the Assembly and urge the request of the people ; 
but it was not agreeable some way to that body, and another 
committee was sent in December, 1797. At the same time 
they appointed a committee to adjust the burdens of the town, 
who made their final report April 23, 1798, recommending that 
" Said parish of Oxford, in consequence of the extraordinary 
burthens and public expense to be incurred by the old town in 
bridges and roads, etc., in said division lines shall pay as a com- 
pensation to said old town one hundred and seventy pounds 
lawful money in three yearly installments." This report was 



OXFORD TOWNSHIP. 229 

accepted and passed in a lawful town meeting, and Oxford was 
made a town in October, 1798. 

The territory now included in the township of Oxford, which 
was originally included in Derby, was obtained of the Indians 
by some twelve to fifteen deeds, the principal of which were the 
Wesquantuck and Rockhouse hill, Camp's mortgage, Moss's pur- 
chase, North purchase, Quaker's farm, Tobie's grant, and sev- 
eral others of smaller quantities in the north-eastern part of the 
township. The first of these, Wesquantuck and Rockhouse hill, 
was made in 1678, and the last in 17 10. 

Major Ebenezer Johnson, Ens. Samuel Riggs, Jeremiah 
Johnson and two or three others purchased small tracts of land 
at Rock Rimmon, or in the vicinity of what is now Pine's bridge, 
in 1678 and in 1680, where the first permanent settlement was 
made within the present township of Oxford. In 1692-3, 
Thomas Wooster and David Wooster made purchases south of 
Major Johnson's land on the west side of the Naugatuck, being 
a little above Seymour, but precisely when they or any of their 
descendants began to reside on these lands has not been ascer- 
tained. In 1708 Ens. Samuel Riggs gave to his son, Ebenezer 
Riggs, two hundred acres of land with houses and other im- 
provements in this vicinity, and he at that time or soon after 
made his home here. 

The first permanent settler at Quaker's farm was some time 
after 1707, and it is quite certain there were settlers in the 
vicinity of Pine's bridge and Rimmon some years before this 
date. 

At the meeting of the Oxford society, October 6, 1741', it 
was voted " to build a meeting-house, and to meet the Assembly 
in the next session at New Haven, to pray for a commission to 
appoint, order and fix the place whereon their meeting-house 
shall be erected and built." 

No report of that committee is to be found. 

The society meetings were held at private houses until the 



^Much of the following account of Oxford and Oxford people is taken from an 
historical paper read by Judge N. J. Wilcoxson at the centennial celebration on the 
fourth of July, 1876, in Oxford. The paper was prepared by considerable research 
and great carefulness, and is worthy of high commendation. The matter of nearly 
the whole paper is incorporated in this book. 



230 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

31st day of March, 1743. The meeting" next after that was 
held at the meeting-house on the 21st of June, 1743. 

The next important step after the building of the meeting- 
house in those days was the settlement of a minister, but in the 
present day the first move would be to obtain a minister in 
order to the building of a meeting-house. Mr. Joseph Adams 
was called to settle, being offered ;!^50o settlement, and a yearly 
salary of ;^I50 old tenor, which brought to the silver standard 
meant £i4S settlement and ^£4$ salary.- The call was not 
accepted, and at a society meeting held in June, 1745, it was 
voted to give to Mr. Jonathan Lyman a call to preach on pro- 
bation. A committee consisting of Capt. Timothy Russell, 
Capt. John Lumm and Ensign John Chatfield, was appointed 
to hire Mr. Lyman on probation for the space of four Sabbaths. 
At the end of this time, in July, "it was voted to give Jonathan 
Lyman a call to settle over the parish in the work of the gospel 
ministry," with a settlement of ^500, and a salary of ^125, 
until the settlement should be paid, and then to be raised to 
^150. Subsequently it was voted to add ten pounds yearly to 
the salary for five years. 

Mr. Lyman accepted the call and was regularly ordained over 
the parish Wednesday Oct. 4, 1745, and continued in this office 
with usual success eighteen years, when, as he was riding in the 
western part of the town on a visit to a sick person, he fell from 
his horse, and, it is supposed, instantly died. 

Mr. Lyman was a brother to General Phineas Lyman, and 
was baptized at Durham, April 21, 171 7; was a graduate of 
Yale College in 1742; preached in Middlefield, Conn., six Sab- 
baths in 1745, and ordained as above the first minister of the 
parish. The following records show somewhat of the esteem 
in which he was held : 

" To all persons to whom these presents shall come, I Samuel 
Wheeler send greeting. Know ye that I ye said Samuel Wheeler, of 
Oxford, in Derby, in the county of New Haven and colony of Connec- 
ticut in New England, do for, and in consideration of love, good will 
and respect which I have, and do bear tow-ards the Rev. Mr. Jonathan 
Lyman, pastor of the church of Oxford, in Derby, in the county and 



*Ne\v Haven Mist. Papers, i. 74. 



OXFORD MINISTERS. 23 1 

colony aforesaid in New England, have given and granted and by these 
presents do fully and clearly and absolutely give and grant unto the 
said Rev. Mr. Jonathan Lyman his heirs and assigns forever a certain 
parcel of land lying in Derby, parish of Oxford, near the meeting-house 
. . Sept. lo, 1746." April 21, 1747, John Lumm gives him a 
piece of land " For and in consideration of the good will and respect 
that I have and do bear to the Rev. Jonathan Lyman, for encourage- 
ment to him in his settlement, in ye work of the ministry with us, which 
consideration is to my good and full satisfaction." 

The next minister settled in the parish was the Rev. David 
Bronson, of Milford. The call is dated Monday, March 3, 1764 ; 
settlement ;!£^200, and a salary of ^60, to be increased to ;^70, 
after four years. Dea. Ebenezer Riggs, Mr. John Twitchell, 
Mr. Thomas Clark, Capt. Russell, Capt. Hawkins, Lieut. 
Wheeler, Joseph Osborn, were the committee for treating with 
Mr. Bronson regarding his settlement. The 25th of April, 
1764, was appointed for the ordination. Mr. Bronson lived to 
serve the parish until the year 1806, a period of forty years, 
when he departed to his future reward. 

The next settled minister of the parish was the Rev. Nathaniel 
Freeman. His continuance was from June, 1809, to Septem- 
ber, 1 8 14. The society was without a settled minister from 
Sept., 1 8 14, to the settlement of Rev. Abraham Brown, June 2, 
1830. During these sixteen years of vacancy, the people were 
variously supplied with preaching, principally by Rev. Zephaniah 
Swift, a man of much personal worth and highly respected. 
Mr. Brown was dismissed, Oct. 16, 1838. 

A call was next extended to Rev. Stephen Topliff, on the 
2 1 St day of April, 1841, on a salary of $500 annually so long as 
he should continue with the church and society as their minister, 
which call he accepted and was installed the following Septem- 
ber. He served them nearly twenty years and was dismissed 
in i860. He was esteemed for his integrity, faithfulness in the 
discharge of his professional duty, kindness as a neighbor and 
the wisdom of his actions as a citizen. 

Following Mr. Topliff the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Mr. 
Barton one year ; by Rev. Mr. Strong, who was installed, two 
and a half years ; Rev. Mr. Chamberlin two and a half years, 
and after that by Rev. John Churchill, of Woodbury, seven 



232 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

years. It is remarked of Mr. Churchill that, faithful to his call- 
ing as a preacher he deserv^edly ranks with the ablest, as a 
friend the kindest, as a neighbor unselfishly loving, and as a 
citizen discreet, just and true. 

THE NEW MEETING-HOUSE. 

Not long before the close of the year 1792, the people began 
to talk of building a new meeting-house, and on the third day 
of January, 1793, voted so to build on the meeting-house acre, 
near the old one, a house 56 feet by 40. Thomas Clark, Esq., 
Capt. John Riggs and Mr. Josiah Strong, were appointed a com- 
mittee to apply to the Hon. County Court to establish a place 
for the site for the same. In the meeting on the 23d day of 
December, 1793, Mr. Timothy Candee was appointed to build 
the meeting-house, the same vote agreeing to give him therefor 
the sum of six hundred and seventy-five pounds. It has been 
said that the stipulated sum did not pay Mr. Candee the 
expenses of the building, and to meet which so embarrassed 
him pecuniarily, that he gave up what of estate he had and 
removed to Pompey, N. Y., where he spent the remainder of 
his days. The house then built, the present Congregational 
church, was raised in the year 1795 as entered upon public 
records by Dr. Hosea Dutton. The same year the Oxford 
turnpike, said to have been the second in the state, was 
chartered. 

The same year the hotel building, now styled the Oxford 

House, was erected by Daniel and Job Candee. It was first 

and for many years occupied by Daniel Candee as innkeeper. 

He was succeeded by his nephew, David Candee, who con- 

. tinu^d in the position a space of forty years. 

The first post-office was kept in the same building, Daniel 
Candee, post-master. David Candee, upon taking the position 
of landlord, took also that of postmaster, which he held for a 
great number of years, and then it passed to his son, George N. 
Candee, by whom it was taken into a merchant store. 



OXFORD lUMSCOFAL CHURCH. 233 



THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 



This parish was gathered and established by the kibors of 
■^'Rev. Richard Mansfield, U. D., in 1764, who was located at 
Derby as a minister of the gospel. 

The following deed shows that the church was already organ- 
ized ; and although it says, "for a valuable consideration," it is 
probable that the land was mostly a gift. 

" I, Joseph Davis, of Derby, in the parish of Oxford, . . for 
a valuable consideration of current money, . . received by 
Abel Gunn and William Bunnell, church wardens of the parish 
of Oxford, . . do give, grant and confirm unto them, and to 
others of the parishioners of the Church of England, in said 
Oxford, one certain tract of land known by the name of Meet- 
ing-house Lot, lying near Oxford meeting house, being by esti- 
mate five acres, . . to have and to hold to the said Abel Gunn, 
Benjamin Bunnell, and to all the rest of the professors of the 
Church of England, in said Oxford." December 22, 1766. 
/ A like deed was executed by John Twitchell, June 21, 1770, 
for " near eighteen acres of a certain piece of land in the parish 
of Oxford, lying on Govenror's Hill, so called, lying near the 
church." 

Information of the regular succession of ministers in this St. 
Peter's Church has not been obtained. The Rev. Chauncey 
Prindle, a native born citizen of Oxford, a graduate of Yale 
College, after a twelve years ministerial service at Watertown, 
Conn., was pastor at St. Peter's for several years. He was noted 
for a sound and forcible intellect and stern integrity, and was 
orthodox and firm in principles. He was a useful minister. 
His last residence for many years was on a farm in the north- 
ern part of Oxford, where he died at a great age about the 
year 1832. 

After Mr. Prindle, the Rev. Aaron Humphreys was pastor, 
but how long he continued is not ascertained, possibly ten 
years or more. The Rev. W. A. Curtiss, a native of Coventry, 
Conn., came here in Ai)ri], 1829, from New York. His pastorate 
continued a little more than two years, being a preacher of con- 
siderable ability, but such was his imprudence and indiscretion 
that he was ever upsetting his own dish. After him, Rev. 
30 



234 HISTORY OF DERHY. 

Ashbel Baldwin, Rev. Dr. Ikirhans, Revs. Messrs. Todd, San- 
ford, Marvin, Nichols, Eastman, Loop, Gray, Smith, Clark, 
Pierce, Anketel, and Iku-k, were in turn in charge of the parish 
and church. 

■ The church first erected stood on the hill adjacent to the 
cemetery. It was taken down and removed, and the one now 
standing on the green was erected in the year 1834, and was 
dedicated by Bishop Brownell in the year following, the Rev. 
Charles Smith then being the minister. 

OXFORD CENTER AND GREEN. 

I 

"To the year 1798, Oxford was part and parcel of the town 
of Derby. About the year 1791, the people aspired to become 
a town, and year after year to the seventh they presented their 
petition, when on the seventh they were successful, and O.xford 
was incorporated a town. But this was not obtained without 
extra effort, for the people at last resorted to strategy, and 
thereby succeeded. The election of the town at Derby was at 
hand. The town-meeting was warned to be held at nine o'clock 
in the forenoon, but the custom was not to open it until one 
o'clock in the afternoon. The people of Oxford agreed to go 
together in a body, ready to open the meeting at nine o'clock. 
The hour of meeting in Oxford was know-n to every voter, and 
prompt at the time they were all assembled and formed in pro- 
cession on the main street, and at a given signal the procession 
moved in stately order toward its destination, the town house 
of Derby. It was so much the custom then to open the town 
meeting with prayer, that such proceedings without prayer 
were hardly regarded as legitimate, and therefore to save 
trouble in that direction the Rev. William Bronson, the minis- 
ter at Oxford, was taken along to offer the opening prayer. It 
was not the first time nor the last that religion has been called 
in to help carry out mischief, but this seems to have been that 
kind of mischief over which it is legitimate to pray. The pro- 
cession reached the place of meeting ; it was nine o'clock ; they 
set about the business of the hour with a diligence that told 
what was meant. The Derby people were in consternation, and 
started out, running their horses in various directions, calling 
on ])ersons to hasten to the meeting; but before enough of the 



PUBLIC ENTERPRISE. 235 

voters had reached the place to outnumber the Oxford voters, 
Nathan Stiles, who resided in what is now Seymour, was 
chosen town clerk, and they had voted that the town-meetings 
should be held one-half the time in Oxford. It is said that 
from that day, Derby no longer opposed the effort of Oxford to 
become a town. It is certain, however, that Derby consented 
to Oxford becoming a town some three or four years before 
the General Assembly made the grant. But the above account 
is doubtless true as to matter of fact, and was given by Capt. 
David McEwin, a prominent citizen, one every way competent 
to remember such an occurrence, a man of laudable character, 
active in public enterprise, a farmer by vocation, and when in 
the prime of life was one of the most thorough, flourishing and 
successful operators. He is said to have been marshal of the 
day in that grand Oxford descent upon old Derby, leading the 
procession to complete triumph, being assisted by the parson. 

In and by the act of incorporation, it was ordered that the 
first town meeting should be held on the third Tuesday of 
November, 1798, that Thomas Clark, Esq., should warn the 
meeting, and that John Riggs, Esq., should serve the meeting 
as moderator, and in accordance with these arrangements the 
meeting was held. It was a very stormy day ; the snow fell 
deeper than is often seen, yet the meeting was fully attended 
and the organization completed: 

THE PUI5LIC GREEN. 

This is made up of what is called the " meeting-house acre 
land " given by a Mr. Chatfield, for a site for a meeting-house, 
and of land thrown out by proprietors along down on the eastern 
side until it ends upon the turnpike road. This constitutes 
what is called Upper Green. It was agreed at that time, that 
anything of rubbish or whatever could encumber the ground, if 
thrown out and left thereon, should after thirty days become a 
forfeiture to the owner. The Lower Green is proprietors' land 
and laid by a committee for a public common and a military 
parade ground. The honor of making the suggestion for thus 
laying out the lower end of the green belongs to Esq. Charles 
Bunnell, an unselfish, ]3ublic spirited, worthy and respected 
citizen ; and held a prominent place in the confidence of the 



236 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

people. His residence was that of the late Harry Sutton. He 
died in March, 1838, aged 80 years. 

The land thus given being a thickly grown bramble the peo- 
ple turned out under the lead of a committee, three military 
officers of the day and time, Capt. John Davis(afterwards colonel) 
Lieut. Samuel A. Buckingham and luisign Ebenezer Fairchild. 
They cleared the land of rubbish and brought it to its present 
desirable condition by a large expense of time and money. 
The whole public common, both upper and lower, were laid out 
and improved under the leading of the same committee. 

Before the laying and constructing of the turnpike, public 
travel was not as now, but passed easterly by the school-house 
in the center to and down what we now call Back street. The 
dwelling house now occupied by Michael Flynn was the hotel 
kept by Mr. Ciidcon Tucker.^" 

Quaker's farm* in oxford. 

Quaker's Farm is a small village in the w^estern part of 
Oxford, originally in the north-western part of Derby, lying in 
the valley on the east side of Eight-mile brook. The first 
Indian deed given which seems to have included this territory 
was dated August 6, 1687, but Mr. Joseph Hawley, of Stratford, 
proposed in 1683 to have his grant in Derby, then agreed upon, 
laid at Quaker's Farm, and therefore he may have purchased it 
of the Indians before that date, and when it was transferred to 
the town a new Indian deed may have been given dated in 
1687, as was the case in regard to several other tracts of land. 

A tract of land containing 170 acres was laid to Ebenezer 
Johnson in 1688, "at the i)lace or near to it commonly called 
the Quaker's Farm, bounded east with the common road about 
a mile of the place called Quaker's Farm." 

On the 17th of February, 1691-2, Ebenezer Johnson deeded 
to "John Butler, yeoman," then resident of Stratford, "a tract 
of land commonly called Quaker's Farm, being one hundred 
and fifty acres, and another piece of land to the north side 
thereof." 

This one hundred and fifty acres was the Quaker's Farm 

*Judge Wilco.xon's historical paper. 

*'F"he town records always say, Quaker's Kann, not Farms. 



SETTLERS AT QUAKER S FARM. 237 

itself ; and was such when sold to John Butler, who is in the 
deed of sale of this land said to be a doctor. Therefore John 
Butler was not the Quaker by whom the name became estab- 
lished upon the locality. Who this Quaker was, where he came 
from, or where he went and when, has not been ascertained. 
The name was here as early as 1683, and the Quaker appar- 
ently was gone. 

The administrators of "Dr. John Butler, late of Stratford, de- 
ceased," sold this land in 1707, and it was purchased by Mr. 
William Rawlinson of Stratford. 

Soon after this, or about this time, lots were laid to a num- 
ber of the inhabitants of Derby, but the following record was 
made January 8, 171 1, "Whereas there is found that many of 
the lots laid out at Quaker's Farm purchase were not recorded," 
therefore the town appointed another committee to lay out all 
the lots and "draw notes of every man's lot as they were for- 
merly pitched, and the recorder may record them at each man's 
charge." 

Soon after this, it is probable that the settlers began to make 
their homes in this locality, but before this, aside from the 
Quaker, and Dr. Butler, who resided here a number of years, 
there were probably no residents in this place. 

Abraham Wooster, father of General David Wooster, bought 
land here in September, 1722, and may have inherited through 
the right of his father, Edward, the first settler in Derby, a 
grant of considerable value. At this time he is said to be of 
Derby, but had been residing in Stratford since about 1706 
until a short time previous to this date. That he resided here 
is very certain, for in 1733 he sold his "mansion house near 
Munson's Corners in Quaker's Farm," and a farm with a saw- 
mill to Samuel Wooster, jun., and if the first white child was 
born here in 1725, as we shall see, then Abraham Wooster was 
among the first settlers at this place. 

It was the earliest settled of any part of Oxford except along 
the Naugatuck river above Seymour. Next to Quaker's Farm, 
a neighborhood in the northern part of the town, bordering on 
what is now called Middlebury, once called Bristol Town, was 
settled in advance of the central part of the town. 

Quaker's Farm is a region of valuable land, and it is not sur- 



238 HISTORY OF nr.RBV. 

prising that it was early souL;ht as a farming; community. The 
first English person born at Quaker's Farm was Lieut. John 
Griffin, born at this place in 1725, who died in 1821, aged 96 
years. He was distinguished as a soldier of the French war; 
was lieutenant in the army, spending his summers in campaign 
service, returning home and remaining during the winter and 
returning to duty in the spring for three successive campaigns, 
and at last participating in the victory under Wolfe upon the 
plains of Abraham before Quebec. These facts were handed 
down by the lieutenant's son-in-law* William Morris. The first, 
second and third births in Oxford occurred at Quaker's Farm. 
The third was Dr. Joseph Perry of Woodbury. Perry was a 
prominent name with the first inhabitants of Quaker's Farm ; 
so also was Wooster, Hawkins, Hyde and Nichols. Of the 
name Perry, there were numerous representatives, but only one, 
Capt. H. A. Perry, remains. 

Capt. Zechariah Hawkins was a farmer, and his house stood 
on the site of the Meigs dwelling-house. He was a substantial 
man, of sound judgment and a valuable citizen. Silas and 
Charles Hawkins, his grandsons, and Lewis, John and Samuel 
Hawkins, his great grandsons, represent the name. 

Of the Wooster name there were many, and were mostly 
farmers. Nathan, a son of Arthur Wooster, was a graduate 
from Yale College. He was educated with the intention of be- 
ing a clergyman of the Church of I^ngland, but li\cd and died 
on his farm at Quaker's Farm. Joseph Wooster located on (lood 
hill, was an enterprising farmer, and sixteen was the number 
of his sons and daughters. Rev. Henry Wooster, minister of 
the Baptist church at Deep River, was a son of Joseph Wooster, 
jun., and was a man of culture, popular standing, and well ap- 
proved as a useful minister. He is deceased. 

Col. William B. Wooster of Birmingham, a popular politician 
and a well-known, influential lawyer, is a son of Russell Woos- 
ter and grandson of Joseph Wooster. He took an active and 
valorous part as a loyalist, contesting against the secessionists 
in the late civil war. Capt. Nathaniel Wooster was a notewor- 
thy citizen, and by trade a blacksmith. He died at a great age, 
being but little short of ninety )-ears. 

Capt. Ira Hyde and Marcus, his son, represent the Hyde name. 



A SUCCESSFUL MERCHANT. 239 

Hon. Benjamin Xichol.s, alone represents the Nichols name. 

The name of Tomlinson is of a little later date at this place. 
David Tomlinson was in his day a distinguished citizen. He 
came from Woodbury to Quaker's Farm when about twenty 
years of age, and took charge of land owned by his father, and 
engaged in business as a merchant. Having married a daugh- 
ter of Jabez Bacon of Woodbury, he began in a small way and 
enlarged gradually ; occupying a room in the chamber of his 
dwelling as a salesroom, and from that removed to more com- 
modious quarters when his -business demanded it. He was re- 
markably successful as a merchant, extending his trade many 
miles, and he was not less known in his operations as an agri- 
culturist. His acres numbered 1,500, and he manifested great 
wisdom in applying fertilizers as the varieties of soil required, 
and seldom allowed his land to lie idle for want of application. 
Possessed of a keen discernment, he knew at once what seed to 
plant or sow upon the land as soon as he looked at it. The late 
Judge Phelps of Woodbury said of him, that he was the best 
specimen of a patroon there was in Connecticut. When he had 
become largely successful, he entered upon trade in foreign 
ports, chartering vessels and fitting them in some cases, and 
sending them with cargoes to different ports. One of his ves- 
sels and cargo was taken by French privateers, which loss with 
others finally somewhat embarrassed his estate. He was eleven 
times sent to the House of Representatives, was also a member 
of the state senate, and when he died, which occurred March, 
1822, he was only sixty years of age. His eldest son, Charles, 
lived to be over ninety years of age. Mr. Samuel Meigs mar- 
ried into his family, was a merchant in Mr. Tomlinson's store 
some years, but spent his last days as a farmer, and died at 
Quaker's P'arm. He represented Oxford several times in the 
Assembly ; was a judge of the county court, and many years a 
justice of the peace. His two sons, David T. and Charles A. 
Meigs, are merchants, occupying what was the stand of their 
grandfather. 

The Quaker Farms [as this name is now written] Episcopal 
church was erected about 1814, and was for a time a chapel, 
but after some years was dedicated under the name of Christ 
Church. (Sec further account in the appendix). 



240 HISTORY OF DEKHV. 

During the Revolution, Oxford was a part of Derby, and 
whatever glory Derby has, falls alike on Oxford in that great 
struggle for freedom. At the beginning of the present century, 
or a little later, Oxford had the honor of the following pension- 
ers as citizens : Capt. Samuel Candee, Capt. Job Candee, David 
Peck, Edward Bassett, Isaac Chatfield, Timothy Johnson, Phin- 
eas Johnson, Jeremiah M. Kelly. 

The following story is given upon the authority of this Timo- 
thy Johnson, and corresponds to the items already written in 
public print concerning the taking of Stony Point, one of the 
most brilliant exploits of the American Revolution, and shows 
also that in that grand achievement, Derby had several soldiers 
besides the brave General William Hull. The corps of which 
Mr. Johnson was one was on the bank of the Hudson under 
General Wayne and in the presence of Washington. Wayne 
besought Wa.shington for a permit to lay siege to the British 
fortress on the bank of the Hudson, called Stony Point. Wayne 
was refused permission. He besought a second time. Wash- 
ington said the undertaking was too hazardous, it could not be 
successful, and refused permission, believing it would be but a 
sacrifice of life. 

Wayne nothing daunted a[iplied a third time to the com- 
mander-in-chief for his i)ermit ; told his plan and expressed his 
confidence of success in an earnest and decided manner. Per- 
mission was granted. He was allowed to pick his men. Tim- 
othy Johnson, the narrator, was one, and his brother Phineas 
another. The march began, Washington reviewed the men as 
they passed ; he looked very sober and feared they would all be 
killed. They were marched near to the enemy's picket and 
halted. They were fed. Wayne came along with a piece of 
bread and meat in his hand, saying: " J^lood may run in rivers; 
any one who desires may leave the ranks and not be branded 
with cowardice." Not one left. Wayne then went through 
the line and took the flints from every gun, that there might 
not be a gun fired to give light for the enemy's aim. The night 
was very dark, and when all was ready for the march, Wayne 
said: "Death to the man that attempts to leave, or falters in 
his duty." Onward they marched and so(jn came ui)on the 
enemy's picket. The jiickct hailed, but no answer, and he fired 



TAKING OF STONV POINT. 24I 

and ran. Wayne and his force ran after. The fortress was 
encircled with the limbs of the apple trees piled thick and high, 
the twigs of which were sharpened so that it would seem im- 
possible to climb over or press through. "But," said Johnson, 
"we were so close on the picket that he could not fill the gap 
left him. We ran through the same and so entered the inclos- 
ure. The enemy in the meantime continued a brisk fire, but 
not a man was hit. They reached the walls of the fort and be- 
gan scaling them. The man first over the walls was killed, the 
only one lost of the detachment. The contest was sharp and 
severe, but short. The British surrendered. Wayne received 
a severe wound with a cutlass over the eye, which caused the 
eyelid to fall. He bled like a butcher. Wayne said he would 
ever be proud in carrying the scar of that wound." 

This account, save a few items, such as Wayne's taking the 
flints from every gun, is very correct. With pleasure and 
pride the bravery of Oxford's sons, as well as others then of 
Derby, in so daring a contest, may be recorded. 

THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. 

In 1 86 1, at the breaking out of the civil war, Oxford's sons 
proved themselves true to the old flag and the support of the 
authority of the nation. Cheerfully they joined the marching 
ranks and moved to the front until victory was won. No fewer 
than seventy-five men entered the loyal army by enlistment, of 
which but few, probably not more than five, disgraced them- 
selves by desertion. Mainly they stood manfully at their posts 
and bravely fought the battles of their country, and suffered 
the hardships of war, and so continued until victory gave honor 
and perpetuity to their nation. Thanks, and more than thanks 
— an undying gratitude is due to them. 

In the year 1798, the school society of Oxford, which in- 
cluded the whole of the town, was divided into school districts, 
but school-houses were built and schools supported long before 
that. Within the last fifty years, select schools have been kept 
in different parts of the town many terms, by which many 
were qualified for teaching, some of whom have reached consid- 
erable celebrity. Eight or more of Oxford's sons have been 
graduated at colleges. 



242 



HISTORY OF DERBY. 



The occupation of the people of the town has been chiefly 
agricultural, yet about fifty years since there were a number of 
mechanical and manufacturing enterprises conducted with con- 
siderable success. A hat shop conducted by a Mr. Crosby 
employed at one time seventy-five men. There was also a 
shop for the manufacture of edge tools by a Mr. Turner. 
There were coopers not less than four, producing casks for the 
West India trade ; blacksmiths, tailors and shoe-makers, all in 
and about the central part of the town, except what was done 
in these lines at Quaker's Farm. 











OXI'OKI) IN iS^O. 



The above engraving is a view of the central part of O.xford 
from the south-east, and is a very perfect representation of the 
place at the time. Mr. J. W. Barber, in his "Connecticut His- 
torical Collections," ■' makes the following record in regard to 
the picture and the place : 

" The building with a Gothic tower is the Episcopal church ; 
a part of the Congregational church is seen on the extreme 
right. The elevation seen in the background is called Gov- 
ernor's hill, so named, it is said, from its being principally 
owned, many years since, by a Mr. Bunnell, who was considered 
by his neighbors as a lordly kind of personage, having had con- 



5 Conn. Hist. Col. 24S. 



CHANGES IN OXFORD. 243 

siderable to do with the law, and being engaged in many law- 
suits for the support of his real or imaginary rights. 

"About one mile south of the central part of the town is a 
remarkable mineral spring called The Pool, from the circum- 
stance of its waters being efficacious, and much used for the 
cure of salt rheum and other complaints. ' Once in a month a 
yellowish scum will collect upon the surface of the water, 
which in a few days runs off and leaves the pool perfectly clear. 
In the coldest weather this spring never freezes, and in the 
dry est season it is as full as at other times.' 

"The length of the township from north-east to south-west is 
about eight miles, and its breadth nearly five miles. The sur- 
face of the township is uneven, being diversified with hills and 
valleys. The prevailing soil is a gravelly loam ; the eastern 
and western parts of the town are generally fertile and produc- 
tive. There are in the town three satinet factories, and an 
extensive hat manufactory owned by Messrs. Hunt & Crosby. 
A number of extensive manufacturing establishments are about 
being erected on Naugatuck river." 

Oxford has changed in fifty years ; changed as to inhab- 
itants. Then, the Candee families were many, now, but two. 
Caleb, the first of the name, came from West Haven, and 
resided where John Candee now does. He raised nine sons, 
who were remarkable for longevity ; John and Sterne Candee 
are great-grandsons. 

Lieutenant Samuel Wheeler, an early settler from Stratford, 
was prominent as a business operator. Robert Wheeler, his 
great-grandson, occupies his place. Of the Wheeler name, 
that of Abel stands as prominently as any other, being a man 
in whom the people placed the utmost confidence and trust. 
He was sent to the legislature ten terms. As a justice of the 
peace, he was a dispenser of justice and equity. He was judge 
of the county court, and a state senator. He died in 1830, aged 
sixty-five years. 

Of the Riggs families who were once numerous, there re- 
mains but one, the grandson of Capt. Ebenezer Riggs, a valua- 
ble citizen in his day. Esquire John Riggs, a public spirited 
and respected citizen, a leader and servant of the people, 
raised a family of ten, five sons and five daughters. He built 



244 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

and settled his sons in a row of houses with his own, and there 
being so many, the locality was named Riggs street, which it 
still retains ; but not one of the name remains in that street. 

John Davis was eminent in the military lines, reaching the 
position of colonel, commanding the second regiment of the 
Connecticut militia. He retained his faculties remarkably 
well until his death, which occurred when ninety-five years of 
age. Dr. Hosea Dutton, a physician from Southington, was 
an early settler, and spent his life in the practice of his profes- 
sion, and died September, 1826, aged seventy-two years. He 
was a man remarkable for application, a useful physician, an 
influential politician, not only at home, but as a writer. 

Dr. Noah Stone, from Guilford, settled in Oxford about the 
year 18 10, and was a valued practitioner, exemplary in life, 
correct in deportment, a fair model for imitation. He died 
March, 185 i, aged sixty-nine years. Rev. A. L. Stone of San 
Francisco, and David M. Stone, editor of the New York yoiir- 
nal of Commerce, were his sons. Mrs. Martha Hubbell, au- 
thoress of "Shady Side," was his daughter. How great is the 
change in Oxford in fifty years ! 




CHAPTER IX. 

COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES. 

"HE first ax that sounded on Derby territory was 
struck for the establishment of commercial relations 
between the English and the Indians, in the first 
trading house, erected on Birmingham Point in 1642. 
In 1646 this enterprise was attracting the attention of zealous 
parties in New York, and therefore must have been of consid- 
erable importance. This trading post was commenced by New 
Haven men. and continued until 1653 or 1654, when they sold 
their interests, including a tract of land, to a company of ten 
men of Milford, the principal leader being Richard Baldwin. In 
1657, Lieut. Thomas Wheeler of Stratford bought about forty 
acres of land on Birmingham point, and engaged in building 
sailing vessels, most probably in partnership with Alexander 
Bryan of Milford. The number of men employed by Mr. 
Wheeler, with the three or four families living in Derby, were 
supplied with what trading was necessary through Mr. Wheeler, 
whose vessels necessarily must have passed frequently between 
Milford and Derby for these purposes, in addition to any trade 
with the Indians. Mr. Wheeler sold his interests at this place 
in 1664, to Mr. Bryan, who continued to conduct some kind of 
mercantile business here in connection with the building of 
vessels, as in later years when land was appropriated to Mr. 
Joseph Hawkins, a provision was made that highways should 
not be obstructed to hinder Mr. Alexander Bryan. In 1682, 
Richard Bryan, son of Alexander, made arrangements to settle 
in Derby, and was probably then engaged here in building ves- 
sels and keeping some kind of a trading house or store. 

In 1676, a highway was constructed through the long lot to 
a point called the fishing place ; that is from the first settle- 
ment at Old Town, down the meadow to a location on the east 
side of the valley below the present bridge, where was built, 
a few years later, a landing from which to ship produce. And 
this was the object of the road built in 1676. Before 1700, 



246 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

there was put up here a building called the fish-house, and 
referred to as such in the records. 

In 1709, a business place is spoken of on the Ousatonic river, 
the first mention of anything of the kind on the west side of 
Birmingham Point. 

"Dec. 15, 1709; Voted, That the town will raise forty-five 
pounds in pay, that is to say in grain and flax at these following 
prices : wheat at si.x shillings per bushel, Indian corn at three 
shillings sixpence per bushel, flax at ninepence per pound ; 
and said forty-five pounds shall be delivered by the collector of 
town rates, or town's men, to Mr. Joseph Moss, or his order, at 
the warehouse of Joseph Hawkins in Derby, at or before the 
first day of March next ; and thereupon the said Joseph Moss 
is to pay to the town's men of Derby for the use of the town, 
the sum of thirty pounds current silver money of fifteen penny- 
weight, at or before the said first of March, always provided 
that if any man w411 pay his part of said forty-five pounds in 
money, it shall be taken at two-thirds." 

Here was the warehouse of Joseph Hawkins, who was the 
son of Joseph the first permanent settler on the Bimingham 
neck, and who probably built this warehouse some years before 
1700, or bought it of Mr. Bryan. The probabilities are that a 
warehouse store was kept continuously at that place from 1660 
to the time this warehouse is mentioned in 1709. 

In 1702, William Tomlinson was chosen leather sealer for 
the town, which shows that leather was made in the town, and 
was inspected and stamped or sealed according to law before 
being placed in the market. 

In 1703, a sealer of weights and measures was appointed to 
see that all weights and measures were according to the stand- 
ard of justice which the law required. Before 1690, re-packers 
were appointed to re-pack meats, or to see that meats were put 
up according to law to be exported. The sale of beef and cattle 
became one of the first important items for foreign trade. 

Fish were quite an item of mercantile profit from the first 
organization of the town. In 1677, the town made a penalty 
of twenty shillings per barrel for any one to come into the town 
and fish without liberty, and soon after this they required three- 
pence per barrel to be paid for catching fish in the town, and 



FIRST STORES UP TOWN. 247 

under this rule Mr, Joseph Hawkins reported in one season that 
Fairfield men took eighty-two barrels and Milford men thirty- 
nine barrels. 

In 1680, "the town, at the desire of Joseph Hawkins, in be- 
half of Milford men hath granted to the said men, namely, Mr. 
Benjamin Fenn, Daniel Baldwin, and their partners, liberty to 
fish anywhere in Derby bounds, provided they damnify no 
man's corn or grass, and also that they pay threepence per 
pound and so proportionably for all they catch and carry away." 

The mercantile operations aside from fishing seem to have 
been conducted at Birmingham Point and Old Town, although 
the highway down the valley, from the long lot to the fish-house, 
received special attention in 1704, as though there was consid- 
erable of landing of produce at the fish-house, or something of 
the kind. It is probable that some of the shipping from Hull's 
mills was effected at this fish-house in time of low water, for 
some years. 

It is uncertain when the first store or shop was set up at 
Derby, or what was afterwards called Up Town, for the purpose 
of selling goods. The first record seen that indicates anything 
of the kind was made in 17 12 by Edward Pierson, who styles 
himself merchant in a paper by which, in view of contemplated 
marriage with a lady of Stratford, he deeded his property, in 
keeping for himself and wife, to the ministers of Derby and 
Stratford. Two years afterwards, he was a merchant at Strat- 
ford. How many years he had been a merchant here is not 
stated, but as he had considerable property, and at this time 
changed his location to Stratford, it is probable that he had 
been thus engaged some years. 

William Clark, who resided at this Old Town village, is 
called in a deed, merchant, in 1742, and shop keeper in 1748, 
both probably being the same business. He apparently con- 
tinued here as merchant, initiating his sons to the same work, 
until his death, after which, during the Revolution, or just 
before, his son Sheldon removed his store or started a new one 
at the Landing. 

In 1755, when considerable of the trading was transacted at 
the Old Town, the highway was transferred from the meadow 
to the side of the hill, near where it now is. About 1754, 



248 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Ebenezer Keeney built the first dwelling at the Landing, and 
in 1762, Stephen Whitney bought a piece of land of James 
Wheeler at this place, built a store and continued to trade as a 
merchant until 1768, when he surrendered his store to "James 
Juancy, Samuel Broome and company, with all who were his 
creditors in New York, and Stephen Demill of Stratford." 
Hence the first mercantile effort at the Landing was a failure. 

In 1769, Captain Gracey (spelled also Grassee) bought land 
here and built a store on the wharf, and in 1763, he entered 
partnership with Joseph Hull, and continued his store some 
years. From this time onward the Landing was the center of 
mercantile operations, not only for Derby, but for many adjoin- 
ing towns. During the Revolution, a large amount of state 
provisions for the army were bought and packed and shipped 
at Derby. 

About 1790, the celebrated Leman Stone commenced here 
his energetic and, for some years, prosperous career as a mer- 
chant. In the language of the old proverb, " he left no stone 
unturned" which he thought might bring success to himself or 
the place. He was a man of untiring energy, determined pur- 
pose, and for some years was successful in nearly everything he 
attempted as a business man. He came from the town of 
Litchfield, Conn., which may account somewhat for his great 
energy for there is not a town in the whole state more celebrated 
for producing great men than Old Litchfield. And at the pres- 
ent day there is no man to whom reference is so frequently 
made in the prosperous times of Derby Narrows as Leman 
Stone. 

The following very just remarks were written not long since 
by Dr. A. Eeardsley : 

A few years prior to 1800, Mr. Leman Stone and others set- 
tled in Derby, and for a long time carried on an extensive com- 
mercial trade with New York, Boston, and the West Indies- 
At one time Derby Narrows was nearly blockaded with carts 
and wagons loaded with all sorts of produce from Waterbury, 
Woodbury and other towns. Sometimes a string half a mile 
long would throng our highways, and teamsters would have to 
wait half a day, or over night for their turn to unload for ship- 
ping. Importation was also large. A truthful veteran informed 



EARLY COMMERCE. 249 

US that he-had counted at one time no less than sixty hogsheads 
of rum landed on the dock in a day. We would not have our 
readers suppose for a moment, that this quantity was all con- 
sumed in Derby. It was carted to various parts of the country 
whence the produce came. In the hight and glow of his com- 
mercial prosperity, Mr. Stone entered into the project of the 
turnpike from Derby to New Haven with a view to draw the 
business of the latter to this place. The petition was presented 
to the Legislature for a charter, and after two or three years' 
hard fighting and as many embarrassments, seemingly, as the 
Derby and New Haven railroad had in their project, the charter 
was obtained and the road built at great expense to Mr. Stone, 
and then the unfortunate man had the pleasure of sitting in his 
store-house door and seeing all his friends and customers go by 
him to empty their treasures into New Haven. The building 
of that turnpike, together with the old Washington bridge at 
Stratford impeding our navigation, operated against the inter- 
ests of this town at that time most decidedly. 

Derby became a port of delivery by the establishment of the 
collection district of New Haven on the second of March, 1799, 
" to comprise the waters and the shores from the west line of 
the district of Middletown westerly to the Housatonic river, in 
which New Haven shall be the port of entry, and Guilford, 
Branford, Milford and Derby ports of delivery." 

EARLY COMMERCE OF DERBY. 

After the close of the Seven Years' War, from 1755-63, the 
commercial prosperity of Derby rose rapidly, and as rapidly de- 
clined on the outbreak of the American Revolution, resumins: 
increased activity after the independence of the Colonies was 
acknowledged. 

Long before this we had an indirect trade with Europe 
through the Colonies and the West Indies, in which Derby 
sloops of eighty to one hundred tons, carried live stock and 
provisions to the leeward and windward islands of the Caribbean 
sea. In return they brought the products of these islands, also 
wines, fruits and manufactured goods of France, Spain and Hol- 
land, to whom these islands then belonged. This prosperity 
reached its culminating point about the year 1800, and began to 



250 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

decline about 1807 from three distinct causes, although the peo- 
ple of Derby attributed it solely to the fierce struggle then 
going on between Napoleon and England, in which the inhabi- 
tants of all Europe seemed to be breathing nothing but the 
spirit of war, which then gave sufficient employment to the 
mariners of the eastern continent. This was an incentive to 
leave the world's carrying trade open to other powers not en- 
gaged in war, in which our country with its facilities for ship- 
building took a most prominent part. 

The Derby Fishing Company was then fully organized, and 
in seeking a market for their fish prosecuted an extensive trade 
upon the northern shores of the Mediterranean. By simplifying 
a trade that had been somewhat complicated and very expen- 
sive, this project gave fair promise of success, which would have 
undoubtedly been realized had not events transpired which no 
human foresight could have anticipated. The cod fishery on 
the banks of Newfoundland and its vicinity by New Englanders 
was carried on in small schooners, which brought their cargoes 
to our ports, where they changed owners, and after supplying 
the home demand the surplus was shipped to the south of 
Europe. The Derby company abbreviated this process by send- 
ing their ships to their fishing stations during the fishing season, 
taking in their cargoes directly from their drying grounds and 
proceeding thence to southern Spain, France and Italy, return- 
ing to Derby with the products of those countries, thus saving 
the import profits on their goods, since then swallowed up by 
New York and other places. The entire circle of this trade, 
thus pursued without changing hands, must have resulted ad- 
vantageously to the fishing company had times continued pros- 
perous as they were in the first few years' operations, but Eng- 
land disliked our feeding her enemy, the French, and issued 
her orders of prohibition, while Napoleon intent on starving 
the proud islanders issued his Berlin and Milan decrees, aimed 
alike at our trade, but both transcending international law. 

As our company's vessels carried nothing contraband of war, 
they continued their trade until they were seized and confiscated 
wherever found, in plain violation of national right and manifest 
justice. Nor was this all that worked commercial ruin to the 
Derby Fishing Company. Flushed with their early prosperity 



DISASTER AT SEA. 25 I 

they had engaged in a species of marine insurance against dis- 
asters from any cause, and their risks in common with others 
of being captured on the high seas, encountered of necessity 
untold losses. Thus was the company's capital swept away be- 
yond the remotest hope of recovery. An incident may be re- 
lated in this connection. The crews of a fleet of merchantmen 
that was confiscated by order of Napoleon, were sent home in an 
old unseaworthy vessel which foundered on the passage and 
nearly all perished. A few were saved by their only boat, which 
was taken possession of by as many as could safely be accommo- 
dated and held at some distance from the wreck to prevent 
others from overloading her. In their haste to gain this posi- 
tion they had neglected to supply themselves with provisions or 
nautical instruments, when Samuel Crafts of Derby, chief mate 
of the schooner Naugatuck, one of the Fishing Company's ves- 
sels, volunteered to procure them from the wreck, which he ac- 
complished by swimming with great exertion and hazard, no one 
offering in the excitement the needed assistance. The boat was 
put off while he was on the wreck for the last time, leaving him 
to go down with it. He was the son of Dr. Edward Crafts and 
brother of Dr. Pearl Crafts, a young man of great promise, uni- 
versally esteemed, and in his death deeply lamented by the peo- 
ple of Derby. Another version of this painful story, better 
authenticated by Miss Rachel Smith, still living in serene old 
age, is, that Crafts with fourteen others perished from the pangs 
of hunger and exposure, while striving to save themselves from 
a watery grave. 

Although this piracy of France and England was sufficient in 
itself to crush the enterprise of Derby, yet other causes com- 
bined might have produced a similar result. Our farmers in 
the interior where the line of trade began, in their eagerness to 
accumulate, sent off the products of their soil without sufficiently 
compensating the ground for the loss of its fertilizing elements, 
as our wheat growers at the West are now doing, until their 
naturally thin soil became exhausted, and finally refused to 
yield to their demands. Another cause was the jealousy of New 
Haven and Bridgeport, These places cast an eye of envy and 
desire at the prosperity of their neighbor on the Ousatonic. 
New Haven contrived and executed the plan to tap the Derby 



252 HISTORY OF DERBT. 

traffic, by cutting a road south of Woodbridge hills to Derby, 
and by offering the facilities of a harbor unobstructed by ice, 
and willing to accept a diminished rate of profit, drew the long 
line of loaded wagons directly past Wheeler's tavern at the Nar- 
rows to their Long Wharf in New Haven. Judge Isaac Mills 
of the latter, formerly a Huntington man, and brother of the 
late Samuel Mills, was the prime mover in this new turnpike, 
and singularly enough some of the Derby people favored the 
project, hoping in this way to invite increased trade from New 
Haven to Derby. Leman Stone was one of these, and he saw 
the disastrous results. 

The Leman Stone building as it has long been called, over- 
hanging the mouth of the Naugatuck, defying the fury of ice 
floods and water freshets, for nearly a hundred years, at first a 
vast store-house, then the receptacle of wholesale garden seeds, 
next a seat of learning, long the domicile of its enterprising 
builder, Mr. Stone, and still longer a part of it the residence of 
one of the most gifted and estimable women of Derby, Mrs. 
Ellen Stone, still stands out in bold relief, through all its vicissi- 
tudes, without occupancy, a commercial landmark and relic of 
better days. This building, now in venerable decay, was once 
the head-quarters of commerce in Derby. Here Capt. Henry 
Whitney, a bitter opponent of the encroachments of England to 
destroy our commerce, father of the New York millionaire, 
Stephen Whitney, and Archibald Whitney, late of Derby, and 
one of the ancient worthies who assisted in laying the corner- 
stone of old King Hiram Lodge, for years carried on an exten- 
sive and profitable business of shipping horses to the West 
Indies, which gave him rather an enviable reputation. 

Grain of all kinds, pork, butter and cheese were brought here 
for export from Woodbury, Waterbury, New Milford and towns 
around in great abundance. Within the fading memory of the 
oldest inhabitant, the old road now called Derby avenue has 
been seen lined and crowded with loaded teams by the hundred, 
waiting turns to deliver their goods for shipping and return to 
their homes. Imports were correspondingly large, hogsheads 
of rum, brandies, sugar, molasses, were brought here in large 
quantities, and either carried into the interior or transported 
over the hills to supply the business of New Haven. 



CAUSES ADVERSE TO DERBY. 253 

At this period, sailing vessels in number from the docks of 
Derby and Huntington Landing were more than equal to those 
plying between New Haven and other places. An extensive 
business was also carried on at Hull's mills in the manufacture 
of linseed oil, situated at the head of the present Birmingham 
reservoir. Flaxseed in large quantities was imported and 
ground into oil and exported to New York and Boston. In 
addition to this they manufactured kiln-dried meal, which when 
packed in hogsheads was shipped to the West Indies. The 
two brothers Hull, sons of Samuel, senior, and Richard, son of 
Dr. Mansfield, were the proprietors through the most prosper- 
ous times, and were from the nature of the case so connected 
with merchants and the shipping interests of Derby as to be in- 
volved in their ruin from the same causes. 

The Hitchcock mill built during this period at Turkey Hill, 
now occupied by De Witt C. Lockwood as a turning shop, 
added much to the commerce of Derby in the manufacture of 
linseed oil. 

Bridgeport having absorbed Black Rock turned a wistful eye 
to Derby, and by great effort constructed the Bridgeport and 
Newtown turnpike in 1801, which immediately drew off the 
trade from Newtown, Brookfield, and ultimately New Milford 
and adjacent places. Bridgeport harbor being open at all 
seasons of the year, the millers in neighborhoods above, fre- 
quently having pressing orders, paid cash for grain instead of 
barter, and the regularity of their market boats at Bridgeport 
gave a better sale for the products of the farm at New York 
than when shipped from Derby. Besides, the roads away from 
Derby were less sandy and better adapted to loaded wagons, 
many a day no less than a hundred being counted passing over 
the Bridgeport and Newtown turnpike to empty their cargoes 
at Bridgeport, instead of going mostly as formerly to Derby. 

The embargoes and non-intercourse acts of our government 
in aid of the downward tug left little in Derby for the war of 
1 8 1 2 to prey upon, and that little was effectually wiped out. The 
commerce of Derby then disappeared as docs the wave along 
the shore. A few families, having reserved a portion of the 
earnings of their better days, remained to spend it, but many 
of the young and enterprising, discouraged at the outlook, emi- 



254 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

grated to New York or further west. Busy streets became 
lonely, buildings decayed beyond repairs, property offered for 
sale found no purchasers, the docks along the shores of New 
Boston were thinned of their thickly crowded vessels, the Nau- 
gatuck rolled its waters by the old oil mill without turning its 
wheels, the toll gate on the New Milford turnpike rotted down, 
the green grass once more carpeted the barren roadway. These 
indeed were gloomy times for the prospects of Derby. Manu- 
facturing had not then been established, and there was nothing 
comparatively left to stimulate industry in the town. Mr. 
Abijah Hull, part owner of the mill and a leading man in soci- 
ety, took his family to the wilds of Ohio, after having enjoyed 
the comforts of wealth until advanced age among his ancestors. 
This allusion is made merely to show the type of a class. Sea 
captains and seafaring men once so plenty and frolicsome in 
Derby, generally cultivated, from necessity, small plots of ground 
in their neighborhoods, or became tillers of the soil in the west- 
ern country. We g^ive only one example : Capt. Frederick 
Hopkins purchased a tract of wild land at a place called Somer- 
set Hill, in Oxford, Chenango county, N. Y. In going into the 
wilderness he carried all his effects with his family in an ox cart, 
and left the last house and road on his way twenty miles before 
reaching his place of destination. Mrs. Hopkins, whose cour- 
age had been buoyant thus far, in viewing the dense entangled 
forest before her, away from home and friendship, away from the 
endearing associations of her youth, and bereft of all the pleas- 
ing hopes she had formed under her once cloudless sky, began 
to despair and refused to proceed further. Captain Hopkins 
though kind and sympathetic as a husband and father, was firm 
and resolute as a man. He had expended nearly the last rem- 
nant of his former competency in this enterprise, which he could 
not now recall. By adverse fortune his occupation was gone, 
and this was his dernier resort. He took his wife tenderly in 
his arms and placed her in the cart, she almost unconscious, 
and with a heavy heart, ax in hand, proceeded to cut his way 
through the woods, which after great fatigue and privation he 
accomplished, sleeping in the cart as best he could while acting 
the part of guard, sentinel and pioneer. With ax and saw he 
built his first house and furnished it. His table was made of 



DERBY LANDING. 



255 



the largest log he could saw oft', his chairs of smaller ones, and 
all other things correspondingly rude. His gun and faithful 
dog furnished most of his food until his crops matured. Blessed 
with good health and an iron constitution, he cleared his lands 
of timber, and soon found market for his crops. With new 
adventurers who settled around him, in a few years he found 
himself surrounded with agreeable society, mostly of Connecti- 
cut people. His family became contented and happy, himself 
highly respected and often consulted in public affairs, and his 
neighbors styled him the Duke of Somerset. He passed the 
evening of a well spent life in comfort and repose, and left his 
children in affluent circumstances. Often visiting the scenes 
of his youthful prosperity, Hopkins delighted to entertain his 
old friends with a recital of his adventures. 




DERBY LANDING IN 1836. 

"The above engraving' shows the appearance of the village at 
Derby Landing, or Narrows, as you enter it on the New Haven 
road, descending the hill, looking towards the north-west. The 
village is on the east side of the Ousatonic, immediately below 



^The illustrations, Derby Landing, Birmingham, Oxford and Humphreysville, rep- 
resenting these places in 1836, were drawn and engraved by Mr. J. W. Barber of 
New Haven, author of the" Connecticut Historical Collections," and numerous other 
works of large circulation. He drew \\h pictures by visiting the places in person, 
and standing so as to obtain the views represented. Hence their great accuracy 
respecting the scenery, architecture and surroundings, they being represented pre- 



256 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

its junction with Naugatuck. It consists of about fifty dwelling 
houses, four or five mercantile stores, and a number of mechan- 
ics' shops. These buildings stand mostly on three short streets 
running parallel with the river and on the side of a hill, which 
from its summit descends with considerable abruptness to the 
water, and of course the easternmost street is considerably ele- 
vated above the others. There are two churches in Derby 
proper, one for Congregationalists and one for Episcopalians, 
both situated about a mile north of the Landing. On the left 
of the engraving, in the distance, is seen the Leavenworth bridge 
leading to Huntington, crossing the Ousatonic river. The pres- 
ent bridge was erected in 1 831, at an expense of about fourteen 
thousand dollars. Part of Birmingham is seen in the distance, 
situated on the elevated point of land between the Naugatuck 
and Ousatonic rivers. 

" There are two packets which ply weekly between this place 
and New York. .Considerable quantities of wood and ship 
timber are exported, and ship building to some extent is carried 
on at the Landing. Derby Landing is about fifteen miles from 
the mouth of the river where it empties into Long Island Sound 
and eight and a half miles north-west from New Haven. The 
river is navigable to the Landing for vessels of eighty tons, there 
being about ten feet of water^" 

Sea captains and seafaring men were for many years very 
plenty about Derby. Those recollected and here named were 
residents of Derby : Ebenezer Gracie, James Humphreys, Fred- 
erick Hopkins, Ethel Keeney, James Lewis, Silas Nichols, 
Eugene Olmstead, who sailed to all points of the world, William 
Clark, Thomas Horsey, William Whiting and his two sons — 

PLenry and \ViIliam Whiting, Gibbs and his son William, 

and William Sheffield. All these were residents in Derby Nar- 
rows, and most of them came here after the Revolution. Those 



cisely as seen upwards of forty years ago. The value of his work on Connecticut, 
in this respect alone, is beyond estimate. 

He has also very kindly consented to engrave the cuts for this work, which repre- 
sent the three first houses of worship erected in the town, having had the precise 
dimensions furnished him from the records, and being familiar with the old style 
of architecture. From these facts great acci^racy has been secured. This last work 
he has done being in his eighty-second year. 

■'Barber's Conn. Hist. Coll. 197. 



LOST AT SEA. 257 

residing at Up Town and who. sailed to all parts of the world, 
were : Harry Curtiss, Carleton White, Thomas Vose, Jared 

Bartholomew, Morris, Joseph Prindle and Mordecai Prin- 

dle, brothers, Elijah Humphreys, Francis M. French, Stephen 
Mansfield, son of Dr. Mansfield, James Thompson and his two 
sons — William and Sheldon, and George Gorham. Upon the 
Huntington side of the river were Captain Hart and his two 

sons, Clark Elliot, Tomlinson, Moore and others, 

who sailed to the West Indies. 

One of the above captains, Mordecai Prindle, made a sad 
record on his last voyage. With seven men from Derby, in a 
vessel heavily laden with live stock, with his scuppers under 
water, he sailed for the West Indies, and after a few days out at 
sea a September gale came on, endangering many vessels off 
Cape Hatteras. Among the dying embers of superstition, more 
rife then than now, it is mentioned that a kildeer out of season 
perched upon the window sill of Mrs. Prind^e's house, which 
stood near Dr. Mansfield's, and was heard to sing distinctly 
several times, in plaintive notes, and then disappear. Mrs. 
Prindle was deeply affected, and declared that her husband was 
that moment sinking beneath the merciless waves. From that 
day to this Captain Prindle, his seven men and vessel have not 
been heard from. 

After the commercial downfall of Derby its northern portion, 
Humphreysville, became a more lively and flourishing part of 
the town. The zeal, enterprise and noble heartedness of Gen- 
eral Humphreys had already set in motion various kinds of 
machinery. Skilled mechanics were brought from Europe, and 
many were attracted here through the influence of General 
Humphreys, and this gave employment to and increased the 
population of the place. 

For a series of years Derby, with its diminished ship build- 
ing, was enlivened by the shoe-making business and cooperage. 
Captain Lewis Remer, his brother Abram Remer, George 
Blackman and others were manufacturers, and sold their stock 
rnostly in New York. These men became celebrated in their 
business, and employed many hands, and a shoe-maker in Derby 
was thought to be of some consequence. A large proportion 
of their work was on women's shoes. 
33 



258 



HISTORY OF DERBY. 



In the line of cooperage, Willis Hotchkiss, Levi Hotchkiss 
and Isaac Thompson at the Narrows, and Capt. Alva Bunnell 
and Dea. John Carrington at Sugar Street, carried on extensive 
operations in the manufacture of casks. In one season Capt. 
Bunnel made one thousand casks and shipped them to New 
Orleans. When more important manufacturing interests en- 
gaged the attention of the people of Derby, these employments 
dwindled into insignificance, until shoe-making and cooperage 
have about disappeared from the town. 




CONFLUENCE OF THE NAUGATUCK WITH THE OUSATONIC AT DERBY. 

The illustration of the confluence of the Naugatuck with the 
Ousatonic was sketched in 1857, from near the bridge over the 
Naugatuck at Derby. The Naugatuck appears on the left, the 
Ousatonic on the right. The picturesque edifice which is the 
most prominent in this cut, called " The Castle, the Leman 
Stone Building," was built about 1785, by Leman Stone, and 
was occupied by him as a residence and a store more than twenty 
years. It has been a landmark, both by sea and land about 
ninety-five years, and has outlived its builder and all his children 
and all his grandchildren except one. The walls of its founda- 



OLD PARKSt 259 

tion on the water side were laid deep and five feet in width, and 
njo mighty tide or ice floods of old Naugatuck have as yet stir- 
red a stone. But time begins to make his mark on its outside 
appearance, and he is the great conqueror of all except the ever- 
lasting hills. B. 

THE DERBY FERRY-MAN. 

Connected with Derby Landing was the ferry and the turnpike 
toll bridge of which it may be pleasing to record some remi- 
niscences. It would be difficult to picture to the fancy a more 
pleasing view than meets the eye at the confluence of these two 
rivers when enlivened by vessels and little sail boats, with charm- 
ing meadows here and there, beautiful islands environed east 
and west with green-wooded hills dotted with farm-houses and 
cultivated fields, and with all the necessary wants of life suffi- 
ciently supplied so as to bring serenity of mind and happiness. 

In delineating the character of society in bygone days, even- 
handed justice seems to require an occasional portrait from the 
lower strata by way of contrast, and therefore the following 
character is presented, he having been the Derby ferry-man, well 
known in his day by the name of Old Parks. He was for years 
the toll gatherer on the river turnpike when the toll-gate was 
located at the east end of the Naugatuck bridge. Faithful to 
his trust no man could get through his gate without first answer- 
ing to the demand, "Your toll, sir." On one occasion he was 
over faithful. An ox team with a load of flaxseed from Bridge- 
port was being driven over the ice and broke through in deep 
water near the causeway. The team belonged at Up Town, 
and a messenger was dispatched to the owner for assistance. 
Captain Bartemy came down in great Iraste, prepared to rescue 
the drowning cattle, and coming to the toll-gate without any 
change in his pocket, Mr. Parks demanded his toll before turn- 
ing the key. Captain Bartemy having once cut his way through 
Washington bridge, said no petty toll-gate should foil him on an 
errand of mercy. He seized a new ax from Willis Hotchkiss's 
wood-pile and cut loose the iron fastenings of the gate, dumped 
it over the wall and drove on and saved the team and a part of 
the load of flaxseed. The gate and the ax were completely de- 
molished and the toll gatherer acknowledged himself beaten. 



26o HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Mr. Parks was S7(i generis in his way, and at the head of his 
class among the sinners of olden times. A more uncouth., 
boisterous, fearfully profane and vulgar man could scarcely be 
found in a day's journey. He was a terror to the school boys, 
offensive to the refined and shunned by all. In vain did the 
good parson expostulate with him. Independent in his sayings 
and doings, he was not, however, without his troubles. Attracted 
by an outcry from his house, a neighbor on a certain day ven- 
tured in and found him beating his wife most unmercifully, a 
not unfrequent occurrence when divorce laws were more strin- 
gent than at present. The neighbor remonstrated and inquired 
the cause of such brutal treatment. The husband replied in 
anger, charging his wife with such abusive use of his tongue 
that no mortal man could stand it. The neighbor having ex- 
hausted all his wits to allay excited passion, finally said, "Why 
Mr. Parks, you should consider that your wife is the weaker 
vessel." " I know it," said he, " and let her then carry less sail." 
Mrs. Parks was often seized in a fit of what the doctor called 
violent hysterics. Driven to the wall, there was no relief for 
old Parks, in the dead of night, in a pitiless storm, in one of 
these attacks, until he brought to his wife old Dr. Kimberly, 
whose frequent visits told upon his purse. On one occasion he 
demanded of the doctor the cause of hysterics. He replied very 
gravely, "There are many causes for this disease ; in the case of 
your wife, Mr. Parks, I think the cause is mostly hard work and 
trouble." "I don't agree with you, doctor," said Parks, "all the 
hysterics she's got comes from wind, will and the devil, and if 
you have got any medicine for these, unload your saddle-bags." 

For a long time old Parks discharged the duties of ferry-man 
across the Ousatonic from near Huntington Landing to the 
Narrows. He usually sculled over his ferry boat without the 
aid of rope moorings. Many a weary traveler, more frightened 
at his rounded profanity than the swollen current of the river, 
while crossing the river rebuked him without let or hindrance, 
though to no good result. But as the strongest will is often 
broken by a little matter, so is the hardest heart sometimes 
softened by "trifles light as air." 

Returning one night from the opposite shore, having ferried 
over a passenger from New Haven, a turning point in his life 



A GHOST STORY. 261 

occurred, which imparts a lesson unparalleled in all we have 
heard or read among the legends of demonology. Sudden re- 
formations, even though brought about by the power of gospel 
preaching, are seldom permanent, but this is an instance of a 
man turning from the errors of his ways almost instantly and 
with lasting effect, on seeing a ghost. We do not tax credulity 
beyond what is real and full of traditionary proof. 

Mr. Parks was alone at an hour favorable for deep and sober 
contemplation. The night was dark, still and foreboding. His 
thoughts turned upon himself and he fell into a reverie, which 
Addison tells us sometimes occupies the minds of fools as well 
as wise men. The usually dormant imagination of our hero 
was worked to an extent that fitted him for seeing objects not 
otherwise apparent. As he was sculling his boat in the stream, 
looking intently forward for some object for which to steer, an 
apparition suddenly met his eye a short distance ahead of him, 
directly in his course. Unused to fear, he said to himself, come 
on, nobody is frightened at ghosts. Yet the figure vanished not, 
but grew upon his imagination, and as he frequently and uni- 
formly described it afterwards, it was a column of fire in the 
shape of a human skeleton of colossal size, apparently resting 
upon the surface of the water, and slowly advancing towards 
him, giving him ample time for examination and reflection. He 
saw the outstretched arms, the fiery eyeballs, the ribs, the heart, 
and the shriveled tissues of this skeleton, which was perfectly 
transparent, enabling him to see through it objects on the oppo- 
site shore, which the previous darkness had rendered invisible. 
Finally the figure, approaching nearer and nearer, rested upon 
the bow of the boat, and he was conscious of its movements 
until within five or six feet of him. 'At this instant Mr. Parks 
recollected a strange feeling coming over him, and then his judg- 
ment failing, he dropped his oar, fainted and fell on the bottom 
of his boat, which at falling tide floated down stream and lodged 
on Graven Rocks, just below Hallock's ship yard. A party re- 
turning from an excursion down the Ousatonic found him early 
next morning and believed him dead, but they restored him to 
consciousness and brought him with his boat up to the ferry- 
house. 

The persistent uniformity and self-reliant relation of this story 



262 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

SO often reiterated by him, induced a general belief at the time 
that this affair was not the mere creation of an overwrought 
imagination. He might have seen a distant meteor, or a nearer 
ignis fatiius, but whatever it might have been it was no goblin 
to him, for it brought " fruits meet for repentance," and from 
that hour the Derby ferry-man was a new man, reformed in all 
his habits. Everybody remarked, " What a change in Old 
Parks." He read his bible and attended church ; was respected 
and beloved, prospered and became conscientious in his daily 
walk. As proof of his better heart, when he married his second 
wife he supposed her a widow, but it appeared that her husband, 
whose name was Sacket, ran away and left her, and years after- 
wards a notice of his death revealed the fact that he had been 
living with another man's wife. It is said he went straightway 
and was married again. 

The writers upon superstition may be challenged to furnish 
a more striking illustration of the power of ghosts than the one 
which had so happy an effect upon the character of the Derby 
ferry-man. 

SHIP BUILDING IN DERBY. 

This for a series of years was one of the most active and 
prominent industries of the town. Among the earliest vessels 
built were those constructed upon the shores of the Ousatonic 
and Naugatuck rivers, above their junction at the Narrows. 

The first ship building was conducted, most probably, by 
Thomas Wheeler of Stratford, who settled on Birmingham Point 
in 1657 ; remaining six years, when he returned to Stratford. 

Soon after Mr. Wheeler returned to Stratford Mr. Alexander 
Bryan, a merchant and ship builder of Milford, became the pos- 
sessor of Mr. Wheeler's privileges, or a part of them on the 
Point, and continued these enterprises in his line until about 
1680, when his son Richard made some arrangements to settle 
in the town as an important business man. 

Joseph Hawkins the first became the possessor of Mr, Bryan's 
interests at the Point, in which his son, Joseph Hawkins, junior, 
succeeded him in mercantile business, but to how great an ex- 
tent is not known, except that in 1712-20 it was the principal 
trading place in Derby. 



SHIP BUILDING. 263 

At the cove near by the Stone building, where ancient walls 
in part are still standing, on the east side of the Ousatonic, a 
long mile above the dam, there was a- busy ship yard, among 
the earliest great enterprises of the town. The little vessels 
built here were called the Boston Coasters^ and employed in car- 
rying on trade with Boston, the Southern Plantations and the 
West Indies. Here was also kept by Isaac Lane, at a later day, 
a trading house or store, from which were supplied the towns 
around with rich treasures, such as molasses, sugar and the like, 
brought up the river in these little coasters. The first Leaven- 
worth toll bridge, a short distance below, was built in 1798, 
after which this building was transferred down the river to the 
west side, near the old red house now standing. Capt. Ed- 
mund Leavenworth and his son Gideon built the bridge, and 
some years afterwards, it having been condemned by the com- 
missioners, it was in part rebuilt by Gideon. This Capt. Ed- 
mund Leavenworth was the son of Dr. Thomas Leavenworth, 
who first purchased the large farm, including the famous Indian 
Well, which farm has been in the possession of the Leavenworth 
family more than one hundred and fifty years. Dr. Thomas 
was born in 1673, ^^^ after mature age made his home here upon 
this obscure spot along the wild shores of the Ousatonic. He 
was a man of uncommon energy of character, and was the pro- 
genitor of the numerous family of Leavenworths now scattered 
throughout the United States. His farm was bounded on the 
river some miles, and his habits of primitive frugality made him 
wealthy and gave him a commanding position. 

The first vessel built at the Red House was called the Ana- 
conda, and was launched at the ship-yard which lay between 
the Red House and the Leavenworth Hotel standing on the 
bank of the river a few rods below. Schooners, sloops and 
vessels to the number of twenty-one were here constructed by 
Capt. Edmund Leavenworth and his sons, Gideon and Edmund, 
the latter having been long known by many now in this vicinity 
by the familiar name of Uncle Ed. 

Gideon Leavenworth in his early life was a captain in the 
Revolution in 1777, and commanded an infantry company raised 
by the state from Ripton, now Huntington. He was in the 
battle of White Plains, where he was wounded in the thigh by 



264 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

a musket ball. Religiously trained, he had a kind, social and 
Christian heart, and was noted for his praying propensities, but 
like many other good and noble-souled men, he sometimes, when 
provoked, lost his balance of mind, even in his pious moments. 
A truthful story is related of him in reference to a mischievous 
swine which often annoyed him by coming into the kitchen 
whenever she could escape from her inclosure. 

On one occasion while at his morning devotions, leaning over 
the back of his chair in the good old Puritan way, Captain Gid- 
eon [sometimes called the " Presbyterian deacon "], being dis- 
turbed by a noise in the kitchen, opened his eyes, and looking 
through the open door discovered that his domestic intruder 
had turned over the butter churn filled with new milk. Pausing 
a moment, he bawled out, "Boys, go and drive out that damned 
old sow from the kitchen," and then went on and finished his 
devotions. 

The last two vessels built were unfortunate, one was called 
George and Jane^ the other TJie Fox. They were owned mostly 
by Uncle Ed., and were captured by the French in the war of 
18 1 2, which was a serious loss to their owner. 

On launching days thousands of people flocked to see a vessel 
ride from dry land into the water, and a launch generally ended 
with a merry dance at the Leavenworth hotel. 

Pickets were built up the Naugatuck river earlier than 1797 
opposite the " Old Parsons Place," just above S. H. Proctor's 
residence. Soon after a schooner was built by Capt. George 
Gorham and launched near the present Naugatuck Derby sta- 
tion. Capt. Gorham was in the war of the Revolution and 
helped to stretch the famous iron chain across the Hudson to 
obstruct the British from going up the river. He built many 
vessels below the Point of Rocks at the Thompson Place, near 
Reuben Baldwin's distillery, now known as Hallock's Old Ship 
Yard. Capt. Bradley of Guilford built several vessels for the 
Derby Fishing Company about 18 10, and among them was the 
Ocean, a large and fine sailing vessel, and being fitted out and 
heavily, laden she was captured by the French and all her valua- 
ble cargo confiscated, which proved a heavy and serious loss to 
Derby people at that time. 

The Rev. Mr. Ruggles, for some time pastor of the Derby 



VESSELS BUILT. 265 

Congregational church, then Up Town, having fallen into some 
imprudences unbecoming a minister of the gospel, was obliged 
to resign his pastorate, and he then went into ship building. 
He built a fine schooner which was launched just above the 
Point of Rocks upon the Huntington side of the river. Mr. 
Ruggles had a wife and daughter, both named Hannah, and to 
perpetuate their names in seafaring life he called his schooner 
Haufiah. The night before she was to be launched, some wag, 
with a paint brush, daubed on three sides of the schooner in 
glaring capitals, " The Pulpit," which name adhered to the ves- 
sel through all its misfortunes, outliving in fact its baptismal 
name, Hannah. 

Ezra Hubbell built a vessel soon after, which was launched 
opposite or near the Doct. Jennings place, just above Capt. Z. 
M. Piatt's store in the Narrows. Now Ezra was an old bachelor, 
slow, sure and circumspect in all his movements and undertak- 
ings, and some of the fair damsels of the town thought he was 
uncommonly so in reference to matrimonial alliance. 

It was predicted that he would never finish his vessel, but 
after a long while it was completed and when launched it rested 
upon the meadow, and the disappointment then gave it the 
name Wlio'd Thought It., but Ezra called his vessel Laura, and 
with much difficulty she was made to rise and float on the 
waters. 

Just below this last place, a vessel was built by John Lewis, 
and was named Mary, in honor of three families. Smith, An- 
drews and Kimberly, each of whom had a daughter by the 
same name ; only one of the three, the venerable and accom- 
plished Mary Smith at the Narrows, is still living. 

We learn of vessels being built next, at Sugar street, by 
Talmadge Beardsley, where he built jeveral of different tonnage, 
and has the credit of building the first center-board vessel ever 
built upon the Ousatonic. This was called the Commodore, 
and was the fastest sailing vessel that ever plied between Derby 
and New York. Beardsley afterward worked at ship building 
in Bridgeport, and again in Derby, for the Hallock's. He is 
believed to have been the first man, especially in these parts, 
who went into the forests, felled the trees, hewed the timber 
and every way constructed the framework of a vessel before it 

34 



266 



HISTORY OF DERBY. 



was delivered to the ship-yard. His workmanship was of a su- 
perior order. 

He was employed by Robert Fulton, and assisted in building 
the first steamboat that was commercially successful, and that 
moved upon the waters of the Hudson. 

As we come down to later times, we find that during the cold 
summer of 1816, Capt. Lerhuel Chatfteld built a sloop called the 
Champion, which, was launched just north of what is now the 
west end of the Ousatonic bridge in the new and enterprising 




THE SCHOONER MODESTY. 



village of Shelton. Chatfield employed Zephaniah and Israel 
Hallock, brothers, as builders, who came from Stony Brook, 
Long Island. 

The Huntington side of the river being unfavorable for 
launching, Chatfield bought the Sugar street place of about ten 
acres, including the old store which was used afterwards as a ship 
carpenter's shop. In 1820, at Sugar street, just below the dam, 
the ship-yard was thought to be a permanent establishment, 
and the Hallocks then removed and made their residence in 
Derby. Here at Sugar street they built many large vessels, 



LAUNCHING VESSELS. 26/ 

but experienced a difficulty in launching and getting them down 
the river, when a more desirable spot being offered them, they 
bought, in the spring of 1824, a tract of land at Derby Landing, 
including the famous Reuben Baldwin's peach and cider brandy 
distillery. Being temperance men, they thought it wise to break 
up the old distillery. 

Here ship-building was carried on successfully until 1868, 
when the march of progress in railroads rather compelled the 
Hallocks to sell the interest in their ship-yard as the Nauga- 
tuck railroad by charter passed directly through it. Four ves- 
sels however, were built after the railroad was in operation. 
The last one built by the Hallocks was named Modesty^ which 
was certainly in good keeping with the character of the build- 
ers. The Modesty was named by Mary Louisa, daughter of 
Thaddeus G. Birdsey. It was a vessel of two hundred tons 
burthen, built for Thomas Clapman. In all, they built fifty- 
two vessels, great and small, and only one was unfortunate in 
being launched, having stopped on "the ways" causing much 
delay and trouble in remedying the mishap afterwards. Great 
precautions were always taken in launching, as it was a sort of 
superstition among sailors that any bad luck at such a time is 
ominous of evil on the waters, and they will never ship on board 
of such a vessel for service if aware of the fact. This vessel 
proved no exception to the belief, for she was early lost at sea. 

The launching of vessels at Derby was always a great curios- 
ity, and when this took place, the people at home and for miles 
the country round, came to see the wonder of the craft, and thus 
launching day with colors flying, was made a grand and excit- 
ing hoJiday among the denizens of the town. On one occasion, 
a gentleman and his little son came a great distance to witness 
the launching of a vessel, and going on board and examining 
her minutely as they were on deck, the son looking down the 
hatchway into the hold cried at the top of his voice, "O, daddy, 
look here ! She's all holler." 

The Hallocks as ship-builders always bore an enviable 
name at home and abroad. Zephaniah the elder, familiarly 
known by the name of Uncle Zeph., was among the most hon- 
est men that ever lived. Pious to the rule, there was no du- 
plicity or double dealing in his character, and rather than shirk 



268 HISTORY OF DERBY. * 

« 

his contracts by putting in shoddy timbers or practicing any 
dodge upon his employes, he would sooner suffer great loss in 
dollars. Therefore, any vessel labeled in memory, Uncle Zeph., 
whether in port or on the ocean, always bore the palm of great 
merit. 

Ship building therefore has been, nearly from the commence- 
ment of the town, a large element in the enterprises which have 
employed capital and labor. At one time few if any towns in 
Connecticut built more sailing craft than Derby, and this in 
earlier years gave it the name of " Ship building town." The 
question may be asked, how could vessels built so high up the 
river be launched and floated down to deep water .'* The an- 
swer is, that once the volume or quantity of water flowing down 
these rivers was much larger than now, besides the vessels were 
launched during freshets and on tide water, and were buoyed 
with hogsheads or other floating material. 

Thus once a lively branch of profit and loss among our enter- 
prising forefathers has at length given place to the noisy hum 
of machinery, and a great variety of manufacturing interests, 
and in a little while all traces of ship building in Derby will 
have passed from sight except in the records of history. 

Since the above writing the following additional items have 
been obtained. 

If correctly informed, many vessels were built in colonial 
times below the junction of the rivers. One called the Loriuda, 
a brig, was launched at Huntington Landing, directly opposite 
the present residence of William Holmes, the florist. She was 
owned by George Thompson, a wealthy merchant who carried 
on a brisk trade with the West Indies, keeping quite an exten- 
sive store at the Landing. Sometime during the Revolution 
this brig, returning from the West Indies heavily laden with 
a cargo of sugar, rum and other valuables, was captured and 
detained by a British man-of-war otT Stratford harbor. Thomp- 
son was a cautious, shrewd, far-sighted man, and being imme- 
diately sent for, hastened on board his brig, where he met the 
British captain. After the usual courteous salutations, Thomp- 
son, who had never signed the pledge, said to the British cap- 
tain, " We have on board some liquors, superior to anything 
ever drank in Old England, I propose a drink all round.'' " I 



TRADE OBSTRUCTED. 269 

have no objections," said the British captain. The smooth, oily 
rum once swallowed, the verdict was, " nothing ever better." 
The wily merchant then said, " This will hurt no one, I pro- 
pose one more." " Agreed," was the response all round. An- 
other and matters grew friendly, and good feelings prevailed, 
although beginning to be a little mixed, and the British captain 
said to Thompson, " I perceive that your captain is a Scotch- 
man." " Yes, sir," with a graceful bow. " I also perceive that 
your mate and yourself are Scotchmen," continued the rough 
commander. " Yes, and may it please you majesty's honor, I 
perceive that yon are a Scotchman, making the fourth, all good 
blood." Another taste of sugar and rum and Thompson's brig 
with her valuable cargo was re-captured, and without further 
molestation she was safely taken into the port of Derby. 

THE STRATFORD BRIDGE. 

The navigation of the Ousatonic by so many of Derby's ves- 
sels brings before the mind one of the items of difficulty with 
which these later day navigators had to contend. In the begin- 
ning of the present century was built the first bridge across the 
Ousatonic between Stratford aud Old Milford. Its completion 
formed an epoch in the history of these ancient settlements, which 
was celebrated with appropriate demonstrations of joy and re- 
joicing ; for prior to this, only a step behind the Indian's canoe, 
travelers were borne across the waters from town to town with 
scow and oar. At that period the coasting trade between Derby 
and the West Indies was in its hight of glory and prosperity, 
and the people in this vicinity very naturally were tenacious of 
their rights, and waxed violent in their opposition to any obstruc- 
tion in the great highway of commerce. Derby was then an 
important port of entry, and paid heavy duties to the govern- 
ment on her importations. Singularly enough, among other 
complaints, it was claimed that the fishing interests up and down 
the river would suffer from the noisy travel over this bridge, 
and as Ousatonic shad then sold at fourpence and sixpence 
apiece, and as there was a statute law against hindering them 
from going up stream within certain hours of the day, between 
Half Moon Point and Quimbo's Neck Point at the mouth of the 



270 HISTORY OF DER15Y. 

river, the Legislature was importuned with lobbies to stave off 
and prevent at all hazard the entrance of this proposed charter 
for a bridge. A warm contest ensued, lasting many weeks, 
which led to some cruel personalities. But the bridge petition- 
ers finally found favor among the wise Legislators, the charter 
was granted and the bridge built ; but in a few years an ice flood 
swept it into the deep. This providential mishap in turn cre- 
ated much rejoicing among the opposers of the bridge in Derby, 
while the good people of Stratford and Old Milford were deeply 
chagrined over their unexpected calamity. Horace Bradley was 
deputized to go down the river and make sure the bridge was 
gone, and he returned with the glad tidings that nothing was 
left of it but the piers. The people then had an impromptu 
gathering and made merry over its destruction, some of them 
in their rejoicing getting not a little exhilarated with sugar and 
rum. One Col. Tomlinson, not unknown to Derby farmers liv- 
ing on the Huntington side, it is said, slaughtered on the occa- 
sion ten innocent turkeys and made a jubilee, inviting his friends 
and neighbors to partake of the entertainment. He gave the 
following toast to his guests, which was characteristic of the 
feeling then prevalent, showing a little of the old Adam of hu- 
man nature : " May the fishing and shipping interests of our 
river never more be disturbed by the intolerable nuisance of 
another bridge across the mouth of its waters." Music, Yankee 
Doodle. 

This bridge question engendered an enmity between the 
people up and down the Ousatonic, which generations have 
scarcely effaced. By dint of great effort, but mostly as the 
result of a lottery scheme in which some of our Derby citizens 
drew large prizes, the bridge was soon re-built, and commerce 
and shad again obstructed. Among the first vessels coming up 
to Derby after the re-building of the bridge, was Captain Bar- 
tholomew's, better known as Capt. Bartemy, a shrewd and 
plucky Frenchman, who was at the time a resident of Derby. 
It was the law, that vessels npproaching the bridge to go through 
its draw should either fire a gun, or blow a horn, as a signal. 
Capt. Bartemy, whose vessel was heavily laden with rum, sugar, 
molasses and coffee, blew his horn, but the bridge sentinel most 
peremptorily demanded his papers, as a pass to the port ot Derby. 



WASHINGTON BRIDGE. 27 1 

This incensed the old captain, and he ordered his own men to leave 
the vessel and open the draw ; but they failed in their attempts, be- 
ing unable to get the hang of the machine. He then ordered them 
to get out of the way, for he could clear the obstruction, and 
having on board two large cannon loaded nearly to the muzzle 
with iron spikes and what not, he ranged them and blazed away, 
and made the splinters fly in all directions. This caused the 
bridge party to show the " white feather" and hasten to open 
the draw, very glad to get rid of the Derby Frenchman, who 
was never afterwards troubled or hindered at the bridge. 

Not long after this annoyance and before old sores were for- 
gotten, there was again trouble at the draw. The proud vessel 
named Delight, commanded by Captain Morris of Derby, was 
sailing down the river at a falling tide and with a strong wind ; 
nearing the bridge, they hauled down their sails and gave the 
signal, but the draw, from some neglect refused passage, and 
the vessel swung round, her boom striking hard against the 
draw, causing damage. Night came with a piteous storm, 
and the vessel was obliged to cast anchor, and remain in the 
river until the next morning, when she managed to get through 
and make her trip to New York. Willis Hotchkiss of the Nar- 
rows, then a little boy, was on board as cook of the vessel. 
This affair became a test question on the future res gestce of 
the bridge, for the sloop company sued the former, and brought 
their case before Esquire Tomlinson, then living at Wesquan- 
tuck. As parties in interest could not then testify, the boy 
Hotchkiss was the only important witness. After a rigid ex- 
amination by two eminent lawyers, and a long and elaborate 
plea on both sides, the case was finally given to the judge, who 
gave the plaintiff eight dollars damages and costs. Ever after 
this, vessels sailing to and from Derby were no more annoyed 
at the draw by the good people of Stratford or Milford. 

How different now the condition of that old and long hated 
Washington bridge ! Her crumbling, tottering piers still defy 
the ebb and flow of tides, exhibiting only the sad relics of better 
days, while the traveler takes the iron horse by rail, or wends 
his way to Derby and crosses over in safety. 



2/2 HISTORY OF DERBY. 



STEAM-BOATING ON THE OUSATONIC. 

On a bright Sunday morning in the summer of 1824, the 
General Lafayette rested upon the bosom of the Ousatonic. A 
steamboat at that time was a great curiosity, and thousands 
made "a Sabbath day's journey " to see its advent into Derby. 
As she steamed up the river, passed the highlands and neared 
Derby wharf, the streets were filled and the shores lined with 
spectators eager to. catch a glimpse at the invention which has 
/rendered the name of Robert Fulton immortal. Imagine your- 
self back more than half a century, when the almost barren 
/ fields now dotted by the thrifty villages of Birmingham, Ansonia 
( and Shelton were cultivated by the rustic ploughman, and 
' Derby Narrows was a little neighborhood, and see fathers and 
mothers with their children, rushing from the hillsides and 
back settlements, many of them for the first time to witness 
a steamboat, and the reader is inspired with the thought that 
there was some enterprise in Derby, years ago. The Lafayette 
was a small boat built with a mast and bowsprit and had side 
wheels. Thomas Vose her captain, was in ill humor on her 
first trip. At old Washington bridge, at the mouth of the river, 
long an eye-sore to Derby interests, a dispute arose as to let- 
ting the boat through the draw, when Capt. Vose said with 
emphasis, " I have sailed over the Atlantic for years, and I have 
the honor to command this boat ; let me through ; my orders 
must be obeyed, right or wrong." The man at the draw obeyed, 
and the boat was put through, not however without producing 
a fearful fracture of the box that inclosed one of the side wheels 
of the boat. On her arrival in Derby, a boy remarked that 
she had " lost one of her ears." The next day was the Fourth 
of July, and the boat was advertised to make an excursion on 
the Sound. What was to be done ? Why ! they rallied Tru- 
man Gillett from his devotions, and with his apprentice boys, 
although it was a holy day, the boat was repaired and with 
flying colors, on Monday morning sailed down the river, with 
many Derby adventurers on board, returning at an unseasona- 
ble hour. 

The Lafayette wdi?, owned mostly by a company in New York, 



STEAMBOATS. 2/3 

and destined to run between that city and Derby, touching the 
borough of Bridgeport on her regular trips. Meeting with 
united opposition from a line of Derby packets, the Partliena, 
Commodore and Pulpit, these combined making three voyages 
a week through the season, the Lafayette was obliged to 
succumb and sell out to Bridgeport parties, who at that time 
were jealous of Derby's prosperity. Derby, then a sea-port 
town was ambitious of keeping up the commerce of the place. 
The citizens of Bridgeport had no steamboat, and to head off 
Derby, they bought the Lafayette which was lucky for the own- 
ers, for it was a sort of elephant on their hands, not being 
adapted to the navigation of our river. One of the above pack- 
ets, the Pulpit, was fast sailing, built by a Congregational min- 
ister, and while running agamst the boat never lost a trip 
during the summer season ; so it seems our first steamboat had 
strong opposition even from Derby citizens. Not satisfied 
with their first experiment, a part of the people of Derby had 
a steamboat built under the superintendence of Capt. Vose, ex- 
pressly for the navigation of the Ousatonic, and it was called 
after the name of the river, the Ousatonic. After running one 
season between Derby and New York, she was run into the cove 
once owned by Gen. David Wooster, about four miles from the 
mouth of the river, where she remained for the winter. The 
next spring she commenced her regular trips, but meeting with 
the old opposition of Derby packets besides interfering with 
the sloop navigation of Bridgeport, she passed into other hands 
and steamboating on the Ousatonic was not attempted again 
until 1836. The founder of Birmingham, Sheldon Smith, prom- 
ised the villagers that they should have steamboat facilities. 
He first put on the Caroline^ which was destined to run up to 
Birmingham ; but this boat with Capt. Battell did not prove a 
success. Mr. Smith in his zeal then built a dyke and expended sev- 
eral thousand dollars in deepening the channel across the river, 
when he purchased the little steamer Maria which made several 
trips in 1837 between New York and Birmingham. On her 
last trip, Capt. John C. Hotchkiss in command, when nearing 
the Birmingham wharf one Saturday evening, the boat instead 
of rounding the dyke ran upon it at high water and was fast, 
the passengers being transported to Birmingham in boats, and 
35 



274 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

the next morning the Maria rested upon the dyke high and 
dry above water. Steamboating on dry land and the Otisa- 
tojiic, being unsatisfactory, was abandoned on the part of Mr. 
Smith, when in 1845 the Naugatuck Transportation Company 
built an iron boat called the Naugatuck^ by some nicknamed 
the Iron Pot which ran to the great accommodation of Derby 
citizens two or three seasons, and afterwards the same company 
put on the Ansojiia^ and for two years more a brisk business 
was continued between Derby and New York. The Valley City 
was the next steamer on our river, built by.the Atwater iron and 
steel works, and after the war broke out was sold to the govern- 
ment. 

The eighth and last steamboat running from Derby to New 
York was the Monitor. She was built by a party of Derby cit- 
izens, at a cost of about $30,000 and running a few seasons, 
Capt. Henry Bemot in command, was run into off New York by 
another vessel, badly damaged and nearly sunk, and this foul col- 
lision, as it was claimed, involved an expensive lawsuit, and 
the stockholders of the unfortunate Monitor lost every dollar of 
their capital. Thus within fifty-five years, eight different steam- 
boats have plied between Derby and New York, the citizens 
having the benefit, while the owners were poorly remunerated 
for their zeal and enterprise in trying to accommodate the public. 

DERBY FISHING COMPANY. 

By an act of the General Assembly the "Derby Fishing Com- 
pany " was chartered in 1806, James Lewis, Leman Stone, Can- 
field Gillett and Philo Bassett being the corporators, Canfield 
Gillett was elected president and James I. Andrews secretary. 
The primitive object of the company mostly was to be confined 
to " Cod and other fisheries, exporting and disposing of the 
same and carrying on the fishing business in all its branches." 
The capital stock was to be not less than $50,000. After the 
organization of the company, the stock of which was liberally 
subscribed to by the people of Derby and vicinity, they at once 
commenced the building of vessels. The first built was called 
the Eli::a, and Capt. Clarke Elliott went four voyages with her 
to the West Indies. She was afterwards captured by the French 



THE FISHING COMPANY. 275 

and lost. About this time Capt. J. Hull went out as a super- 
cargo in a large vessel heavily laden with fish, bound for Spain, 
and a gale coming on before reaching the coast, all the fish and 
valuables were thrown overboard to save the vessel and crew. 
The Ojisaton'ic and Naiigatiick vessels were built by the Fishing 
Company and launched in the Narrows near Baldwin's old dis- 
tillery, where 2000 barrels of cider were distilled annually, and 
much of the brandy was put upon the market unadulterated at 
37 1-2 cents a gallon. The Fishing Company carried on a large 
trade with different ports until near the breaking out of the 
war of 18 12, and it was not surprising that New Haven people 
should become jealous of its prosperity. It made tempting 
dividends, and after several amendments to its charter, it was 
allowed to deal in various kinds of speculation. The stock was 
largely increased, parties by virtue of charter, giving their ne- 
gotiable notes in lieu of money paid in. The company sub- 
scribed for many shares of the first Derby bank, incorporated 
in 1809, which afterwards did a flourishing business. The Fish- 
ing Company and the Derby bank were in harmony with each 
other financially, yet both were violently opposed by capitalists 
of New Haven, as there was then a lively competition between 
the interests of Derby and the then small place, now the great 
City of Elms. At one time the Fishing Company brought from 
New York a chest of specie, which required eight men to re- 
move and place in the Bank, the old brick house still standing 
in the back street of the Narrows, owned and occupied by Da- 
vid T. Osborne. 

In the memory of the oldest inhabitant this Derby bank 
once had " a fearful run " upon its specie deposits by the Eagle 
bank of New Haven. On one Saturday ten thousand dollars 
of Derby bills were presented at the counter and the specie 
demanded. Fitch, the cashier, very quickly and coolly said to 
his teller, " Hand out that smallest box of specie from the vault 
and we'll begin to count." The box was filled with six cent 
pieces of silver, and just then it was all the specie the bank 
had on hand. Before the ten thousand dollars were counted 
out, however, the doors were closed, by the Spartan rule of 
these moneyed institutions. In the meantime the cashier, Fitch, 
had stepped out and penned a note to the president of the bank, 



276 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Wm. Leffingvvell, who resided in New Haven, stating the plan 
on foot by the Eagle bank, and immediately dispatched a mes- 
senger over the hills to New Haven. On Monday Leffingwell 
had gathered up thirty thousand dollars of Eagle bank bills and 
when a further run was continued on the Derby bank by the 
Eagle bank the bills of the latter were presented in payment, 
and thus the New Haven sharpers were foiled in their attempt 
to break the first bank of Derby. 

The Derby bank lost heavily by the Fishing Company, but 
no man ever lost a dollar by the bank. It paid in full be- 
fore stopping business. An effort afterwards was made to 
transfer its charter to New Haven, but it was opposed by the 
people of Derby and the Legislature, and the project failed. 

Successful and highly prosperous at first, the Fishing Com- 
pany was destined to encounter financial shipwreck. The war 
of 181 2, together with bad management, proved its utter ruin. 
Most of their shipping with valuable cargoes was captured by 
the French and confiscated, involving total loss. 

The sheriff became busy in attaching all the available prop- 
erty of parties refusing to pay and owing notes to the company. 
These notes were collectible by suits at law. Many who 
thought themselves in good circumstances were made poor by 
this operation, and left the town in disgust. The .president of 
the company for the first few years was voted by the directors 
a salary of $1500 a year for his services, the last two, each year, 
he was voted six and a quarter cents. An act of the Legisla- 
ture, passed in 18 15, transferred the office of the company to 
the city of New Haven, with all the books, papers, etc., and 
thus the Derby Fishing Company was wound up by receivers, 
with more than a total loss to the stockholders of Derby and 
its vicinity. 

THE FIRST DERBY BANK REVIVED. 

The charter of the Derby bank being owned mostly by John 
Fitch and others of New Haven, was suffered to remain dor- 
mant until 1824, when it was resuscitated. Some Derby peo- 
ple in connection with Horace Canfield and his brother, both 
financial adventurers of New York, purchased for $12,000 the 
charter, with the brick building used by the bank. Horace 



DERBY BANK REVIVED. 2// 

Canfield had married a very worthy and respectable lady of 
Derby, which gave a favorable impression among the people of 
the town. The bank was soon in active operation. John L. 
Tomlinson a lawyer, was made president, and Edward Crafts, 
cashier. They operated under the charter of 1809, which al- 
lowed a capital stock of $200,000, but could commence bank- 
ing business when $60,000 was actually paid in. The Can- 
fields were the agents, the moving power of the bank. Little 
business was done within doors by way of discounts ; exchange 
of bills on other banks being a prominent feature of the agents. 
Crafts, the cashier, obtained and had in hand, through the 
Canfields, in current bills and specie, $100,000, which he de- 
posited with the Fulton bank of New York to the credit of 
the Derby bank. Derby notes were then issued which read 
as follows : — "The Derby bank promises to pay at Fulton Bank 
New York," etc. 

An ordinary observer without scrutiny would take the bill 
for a Fulton bank bill. These Derby bills, were then put 
upon the market and for the first few months redeemed at the 
Fulton bank of New York. The Canfields in one month ex- 
changed with drovers and other business men $80,000. They 
bought largely of real estate and dabbled in other speculations, 
and paid in Derby money when it would be received. When 
$200,000 w^ere issued, the deposits were withdrawn by the 
Canfields from the Fulton bank, and then the Derby bank as a 
matter of course failed. The excitement over the affair was 
intense and many were the anathemas heaped upon its man- 
agers. At the Genera] Assembly in 1825, Mr. Tomlinson was 
called before the standing committee on banks, to explain the 
condition and management of the Derby bank, when he became 
so confused in his statement, showing that he had been most 
egregiously duped, that the chairman of the committee told 
him to take his seat and forthwith a report to the House re- 
voked the charter. 

The stigma of the Derby bank failure has long rested upon 
the town and more than was deserving upon Mr. Tomlinson. 
It haunted him in streets and public places and even annoyed 
him in his forensic eloquence at the courts. On one occasion 
he was counsel for a party in Quakers Farm, Oxford, when his 



278 HISTORY OF DERBY 

principal witness was under impeachment for truth and verac- 
ity. To maintain his reputation Tomlinson relied upon a good 
old lady who happened to be blessed with a five-dollar Derby 
bank bill. 

When called upon the stand the question was asked her, 
" Do you know the witness, Mr. ?" 

"I do ; well acquainted with him ; always known him." 

" What of his general character for truth and veracity .-'" 

"On a par with the Darby bank." 

" Madam, what do you mean by that comparison ?" 

" Good for nothing now, nor never was while your honor was 
president of the bank," was the reply. 

"That's all." The witness was impeached. 

In justice to Mr. Tomlinson it is proper to say that he was 
not a 'particeps crinwiis to the affairs of the bank, except that 
he suffered it to be managed loosely. Lyman Osborn, an hon- 
est man, aged 84 years, now living, 1879, who was assistant 
cashier while Crafts was absent on a sea voyage for his health, 
says he has no reason to think that the president of the bank, 
or the cashier. Crafts, ever received one dollar of the swindle 
money. Osborn's duty was simply to sign bills and nothing 
more, though after the failure of the bank he went down to 
New York, spending many days to see what could be done to 
relieve the unfortunate bill holders, but as he writes, " Could 
find nothing of the Canfields." 

A SUIT IN LAW. 

There was a peculiar specimen of judicial administration in 
Derby at a time when law was less a science than at present, 
and the rules of evidence not so strictly confined to proper lim- 
its. A Mr. D., peaceably and piously disposed, had from time 
to time missed corn from his crib, and his suspicions resting 
upon one of his distant neighbors, Mr. R.,he entered complaint 
to punish the offender. Petty larceny in olden times was con- 
sidered, and visited with swifter and more condign punishment 
than is meted out to those who steal on a more magnificent 
scale in these later days. The constable brought Mr. R. be- 
fore Justice Hotchkiss, then living at North End, who was 
good authority for the whole town in matters of law and equity. 



BREVITY IN LAW. 2/9 

The justice, as was customary, called in an assistant to give 
dignity to the court and aid him in the rendition of a ver- 
dict. 

The evidence offered by the prosecution was that corn had 
been stolen from his crib, and as the accused had for some time 
maintained a suspicious character, he could be no other than 
the thief. All of which Mr. R., pleading his own cause, stoutly 
denied, alleging his entire innocence of the crime, declaring 
that he did not know that Mr. D. had any crib, much less corn. 
After a patient hearing from both sides his honor. Judge Hotch- 
kiss, turned to his associate for his opinion. He replied that 
the complainant had undoubtedly been dispossessed of a certain 
quantity of corn, and whatever might be the probabilities of 
the guilt of the accused, there was no real evidence before the 
court to convict him, and the most prudent course would be to 
discharge him with a friendly admonition to beware of exposing 
himself to suspicion in the future. The chief justice, some- 
what disconcerted by the leniency of his associate, taking the 
whole responsibility, forthwith pronounced the judgment of the 
court, which was that as Mr. D. was a very worthy citizen, it 
was the duty of the magistrate and the laws of the land to pro- 
tect him in his property, and as the prisoner was known to be 
the only thief in Derby, therefore Mr. R. must have stolen the 
corn, and ordered that the constable take him to the nearest 
post and inflict "one dozen on his bare back, well laid on." The 
sentence being carried out, and Mr. R., smarting from the lash, 
confessed to the bystanders, saying, " Well, I did steal his corn, 
and if he don't keep his crib locked, I'll surely steal more." 

Another case is given, which is a beautiful illustration of 
brevity. The prisoner, poor Pat, was arraigned before our wor- 
thy judge for certain violations of the st^ute, for which he had 
frequently been tried but never proved guilty. This time he 
was sure he would get clear, for he had a shrewd lawyer. The 
evidence against him being all in, his counsel, full of quibbles, 
informed the court that he should offer a mass of testimony to 
prove beyond a doubt the entire innocence of his client, but 
the justice promptly ruled out the evidence as inadmissible, and 
said to the prisoner, " Guilty or not guilty, you are fined seven 
dollars and costs." 



280 HISTORY OF DERBY. 



JUDGE LYNCH. 

Tradition gives us but one case as tried before Judge Lynch 
in Derby. A lawyer once took up his abode in town, who, find- 
ing the people opposed to litigation and thus affecting his inter- 
ests, stirred up unnecessary suits, which were extremely annoy- 
ing. The pettifogger was declared a nuisance and a meeting was 
held and a committee appointed to wait upon him. The com- 
mittee after exhausting mild and humane means to abate the 
nuisance, as a dernier ressort warned the knight of Blackstone to 
desist from his- nefarious business, and leave the town within 
ten days, on penalty of a visit from Judge Lynch. The lawyer 
laughed at their threats, and defied their interference in his 
affairs. At the expiration of the ten days, however, the com- 
mittee waited on him at his house in the night season, took 
him from his bed, apologizing to his wife for the rude disturb- 
ance, and in his sleeping garments gently seated him on a 
wooden horse, previously prepared, and paraded him through 
the street, accompanied with a tin kettle band, at last deposit- 
ing him in a mud puddle, a mile from home, with the promise 
of another ride, with a coat of tar and feathers, if found in 
town at the expiration of another ten days. The lawyer was 
naturally very indignant and lavish with his threats, but the 
remedy was successful. In his own behalf he entered a nolle 
prosequi, left for parts unknown, and the good people of the 
town were a long time without the luxury of petty lawsuits. 

During the West India trade Derby was a place of frequent 
resort for planters' families, who came, as many now go to Sar- 
atoga, for recreation. A Mrs. Gallagher and family from St. 
Martins spent severjfl summers at the residence of Mr. N. 
Lewis in the Narrows. She was a lady of rare attainments, of 
finished education, benevolent, and an ornament to society, but 
no argument could harmonize her views with the Yankees on 
the status of the negro. She had lived on the jilantation where 
the grades in rank were strongly marked, and by the force of 
education and association, like thousands under similar circum- 
stances, had no just conception of human rights. Her idea 
was that the negro was a semi-human being, a sort of domestic 



A SOUTHERN LADV. 28 [ 

animal, holding the same relation in her estimation as a favorite 
dog or horse that ministers to the comfort or amusement of its 
owner, and was horror stricken at our recognition of the negro 
as differing from us only in color. Always kind and indulgent 
to her slaves, ministering to their animal wants, recognizing no 
other, it was an amusing novelty to Mrs. G. to think it was any 
more unjust to enslave the negro than any other animal that 
served her convenience, but how many precious lives and how 
many millions of money have been wasted to explode this one 
idea, so deeply rooted in the mind of the slave-holder by the 
force of circumstances. 

At one time large quantities of alewives were caught in Derby 
and packed for the West India market. She was asked what 
use was made of them in St. Martins. She replied, " We give 
one to each of our negroes every Sunday morning as a special 
indulgence. They are an excellent fish for ourselves, but we 
never eat them." The alewives are a dry, very bony fish of the 
herring species, and were mostly used by our farmers at that 
time as fertilizers. One hundred barrels were caught in one 
day by two men near Naugatuck bridge. This was accom- 
plished by means of a weir. Then two men with a scoop net 
held between, facing each other, entered the pocket of the weir 
and scooped up as many fish as they could carry or hand in, 
when they were emptied alive into huge vats of strong brine, 
and afterwards packed in barrels for shipment. This was con- 
sidered a paying business in those times at ^1.50 to $2.00 a 
barrel. b. 

36 




CHAPTER X. 

THE FIRST CHURCH OF DERBY AND THE WAR OF 1 8 1 2. 

N account of church administration, by Daniel Hum- 
phreys, December, 1735. 

March 6, 1734, then the pastoral charge of the 
Church of Christ in Derby was committed to me." 
Such is the title given and the record made on the first page of 
the oldest book of church records now in possession of the 
First Church in Derby. When the fifth chapter of this work 
was written the authors were not informed of the existence of 
this book, having understood that the earliest records preserved 
began in 1787. It is probable that for a time it was missing, 
since we have the following record, made by Rev. Mr. Tullar : 
" At the time of the foregoing ordination [Rev. Mr. Tullar's, 
in 1783], the Rev. Daniel Humphreys was senior pastor, who 
departed this life September 2, 1787. After whose death there 
was search made for the records of the church and there being 
none found, the church proceeded to procure a book for records, 
and also appointed a committee to assist in making out a cata- 
logue of those who belonged to their body ; and it appeared 
from the best of their recollection that the following persons 
were members of their church." Then follows a list of names 
which it is quite evident was made " from the best of their rec- 
ollection," for if this book had been at hand a list of nearly all 
who had united with the church during the previous thirty years 
could have been secured. The records which Mr. Humphreys 
made consisted of baptisms and the admission of members to 
the church. These entries he commenced in January, 1736, and 
after continuing them regularly three years stopped, and made 
no more for eighteen years. This is surprising, since the book 
was large enough, and no pages have been removed, for the 
record was again attended to from 1756, and was so written 
that the removal of leaves would have broken the continuous- 
ness of the record, which now appears uniform. From these 
records we learn that, althoufrh at the settlement of Mr. Hum- 



RECEPTION OF CHURCH MEMBERS. 283 

phreys the church was a dissenting church, or opposed to the 
Half-way Covenant, yet after 1756 that method of receiving 
members was practiced until the enactment of the following 
decision : 

'•March 12, 1783. The church voted that they would not go on in 
the practice of the half-way owning the Covenant, as it was called, and 
that the two forms used in owning the Covenant and joining with the 
church being essentially one, should be brought into one confession of 
faith — and voted, that Deacon Hotchkiss and Deacon Holbrook, Esq. 
Beard and Capt. Tomlinson and Mr. Yale should join with me to draw 
a confession of faith, and we accordingly made a draft and chiefly taken 
out of the words of the two former confessions of faith above mentioned, 
and soon after at a church meeting, that confession of faith was read 
and approved by the church, and it was voted that for the future that 
form should be used in admitting members to this church. 

" And it was the advice of the church that such persons as had owned 
the covenant (as it was called) should come to the minister and con- 
senting to the confession of faith as it now stands, which for substance 
is the same as before altered, and resolving to live the Christian life, 
should be admitted by the church to full communion as it had been 
wont to be called." 

The following records show the difference in the forms or 
methods of receiving members : 

" February 8, 1736, then was admitted to the state of full commun- 
ion with the church : John Lumm. John Bowers and his wife, Daniel 
Smith and his wife, Solomon Chatfield and his wife. Samuel Twitchell, 
Arthur Wooster, Elizabtth Wooster, Elizabeth the wife of Joseph Smith, 
Abigail the wife of Ebenezer Chatfield, Mary the wife of Josiah Smith, 
jun., Rachel Davis, Betty Davis, Mabel Johnson, and Abigail Tom- 
linson, who at the same time was baptized." 

Thus they continued some years to receive members to full 
communion only, but afterwards they changed as indicated by 
the records : 

''April II, 1756, then Samuel Tucker and Sarah his wife renewed 
the Covenant, and Samuel their son was baptized." 

*' April 25, 1756, Philo Mills and Elizabeth his wife owned the Cov- 
enant, and their daughter Abigail Elizabeth Ann was baptized." 

"June 12, 1757, then admitted to full communion Sibyl the wife of 
Daniel Todd. At the same time were baptized Mary, Daniel and Cath- 
arine, children of Daniel Todd and Sibyl his wife." 



284 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

The second book is entitled " Church Records for the First 
Church of Christ in Derby," and was commenced by Rev. Mr. 
Tullar, an account of his ordination being the first entry. 

The council " was convened by letters missive, at the house 
of Charles French, Esq., in Derby, July i, 1783, with a view 
to the ordination of Mr. Martin Tullar to the work of the gos- 
pel ministry. Present, the Rev. Messrs. Daniel Humphreys, 
Mark Leavenworth, Benjamin Trumbull, Benjamin Wildman, 
David Brownson, Jonathan Edwards, John Keep, David Ely. 
Delegates : Mr. Isaac Brownson from the First church in Wa- 
terbury, Dea. Jonathan Mitchell from the church in Southbury, 
Dea. Thomas Clark from Oxford, Dea. Daniel Lyman . from 
White Haven, Capt. Stephen Dewey from Sheffield and Dea. 
Timothy Peck from Bethany. The Rev. Mark Leavenworth 
was chosen moderator, and Benjamin Trumbull scribe." In the 
services on the next day, the sermon was preached by the 
Rev. John Keep, and " the imposition of hands was performed 
by Messrs. Humphreys, Leavenworth, Trumbull and Brownson." 

From the date of this ordination it may be seen that the 
change in the method of receiving church members was made 
only four months previous, and was probably effected at Mr. 
Tullar's suggestion, while he was preaching as a candidate. 

In 1788 a case of church discipline of more than ordinary dig- 
nity, and in it His Honor, Oliver Wolcott, sen., then governor, 
was a witness. James Beard, Esq., of Derby, a man of high 
and honorable standing many years, while a member of the 
Legislature in the spring of that year, applied to Governor 
Wolcott, "as one of the committee of Pay Table, to adjust an 
account between him and the state, relative to the avails of a 
number of confiscated estates." Governor Wolcott says fur- 
ther : " That in the course of the business it appeared to be 
the claim of the .said James Beard that the balance which was 
found to be due to the state should be received by the treasurer 
in continental bills of the old emission at the nominal sum. 
To support which claim, the said James Beard repeatedly al- 
leged that a part of said balance had been used in the public 
service during the war, for the purpose of supplying officers' and 
soldiers' families, and that the remainder, which I understood to 
be the most considerable part, was there in his hands in the iden- 



EXCOMMUNICATION. 285 

tical bills in which he had received the same, which allegations 
the said Beard offered to confirm by his oath in the customary 
way. That upon examination of the bills which were tendered 
it appeared that the sum which was offered greatly exceeded 
the balance due to the state, and also that a large proportion of 
the same appeared to have been emitted after the time wdien 
the said Beard had received the moneys for which he was ac- 
countable." 

Upon this discovery the committee of Pay Table refused to 
settle, and in the autumn of the same year Capt. Joseph Riggs, 
sen., presented charges against Mr. Beard before the church. 
In the prosecution of the case the above testimony of Governor 
Wolcott and that of several other high officers of the state was 
received, given by deposition under oath before a magistrate. 
Upon the vote of the church, one month after the commence- 
ment of the proceedings, three of the four charges were sus- 
tained, implicating the accused in false representation in three 
particulars. A form of confession was then prepared, and a 
committee appointed by the church to present it to Mr. Beard 
to sign, if he felt so disposed. This he " entirely refused to 
do," and we find the following record : 

" Lord's da)-, January 25. 1789. The doings of the church were then 
publicly read. It was then proposed to the church by their pastor 
whether he should deliver sentence of excommunication against said 
James Beard .-' Voted in the affirmative. Sentence was pronounced 
in the following manner : ' In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and 
with the concurrence of this Church, I now publicly declare that James 
Beard is rejected from our number, fellowship and communion ; that 
he is delivered unto Satan, and is unto us as an heathen man and a 
publican ; that henceforth we shall exercise no watch over, nor treat 
him with any respect as a brother until he come to repentance.' " 

Such were the ideas concerning church discipline one hun- 
dred years ago. How greatly changed is the sentiment of the 
church ; the very form of that sentence is at the present time 
regarded as highly presumptuous, in that an earthly subject as- 
sumes the authority of the Infinite, to judge and condemn his 
fellow creature. There is seen also the arbitrary authority 
claimed by Congregational ministers, as well as those of other 
denominations. He does not say that the sentence is given in 



286 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

behalf, or by the authority of the church, but the sentence is 
declared by the minister, "with the concurrence of the church." 
The minister was also the judge of the fitness of persons to be- 
come members of the church, and upon his recommendation 
they were to be received by the church, as appears by the vote 
in 1783. The conditions, however, required in the candidate 
for membership were not severe : namely, " owning the cove- 
nant and resolving to live the Christian life." 

Rev. Mr. Tullar's administration continued until 1795, when 
he was probably regularly dismissed, although no record of the 
fact is preserved, for a vote of the society was passed, bearing 
date, December 29, 1795, making provision for raising money 
to pay a candidate for supplying the pulpit. He died in 18 13. 

The next pastor was Mr. Amasa Porter, who was ordained 
by a council, June 21, 1797. He was dismissed by a council, 
on Wednesday the 20th of March, 1805. 

In November, 1808, the church voted to call Mr. Joshua Wil- 
liams as a gospel minister, but the society not uniting in the 
call, the church one month later sent an urgent request to the 
society to unite in such a call, but that body did not so decide. 
The ne.xt March, the church gave a call to Mr. Thomas Rug- 
gles, and to this the society seems to have consented. Mr. 
Ruggles's letter of acceptance is recorded, and is a lengthy one ; 
rehearsing somewhat the circumstances, and revealing the fact 
that the advice of the association had been given, to the effect 
that it would be well for him to wait six months before accept- 
ing the call. The letter indicates good scholarship, discrimi- 
nating judgment, and a faithful purpose of devotion to the gos- 
pel ministry. It is reported that during Mr. Ruggles's ministry 
the spirit of strife and division which had existed in the con- 
gregation sometime before he came to it, continued, and that 
there existed somewhere a purpose to make trouble if opportu- 
nity afforded, and that had the minister been ever so faithful 
and perfect, harmony could not have been restored. 

On April 9, 18 12, a council was convened at the house 
of Levi Smith, for the purpose of dissolving the pastoral rela- 
tion between Mr. Ruggles and the church and society. The 
records declare that sundry communications were made to the 
council, from which it appeared that Mr. Ruggles had some- 



INSTALLATION OF MR. SWIFT. 28/ 

time since requested, and still continues to request, a dissolution 
of the pastoral relation, on account of inability to discharge the 
ministerial ofifice by reason of ill health, and that the church 
and society had consented that the connection should be dis- 
solved." The finding of the council was that it was expedient 
that the relation should be dissolved, and so pronounced the 
decision. Sympathy is then expressed for the church and so- 
ciety in the following manner : " We deeply feel and deplore 
these repeated trials with which God has been pleased to visit 
you. Once and again have you been left as sheep without a shep- 
herd." After rather special deliverance of this kind, the coun- 
cil, in the same spirit of kindness, directed their attention to the 
pastor dismissed. " We recommend Mr. Ruggles to the grace 
of God, and invite him to review with seriousness and solem- 
nity the manner in which he hath discharged his ministry, as 
also the various dealings of God toward him, that he may de- 
rive profit from divine chastening and be excited thereby to 
live near to God and not be driven from him ; and that as he 
is now dismissed from his ministerial charge, he may enjoy in 
his retirement the consolations of a well grounded hope ; . . 
that when life shall be done, he may be able to give up his ac- 
count with joy and meet the approbation of his judge." He 
was, therefore, only dismissed from the pastoral relation, not 
deposed from the ministry, and it is singular that such a deliv- 
erance should have been rendered if there were any evidences 
of gross immorality on the part of this minister, as is spoken of 
in the community. 

A little over one year elapsed from the dismissal of Mr. 
Ruggles, when a council was called on the i6th of November, 
1813, for the purpose of installing the Rev. Zephaniah Swift 
as pastor of this church and society. After the usual proceed- 
ings, the council adjourned, and met on the following day and 
"proceeded to the house of God and installed Mr. Swift," the 
Rev. Dr. Ely preaching the sermon. 

Mr. Swift entered upon his work in the midst of many diffi- 
culties and discouragements. He had preached in Roxbury, 
Conn., about fifteen year.s, and from that experience was con- 
siderably prepared to take a steady, onward and dignified min- 
isterial course, by which he led the people from their perplexing 



288 mSTOKV Ol" DKRBV. 

difficulties and unkindly feelings, into a larger field of active 
and consistent Christian life. The following account of the 
church and his labors with it are given by the Rev. J. H. 
Vorce, in a centennial, historical discourse delivered in the 
Derby Congregational church, on Sunday, July 9, 1876. 

"•Mr, Swift was settled in Derby in 1813 and never dismissed. 
His pastorate was long and successful. Revivals were frequent and 
numbers were added to the church during his ministry, which was on 
some accounts the most eventful in the history of the church. We have 
found some decided peculiarities in regard to the salaries of other pas- 
tors, and there was one in regard to Mr. Swift's, it being apparently 
about what it happened to be, varying with the times and w'ith the ne- 
cessities of the people. He sometimes relinquished a large part of it, 
and at others, would take the notes of the society's committee, or pinch 
along almost any way to help through the difficulties that often sur- 
rounded them. 

" In the same year in which Mr. Swift was settled, what is known 
as the Increase Fund was started. By the conditions of the gift, no 
part of the principal could ever be used for any other purpose what- 
ever, and no part of the interest could be used until the fund had ac- 
cumulated so that the income would be sufficient to support a gospel 
minister in this society. The minister must be of the Presbyterian or 
Congregational order, and must J>ro/t'ss and farc/i the 'doctrines of the 
gospel as expressed in the shorter catechism of the assembly of divines 
at Westminster, or the creed inserted in the statute of the theological 
seminary at Andover.' 

'^ In 18 14, the church adopted by a series of votes, the rule laid down 
in the eighteenth chapter of Matthew, as a rule of discipline ; also that 
public offenses require a public confession, and thenceforward the disci- 
pline of the church was kept up remarkably well. If a person deserved 
the attention of the church in this respect, he was labored with accord- 
ing to the rule, and if he did not heed the admonition he was dealt 
with. The cases of discipline were numerous. 

" In December, i8i6, the society voted that Mr. Swift preach a part 
of the ensuing year at Humphreysville, in proportion to the money raised 
there, but not to exceed one-fourth of the time. 

*' We have now arrived at a time in the history of the church when 
it was tossed more by storms than at any period in its history. Darker 
skies it may have seen, but never when the waters were more troubled. 
The old meeting-house had become much dilapidated and was nearly 
unfit for use as a place of worship. It became necessary to build a 



SITE FOR A MEETING-HOUSE. 289 

new one, and the question of its location divided the society in senti- 
ment and to a considerable extent, permanently. Quite a number with- 
drew from it and never returned. A majority, with the pastor, favored 
the place where the present house stands, but a minority favored the 
old site ; while the controversy ran high and threatened serious conse- 
quences. Dr. Leonard Bacon's remark in regard to a Guilford trouble, 
would be thoroughly applicable to the state of affairs here : ' Both parties 
were conscientious as well as willful ; perhaps more conscientious for 
being willful, certainly the more willful for being conscientious.' 

"On the 30th of March, 1820, a vote was passed that 'all former 
votes respecting the location of a house of worship be rescinded.' It 
was then voted, two-thirds concurring, that the house should stand on 
its present site, and a committee was appointed to wait upon the County 
Court, to procure its approbation of the location selected. The decree 
of the Court 'appointing, ordering and fixing the said place,' was given 
at the March term of 1820. Specifications were drawn and the new 
house contracted for, on the i8th of July, 1820. These specifications 
were very definite, and left nothing to be taken for granted and disa- 
greed about afterward, and as a sample it may be mentioned that it 
was provided that there should be ' furnished suitable and wholesome 
board and washing for the workmen while employed in said work, and 
a reasonable quantity of liquor for said workmen, to be drank in the 
yard where said work is done.' 

" A paper on file, proposing to convey the house and land to the in- 
habitants of the First Ecclesiastical society of Derby, contains some pro- 
visions which are a novelty, and without which the history of this 
church building would be incomplete. 

" ' First, that the said society shall annually, on the first Monday in 
January, rent the slips on the lower floor of said house, and those in 
the gallery wherever by them deemed best, excepting the four easterly 
front slips, and excepting on the lower floor one slip for the use of the 
family of the clergyman settled over said society for the time being, 
and two for poor widows, and excepting said slips on the lower floor, 
shall be rented to white persons only; the same to be set up in 
classes as follows : the first ten slips at a sum not less than ten dollars, 
the second ten slips at a sum not less than eight dollars, the third ten slips 
at a sum not less than seven dollars, the fourth eight slips at a sum 
not less than five dollars, the fifth six slips at a sum not less than four 
dollars, the sixth five slips at a sum not less than three dollars.' 

"These conditions were accepted by the society. Jan. i, 1822. The 
expense of building the house so seriously crippled the resources of the 
society, that in 1823 they voted that the income from the fund must 
37 



290 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

supply the pulpit for the ensuing year, as they could not think of in- 
curring any additional debt for the supply of the pulpit. The pastor, 
always ready to help his people in bearing burdens, declared his will- 
ingness to conform to the straitened circumstances of the society for 
that year provided they would pay up arrears so as to come to the next 
year unencumbered. 

" In the year 1824, a subscription was started to purchase a bell. 
In the appeal to the public for contributions, the society pledged that 
the bell might be ' used for all meetings of religious societies and all 
lawful meetings of the inhabitants of the town, and tolled at funerals 
of all denominations of Christians when requested by the friends of 
the deceased, except that no person shall at any time be permitted to 
ring or toll said bell, except such as is appointed to that business by 
said standing committee.' 

" There was previously an old bell on the school-house. Up Town, 
which was used both by this society and by the Episcopal society, as 
well as for town and school purposes. This bell was stolen, and, at the 
time the Congregational society was proposing to raise money for a 
new bell, could not be found. At the time of the vote above alluded 
to, it was agreed that, provided the old bell could be found, the com- 
mittee should take possession of it, and pay any one a fair price who 
could prove ownership. About a month later the committee reported 
that they ' had found the old bell ; that the same had been claimed by 
the proprietors near the old meeting-house and by the committee of the 
Episcopal society, on the ground that said society were entitled to the 
one-half thereof, and that it had been demanded by said proprietors, 
and that in the opinion of the committee, this society have as good a 
right to said bell as any one.' Thereupon the society voted that ' since 
they had always had control of it from the time it was first hung, they 
presumably had an equal right with others, the committee were directed 
to cause said bell to be appraised by disinterested persons, add to it as 
much as would make a bell of seven hundred pounds, and the society 
would pay over whatever should be judged not lawfully to belong to 
said society.' Thus much of the bell story must be reliable for it is too 
late to make headway against these records of the society. 

" Owing to the financial embarrassment of the society, a committee 
was appointed in January, 1824, to apply to the domestic missionary 
society of Connecticut for aid. At the meeting held to take action as 
to the bell, this committee reported that the missionary society had 
granted to the church, the sum of eight dollars per Sunday for six Sun- 
days. There is no record of any additional grant having been made. 

"These appear to have been the end of the society troubles in re- 



COLLEAGUES OF MR. SWIFT. 29 1 

gard to a new meeting-house. It is a curious commentary on the Con- 
gregational form of government, that while the society records are 
filled with details of disagreement or severe conflicts, no sign of diffi- 
culty appears upon the record of the church. All through these troub- 
les the church, under the lead of its devoted pastor, was faithful to its 
trust, and held its government with a kind but firm hand apparently in 
the profoundest peace. 

"The next date of importance is the year 1833, in which the 'articles 
of Christian faith and practice ' were added to the manual. One of 
these rules makes the neglect of family prayer an offense liable to dis- 
ciplinary action, and another declares ' the making, vending or using 
ardent spirits as a drink, inconsistent with Christian character.' One 
of the most admirable of these articles, makes it the duty of the church 
' to secure a religious education to such children of the church as may 
in the providence of God be left orphans.' 

"The pastorate of Mr. Swift closed only at his death, which occurred 
February 7, 1848, but during the latter part of his life he had col- 
leagues in his office. These were Rev. Lewis D Howell, Rev. Hollis 
Read and R^v. George Thatcher. The last of these was laboring here 
at the time of Mr. Swift's decease. The remains of four pastors were 
buried in the oldest grave-yard of the town ; those of Rev. John Bow- 
ers, probably, although there is no grave-stone to mark his resting- 
place, Rev. Joseph Moss, Rev. Daniel Humphreys and Rev. Zephaniah 
Swift. 

" Rev. Lewis D. Howell, the first colleague of Rev. Mr. Swift, was 
probably settled as pastor in 1836, and upon his request was dismissed 
Nov. 20, 1S38, and given the usual testimony, and of him we hear 
nothing more The Rev. Hollis Read, the second colleague of Rev. 
Mr. Swift, was called by the church December 24, 1838, and he con- 
tinued to preach here until I843 when he was dismissed, but the influ- 
ence of the differences of feeling on that occasion is not all gone to 
this day. The Rev. George Thatcher, was by vote of the society, bear- 
ing date June 14, 1843, hired as a supply until the end of the year, but 
before that time expired he received a call to settle, which he accepted 
on the 7th of December. During his pastorate, the Derby church was 
prosperous and peaceful. Mr. Thatcher was dismissed in 1848." 

From 1848 to the present time there have been several min- 
isters employed by the society. 

The Rev. Jesse Guernsey, was settled over the Derby church 
on the. 7th of November, 1849, and dismissed in 1852. During 
his pastorate the Congregational church in Ansonia was formed. 



292 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

The next April, four members of this church were dismissed 
and recommended to an ecclesiastical council, to be convened 
for the purpose of organizing a church in Ansonia. Mr. Guern- 
sey was a native of Watertown, Conn., and after leaving Derby 
he preached a little more than a year in Woodbridge, when he 
removed to Iowa, where he died. 

The Rev. Robert P. Stanton, was settled here in May, 1853, 
and dismissed in January, 1856. He was a native of Franklin, 
Conn., and was licensed by the New Haven West association 
in 1847. After leaving Derby, he was settled over the church 
in Greenville, in the town of Norwich, Conn., where he still re- 
mains, making a pastorate there of more than twenty-three 
years. 

The Rev. C. C. Tiffany was called in 1857, and dismissed in 
1864. He was licensed by the New Haven Central association 
in 1857, and was called from Derby to Longwood, Mass., in 
1864; from which place he went to the rectorship of an Epis- 
copal church in New York city. 

The Rev. William E. Brooks, was engaged as supply in 1865, 
and remained until 1867, when he removed to Clinton, Conn., 
where he remained until 1874; removing thence to West Ha- 
ven, Conn., where he still remains a settled pastor. 

Rev. Thomas M. Gray, was installed pastor of the Derby 
church in December, 1867, and dismissed in 1871. He after- 
wards settled as pastor of a Presbyterian church in South Sa- 
lem, Mass., where he remained a number of years. 

The Rev. Cyrus B. Whitcomb, was engaged in January, 1872, 
to supply this church, and remained one year from the first of 
the next April, i^^^ ^iog.) 

The Rev. Henry T. Staats, was engaged sometime in 1873, 
to supply the pulpit for the remainder of the year, at the ex- 
piration of which time he was re-engaged and remained with 
the church until the autumn of 1874, when he was settled over 
the Congregational church of Bristol, Conn. During his labors 
here, a lecture-room was built and the church was re-modeled 
and re-furnished. 

The Rev. J. Howe Vorce, was acting pastor in this church 
from April, 1875, to August, 1879. (See Biog.) 

It is with much pleasure that the following letter is intro- 



LETTER OF THE REV. CHARLES NICHOLS. 293 

duced. It was written by the Rev. Charles Nichols, at the 
request of the Rev. J. Howe Vorce, in view of a centennial his- 
torical sermon ; and although too lengthy for insertion on that 
occasion, it is very appropriate for the present work. It gives on 
the authority of an eye-witness, and that witness one of the 
noblest sons of Derby, the things which if asserted without 
such personal knowledge might be doubted by many. It is 
given nearly entire as written by himself at an advanced age : 

"New Britain. June 24, 1876. 
"7^ Afy Dear Cluistian Brother^ Rev. Mr. Vorce : 

"I write to you as being myself a Derby man. I was born at Derby 
Narrows in the year 1798, and am now in my 79th year. My early 
ITe, until nearly twenty years of age, was spent in Derby. My parents 
were in principle Congregationalists, attending the Congregational 
church, and when, after my father's death, I was put out to service by 
my mother, being then fifteen years of age, I was put into a family, all 
of whose members were Congregationalists of the strictest sort, they 
adopting, as did my mother, the Assembly's Catechism, as containing 
the summary of their faith. 

"The Meetinghouse in which the Congregational order worshiped, 
and where I attended meeting from my childhood up to my nineteenth 
year, was called the old meeting-house on the hill. It was probably 
more than half a mile from the church edifice which is now in use, a 
little east of north. I recollect it perfectly. The place on which it 
stood was called Meeting-house Hill. Roads led to it from four direc- 
tions ; and all around it the surface of the ground was uneven, and its 
position was in the middle of several unfenced acres, gullied somewhat 
by rains, and yet generally green in summer, and affording pasturage 
for slieep. The meeting-house stood alone except that there was one 
small dwelHng house near it on the north-east, and a red school build- 
ing a few rods south-west, two stories high, having a cupola in which 
was hung the church bell. My strong impression is, that this church 
bell, thus hung on the Old Red school-house, was owned either by the 
town of Derby or jointly by the Congregational and Episcopal socie- 
ties. The school-house on which it hung was nearly midway between 
the two church edifices. This bell had a history after I left the town, 
which probably caused some merriment, and also stirred some bad 
blood ; but that history is not familiar to me to any such extent that I 
can state the facts in regard to it. 

" The old meeting-house was unpainted, dingy, inconvenient, un- 



294 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

sightly, and in warm and damp weather it had within, a musty smell, 
ungracious, as things in a process of decay generally have. 

" In its shape this house was almost square. I judge it was forty- 
five feet long and forty feet broad, and was constructed with two stories. 
Excepting for the two rows of windows all around the house, it looked 
like a large neglected barn. It had neither steeple nor tower. During 
all my young days the underpinning was in some places almost wholly 
removed, and thus a convenient opening was afforded for the sheep and 
lambs which often grazed in the neighborhood, at which they might 
enter and there ruminate and give an example of quietness and sweet 
peace to the human sheep who were in the fold just a little above them. 

"The old meeting-house had two doors, one in front and one in the 
east end. 

"It was made with a gallery on each of the sides, and seats in these 
galleries rising one above the other as if constructed on an inclined 
plane. The seats in each gallery were long slips, and there were four 
or five slips in each gallery. The music of the sanctuary was then, as 
now, a very important part of worship, and the front slip in each galle' y 
was sacred to the use of the singers and the * players on instruments.' 
We had not the organ in those days, but we did have both vocal and 
instrumental music, that to my youthful mind was impressive and in- 
spiring beyond what I can express. In the winter season we had reg- 
ular weekly singing-schools, holding them in private houses, now in one 
part of the town and now another. All the youth who had the ' ear 
for music ' were invited and urged to attend them, and they were social 
and useful gatherings ; presenting to us themes for study ; often intro- 
ducing us to new and valuable acquaintances, and to some extent fitting 
us for a sphere of usefulness. 

"In those days the choir would on pleasant Sabbaths almost fill the 
three front slips around the galleries of the old meeting-house. Four 
parts were usually carried, two by the ladies and two by the gentlemen. 
The chorister always gave the key-note by a little instrument called the 
pitch-pipe. Then, the whole choir sitting would ' sound the pitch ;' 
each distinct part sounding the first note with which said part was to 
start off in the exercise. The chorister made himself prominent by a 
large flourish of the hand in beating time, often eying the singers 
earnestly, significantly, and sometimes by a sudden and loud slap of 
his book, as if he would say, ' You drag ; wake up and sing with more 
spirit.' 

" I remember how in those days of my boyhood the ' tithing-man ' 
did often seek to magnify his office. The young urchins were just as 
full of fun and nonsense then as are their descendants of the present 



NEGRO PEWS. 295 

day. Heads often bowed in seeming reverence were, as a matter of 
fact, frequently down in a worshipful condition simply to conceal from 
the watchful tithing-man the merry laugh, or the mischievous knife in 
its work of carving, or the recounting in soft whispers the story of some 
exploit. 

" Now and then, as I well remember, we would cease through for- 
getfulness to be awed by the tithing-man's presence, and some ludicrous 
word would work upon our childish natures and the inevitable snicker 
would burst forth. Holding the nose, as we perhaps did, would do no 
good. The laugh was in us and the more we tried to suppress it, the 
more it would not be suppressed. In the very midst of the fun, the 
tithing man, with a countenance like an angry thunder cloud, would 
show himself true to the requirements of his official station. Some- 
times he would simply rise from his seat and stare the culprits in the 
face. Sometimes he would rap loudly with his knuckles. Sometimes 
he would leave his seat and take the irreverent boy by the collar and 
drag him to another seat of the house, which feat nine out of ten of the 
boys and girls would enjoy with a keen relish and a hearty ' laugh in 
the sleeve.' 

" Before leaving the gallery of the old meeting-house I wish to speak 
of two regularly inclosed pews ; one in the south-west corner of the 
men's gallery, and the other in the south-east corner of the women's 
gallery, designed for slaves and their children. They were vulgarly 
called the ' Nigger pews.' Slavery still existed in Connecticut when I was 
quite young, and I remember to have seen here and there one whom I 
knew as a slave, owned by their masters according to law, just as the 
ox or horse was owned. The slaves generally bore the name of their 
masters. If, for example, Richard was the slave of the Mansfields he 
was called Richard Mansfield ; if colored Cato was the slave of the 
Holbrooks he was called Cato Holbrook. The fact that a provision 
was made for people of color when the old meeting-house was built, 
shows that their spiritual necessities were thought of, even while their 
separate seats in the most distant corners of the church edifice may in- 
dicate that the prejudice against color was strong, even in the minds of 
Christian people. Some of the slaves owned in Derby were regarded 
as devoutly pious. Such a slave was owned by the Holbrook family. 
He died before my remembrance, but as I lived almost five years in the 
same family, I often heard him spoken of tenderly by those about me. 
He is reported, though he could not read a word, as having been in 
the habit of carrying the Testament in his coat pocket. When he was 
questioned for his reason for so doing, his reply was, *to keep the 
devil off.' 



296 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

" This same slave was once, according to tradition, sent into a tract 
of woods, distant from home, to do several days work at chopping wood. 
It so happened that he forgot the days of the week, and by mistake 
kept on chopping through the whole of the Sabbath. When he re- 
turned home Sabbath evening, supposing it to be Saturday evening, 
learning his mistake, he determined that the next day — that is, Monday 
— should be his Sabbath. He would not work or do anything on Mon- 
day which was inappropriate to the Sabbath. When he was told that 
it was Monday, his ready reply was, ' I know it, but I am not going to 
cheat the Lord out of one day.' 

" In 1798 a law was passed by which all persons born of slave par- 
ents after that date should be free at the age of twenty-one ; but there 
were still slaves, a very few, in 1848, when a law was passed abolishing 
slavery altogether in Connecticut. 

" The gallery in the old meeting-house was fitted for the youth of the 
place, and the children just merging into boyhood and girlhood. It 
was considered quite an attainment to leave the pews below and the 
watchful eyes of parents, and 'go up' into the gallery. The lower part 
of the house was arranged with pews next to the walls, and if I remem- 
ber right, with four tiers of slips in the body of the house. There was 
one wide aisle from the front door to the pulpit, and other narrow aisles 
extending around the room. According to my recollection, what are 
called the wall seats, especially those near the pulpit, were occupied by 
the more aristocratic part of the audience. The seats were all occupied 
by an industrious, intelligent, high-minded and honest class of men and 
women, who revered the name of God, loved his ordinances, and cher- 
ished a high respect for the minister of the gospel. The gray hairs and 
venerable looks of many of them are present to my mind while I write. 

" The shape of the pulpit in that old house was that of a box, about 
six feet long, three feet wide, and not far from four feet deep. There 
was a rounded projection on the front of this box and on this was a 
narrow book-board and a very simple cushion, where lay the Bible and 
the hymn book. In this projection, which was in shape like the half 
of a barrel cut lengthwise, stood the clergyman when he spoke to God 
in prayer, or read to his audience from the Bible, or hymn book, or his 
manuscript. Directly beneath the pulpit sat the deacons, known by 
their position, if not otherwise, as the chosen officers and the two lead- 
ing men of the church. The two deacons in all the period of my child- 
hood were Deacon Holbrook and Deacon Tomlinson, both of honest 
report, and, as I think, endued with the Holy Ghost and with wisdom. 
Deacon Holbrook died in the early part of the year 1813. Himself 
and wife were the parents of twelve, seven daughters and five sons, all 



OLD FORMS OF WORSHIP. 297 

of whom lived to adult age. I think not one descendant of the name 
of that great family remains in Derby. Deacon Holbrook was suc- 
ceeded as deacon by Deacon Carrington, who was entirely unpreten- 
tious, but a true and good man, ' not slothful in business, fervent in 
spirit, serving the Lord.' 

" Many of the people who gathered at the old meeting-house came 
from the distance of miles. Numbers came from the Neck, from Sugar 
Street, from Sodom and from Squabble Hole ; and they seem to me to 
have been harmonious and united until the time of the call for the Rev. 
Thomas Ruggles. They then became seriously divided. 

" When I was a boy what is now Seymour was Chusetown. Manu- 
facturing then being introduced there by General David Humphreys, it 
ceased to be Chusetown, and was called in honor of the distinguished 
manufacturer, Humphreysville, but was still a part of the town of Derby. 
While I remained in Derby the Humphreysville people who were of 
the Congregational order, came either three-fourths or five-sixths of 
their Sabbaths to the old meeting-house to worship, and by agreement 
of parties, the pastor of the church went the other fourth or sixth of 
the Sabbaths to Humphreysville, and we in the old meeting-house held 
a deacon's meeting, and heard some one of good voice and manner 
read a sermon from some volume. When, finally, the people of Sey- 
mour established permanent public worship among themselves I am 
not informed. It must have been at a later date than 181 7, for that 
was the year of my leaving Derby, and they were then, if I do not 
misremember, still worshiping with us in the old church. 

" This old meeting-house never knew the luxury of a carpet upon its 
aisles. Many of the best families knew no such luxuries ever in their 
best parlors. No fire in the winter ever modified the freezing air of 
the house. The worshipers came, in many cases, two. three and four 
miles, sometimes with the weather at zero, or even below that point, 
and sat from one to two hours, having had no glimpse of a fire till they 
caught it on returning near sunset to their own dwellings. It seemed 
not to have entered the mind in those days that the place of public 
worship should or could be made comfortable or attractive. Nor was 
it recognized as a fact, that when the whole person was chilled, and the 
whole congregation wishing for the final amen, the worship could be 
neither very spiritual nor effective of good upon the general mind. 

"The forjHS of worship in that church were, at the period of which 
I speak, very nearly uniform throughout our state. There was first the 
invocation, then reading the scriptures, then the first singing. After 
this came the general prayer. Almost universally if any persons were 
severely sick, a note was sent to the clergyman, which was in form 
38 



298 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

about this, viz. : ' Mr. A. B , being severely ill (sometimes it would read 
dangerously) asks for an interest in the prayers of this church and con- 
gregation, that if consistent with God's will he may be restored to 
health, but if not, that he may be prepared for his great and last change.' 
Mothers often sent up a note of thanks for God's preserving goodness 
to them in time of peril, and for permitting them once more to appear 
in the house of worship. 

" The attitude in family prayer, in the days of my childhood, was that 
of standing. I never knew the head of the family or any of the mem- 
bers of the household to kneel in prayer until I left Derby and resided 
in another state. Bibles were far less common then than now. So far 
as I had opportunity to observe, they were not passed to the children 
and other members of the household in time of family praj^er in the 
morning that each might read ; neither, to my knowledge, was there 
any singing in connection with the season of family worship. The al- 
most universal custom was for the head of the family, who only had a 
bible, to read a passage and then rise, stand erect, holding to the back 
of his chair, and in that attitude offer his prayer. 1 he other members 
also stood. Consequently young minds were not greatly interested, 
and as this morning prayer was generally offered at the time when the 
table was spread for breakfast, and the rich flavor of the smoking vi- 
ands made the young appetites sharp, the sense of relief at the word 
' amen ' was greater than any sense of virtuous resolution to which 
the prayer had led. 

'' The people with whom I worshiped in the old church almost, if 
not quite, universally considered the evening of Saturday as holy time. 
Often we heard whole sermons which were designed to prove that the 
Sabbath began at the going down of the sun on Saturday, and we 
thought it was proved. Accordingly when it began to be dark on Sat- 
urday secular cares were laid aside. The plays for the week were 
ended, the playthings were put away. All labor in the field must cease. 
But the moment the sun set behind the western hills on Sunday, that 
moment the holy day was closed, and play might then be resumed. 
The farmer then would, if necessary, grind his scythe preparatory to 
early mowing Monday morning. The young people might assemble 
for sport, and lovers in their neat Sabbath dress might lawfully meet 
and build together their airy castles for some happy future day. 

" In my childhood there was one, and only one, other organized 
church and society besides the Congregational, and that was the Epis- 
copal. Rev. Richard Mansfield, D. D., was the pastor of that church 
in my childhood He was a graduate of Yale College in the class of 
1741, received his degree of D. D., in 1792, and died an old man, full 



MINISTERS AND THE CATECHISM. 299 

of years and of honors, in 1820. I remember him well. He was tall, 
of spare habits, and wore a white, large wig. He was very old when I 
was very young. 

" Occasionally I attended that church and heard him officiate. His 
voice was then feeble, but his countenance indicated gentleness, and a 
kind and benevolent heart. He continued in Derby until his death, 
and I think is laid among his own people. While Dr. Mansfield was 
yet living, Rev. Calvin White became the pastor, as a colleague. Mr. 
White also graduated at Yale. He was in the class of 1786, and died 
in 1853. Both Dr. Mansfield and Mr. White were very gentlemanly. 
I knew their families well in my boyhood, and still think of them with 
respect and affection. After I left Derby, and somewhere about 1820, 
Mr. White became a Roman Catholic. Being excluded from the 
Episcopal church, he remained in town and officiated, as I have been 
told, in his own house to a few who were of his own belief. 

" Methodism, in my boyhood, had hardly gained a foothold in Derby. 
There was just a little sprinkling of that element over the town, but no 
organized society to my knowledge, until I ceased to be a member of 
the town. 

" Of Baptists, there were none. 

" In the common school at Derby Narrows, it was a rule, strictly ob- 
served during my school days, to repeat each Saturday forenoon, the 
catechism. Two catechisms, called commonly, " The Church Cate- 
chism" and " The Presbyterian Catechism " were in use. The Sabbath- 
school was not known in Derby till the summer of 18 17, when one was 
organized by Mr. Josiah Holbrook, The school then met in the up- 
per story of the old red school-house on Meeting-House Hill, and held 
its sessions in the morning of the Sabbath, during about one hour pre- 
ceding the first exercise in the church. 

" There were three clergymen who were natives of Derby, and by 
many years my superiors in age, whom about once a year I used to 
hear preach. These were Rev. Amos Bassett, D. D., Rev. Daniel 
Tomlinson and Rev. Archibald Bassett. All these were born and 
spent their childhood in the Neck district. Dr. Amos Bassett I knew 
personally. He was of a very serious, and one would think of a sad 
countenance. He was quite scholarly, and was for a long period one 
of the fellows of Yale College. For many years he was pastor of the 
Congregational church in Hebron, Conn. He graduated with the 
class in Yale, in 1784 ; died in 1828, and his remains lie buried in the 
cemetery in Derby. 

" Rev. Daniel Tomlinson was long the pastor of the church in Oakham, 
Mass. He also graduated at Yale in the year 1781, and died in 1842. 



300 HISTORY Ol' DKKHV. 

Mr. Tomlinson was a man of distinguished excellence. His voice and 
manner in the desk were very peculiar. They were his own, and in- 
imitable. He always preached with black gloves on his hands, and 
I well remember that my pastor, sometimes noticing that there was 
smiling about the house when Mr. T. officiated, would rise from his 
seat and in a dignified and solemn way, request that there should be 
no levity in the house of God. 

" Of Rev. Archibald Basssett, I have little knowledge except that he 
graduated at Yale in 1796, and died in 1859. 

" The Rev. Abner Smith, had his home in that part of Derby called 
Great Hill. I remember him as he used often to appear in our church, 
and as I sometimes heard him preach. His delivery was very moder- 
ate, his voice nasal, his body short, his legs long and very crooked, and 
his whole aspect and manner unique. My strong impression is that he 
was a graduate of Harvard. I spent a little time in his house about 
1823, since which I have kept no track of him. 

"Two other Derby men became ministers about the year 1826, viz., 
John L. Tomlinson and Truman Coe. The former had been a law- 
yer in Derby for years. He graduated at Yale in 1807, and died in 
1833. Mr. Coe did not graduate, but received an honorary degree 
from Yale in 1825. He had been a distinguished teacher of youth, 
and also a lecturer of science ; was wholly a self-made man. He died 
in 1858." 

THE WAR OF 1 8 12. 

This war, like many others in the history of the world, was 
originated and organized in the interests of a political party, 
upon a basis of small pretexts and with the intention of ac- 
quiring the British territory of Canada. The disgrace and dis- 
honor of it has ever been a cloud over the fair name of the 
United States. 

At this time David Ilimiphreys, who had borne the military 
title of colonel for many years, was residing in Humphreysville, 
busily engaged in his manufacturing enterprises and philan- 
thropic plans. 

Upon the opening of the war, his love for his country was 
aroused as in his younger days, in the Revolution, and calling 
a public meeting at the old and then dilapidated appearing 
meeting-house standing on Academy Hill, he delivered a stir- 
ring and eloquent oration, and called for volunteers. A com- 
pany, called then troopers, (now cavalry) was enlisted, with the 



COMPLIMENTS TO COMMODORE HULL. 3OI 

Colonel as its first officer, and was accepted by the state. Mr. 
Humphreys was then appointed major general of the state mil- 
itia, and afterwards was called General instead of Colonel Hum- 
phreys. 

No records of town acts in regard to the war are found, except 
that introduced by General Humphreys as complimentary to 
Commodore Isaac Hull, and very seldom is a document seen 
which is more perfect and complete. 

'' At a meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Derby, legally held 
by adjournment, April 12, 1813, the following resolutions were intro- 
duced and read by Col. David Humphreys. 

"Resolved, that Isaac Hull Esq., a native of this town, captain in 
the Navy of the United States, and lately Commander of their Frigate 
Constitution, with the aid of his gallant officers and ship's company 
and the smiles of Providence, having led the van in the career in our 
naval glory by capturing His Britannic Majesty's Frigate Guerriere, 
commanded by Captain Dacres, has, in our opinion, deserved well of his 
country, and is an ornament to the place of his nativity. 

" Resolved, that joining cordially in the universal applause bestowed 
by our native countrymen, on Hull, Jones, Decatur, Bainbridge and 
Lawrence, and their brave and skillful associates in perils and triumphs, 
for their glorious naval achievements, we judge we have a right in our 
corporate capacity, without showing an undue partiality to the first men- 
tioned officer, or stepping aside from our municipal duties, to notice 
more explicitly his exemplary merits, from having better opportunities 
of being acquainted with them. 

" Resolved, that Messrs. John L. Tomlinson, William Humphreys 
and Pearl Crafts, be a committee to collect and digest such distinguish- 
ing illustrative facts on the subject matter now before us as may be 
attainable, and that they will cause the result to be communicated to 
the public in such manner as they shall deem most proper. 

" Resolved, that from the interruption of our fisheries and navigation 
by war, gold and silver we have not, to offer costly demonstrations of 
respect and esteem in imitation of richer towns, yet what we have we 
freely give, to wit, a tribute of gratitude. 

"Therefore, voted that Isaac Hull, Esq, being already constitution- 
ally entitled to the freedom of this corporation, the thanks of this town 
be presented to him in a box made of heart of oak, the genial growth 
of his native hills. 

" Voted, that the committee take order from the selectmen for the 
performance of this service and report their proceedings to a future 



302 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

meeting, for the express purpose that a town record be made for the 
perpetual remembrance of these transactions. 

" Voted, that tlie committee above named be directed to transmit to 
Capt. Hull a certified copy of the foregoing resolutions. 

J. L. Tomlinson, clerk." 

Diligent search has been made through the town records and 
newspapers of that day for the report of the committee which 
was to be " communicated to the public," but nothing of the 
kind has been found. 

During the war, Derby also furnished a company by draft, 
which, after repeated trainings in town, was ordered to New Lon- 
don, where, under Captain Gates (of Derby) it rendered mate- 
rial aid against the British, and gained lasting credit to the 
American service. The company — the bone and sinew of Derby 
— prided themselves on being patriotic and brave, full of Revo- 
lutionary pluck, and having enrolled among their ranks no 
drones or, what were equally as despicable, cowards. But they 
were slightly mistaken, for one of their number, private E — B — , 
was shy of gunpowder, and if possible always shirked his 
duty. Threatened with an attack, the balls beginning to fly 
from the enemy, Capt. Gates nerved his men by saying, " Now, 
boys, is the time to think of your wives and sweethearts, and 
live or die, fight for the honor of old Derby." 

Private B. and another, G. W., rather hung back in fear, say- 
ing they did not expect to fight ; when the Captain quickly 
retorted, " What did you come for, if not to fight ? We tolerate 
no cowards in our ranks." Private B. was often ordered out 
foraging for the company, his mission being to rob hen-roosts 
or gather anything he could find good to eat, but he generally 
played sick or truant, and came to camp empty. His designs 
at length became apparent and his comrades thought him good 
game for a little sport. 

For some military misdemeanor which was construed into 
rank treason, he was arraigned before a court-martial, and after 
due trial found guilty and sentenced to be hung. As might be 
expected, he was overwhelmed at the severity of the sentence. 
He was given his choice, however, to swing as did Major An- 
dre, or more military like, be shot. He preferred neither, for to 
lose his life in such a way with his back to the enemy would 



COURT-MARTIAL. 303 

be an eternal disgrace to Derby, and he plead for pardon, prom- 
ising to take the front in the future. But the laws of war are 
cruel, and he was led out for execution, but just in time a re- 
prieve from head-quarters reached him, and he was pardoned on 
certain conditions. 

The joke was rather severe, but it had the desired effect, for 
he was returned to the ranks, became a true soldier, and faith- 
fully endured to the end of the war. After the return of the 
company at the close of hostilities, its frolicsome members had 
many a hearty laugh over the New London court-martial, which 
proved so opportune and happy in its effects. 




CHAPTER XI. 

ROADS, BRIDGES AND FLOODS. 

ILP^ORD path is the first of anything like a highway 
spoken of in Derby records, and the next is that to 
New Haven. 

The first of these began at the place where the 
first lots were laid out, (Up Town) running south-easterly, 
probably just where the highway docs now, until it passed the 
Swift place, where it was changed some years later and run 
further east than at first. The New Haven path went past 
the Riggs's place as the highway does now, but somewhere east 
of that point to the New Haven line, the record tells us a new 
highway was laid in April, 1717. In 1676 a cart path was made 
from Up Town, through the meadow in Naugatuck valley to 
the fishing place somewhere near the present Derby bridge at 
the causeway. This road was changed and placed on the bank, 
near where it now runs, about 1755, but it was somewhat al- 
tered in 1772, and is described as the highway from Doctor 
Silas Baldwin's to Stevens's ferry at the Narrows." 

On the Great Neck, the Woodbury path is spoken of, in 1683, 
and passed from the present Baldwin's Corners, a little west of 
north over the hill, the road being now used but little. On 
this road just up the hill, was probably John Prindle's ordinary, 
or tavern in 17 16. About 1683, the highway was constructed 
from the first ferry, near the site of the old Hull's mills, up the 
river on the west side, passing the west end of the present 
lower Ansonia bridge, and then went north-west into the 
Woodbury path. At this same time also there is mentioned a 
" path from Barren Plain brook to Rimmon," probably about a 
mile west of the river. 

In January, 1728-9, the town appointed "a committee to 
meet a committee of Watcrbury, concerning a highway to said 
Waterbury." This had reference, probably, to the valley above 
Rock Rimmon. 

After 1 71 2, highways were constructed and re-arranged in 



TURNPIKES. 305 

the northern part of the town as they became necessary for the 
new settlers, at the cost of much time and labor, and when 
made it must have been weary work traveling on them except 
on horseback. 

In 1746, the town "appointed a committee to meet a com- 
mittee from New Milford, and view and see if there can be a 
convenient highway made near the Great river from said Derby 
to said New Milford, and to make report to the town." 

In 1783, the lottery was instituted in part for the purpose of 
making " a highway from Woodbury to Derby, by the Ousa- 
tonic river," and this road was constructed soon after, along 
the river to meet the one, or it may have been in part the one, 
that crosses Rock House Hill. 

In 1794, the town "Voted, that Col. Daniel Holbrook, Mr. 
Caleb Candee and Mr. Nathan Fairchild, be a committee to 
view the circumstances of the town, respecting the petition of 
Mulford and associates to the General Assembly in regard to 
a turnpike in O.xford, and make their return to this or some 
future meeting." This turnpike, chartered in 1795, is said to 
have been the second in the state, and is likely to be the last 
given up, for toll is still regularly collected from all who use it. 

From this time forward for twenty years or more, there was 
much attention given to the construction of turnpikes through- 
out the state, and Derby partook rather freely of this method 
of speculation, for after some of these good roads were made, 
a large proportion of the trade that had previously centered in 
Derby, was carried to New Haven. The first of these is re- 
ferred to as follows in the town records : 

"Sept. 1796. Voted, that Col. Daniel Holbrook, Capt. John 
Riggs and Capt. Bradford Steele, be appointed a committee to 
wait on a committee appointed by the General Assembly, to 
view and lay out a road or highway from the state house in 
New Haven to Derby Landing, and from thence through Ox- 
ford, etc., to Litchfield." The proposition to make this road a 
turnpike as far as Derby Landing was entered into by leading 
men of Derby, Huntington and New Haven, and especially by 
Leman Stone, who had been a merchant at Derby Landing 
from 1791 ; and it was only after many obstacles were over- 
come and much money expended, that the road was completed, 



306 HISTORV OF DERHV. 

and it thereafter furnished a grand highway for carrying the 
farm produce to New Haven to be shipped, instead of bringing 
New Haven trade to Derby as was predicted. When this turn- 
pike was finished to the Landing, it became a great question 
how to extend it to Oxford, and the subject came up in town 
meeting in the following form : "Sept. 19, 1803. Question: 
Will the town do anything respecting the road laid out by the 
Honorable General Assembly committee, from Oxford turnpike 
to Mr. Leman Stone's at Derby Landing ? Voted in the af- 
firmative." 

" Question : W^ill the town oppose the acceptance of the 
above mentioned road in Derby unless the company purchase 
the land .-' Voted in the negative." A committee was then 
appointed to confer with the proprietors of the turnpike on the 
subject. The Oxford turnpike when first constructed did not 
come down quite to the village of Chusetown, but turned from 
the Little river some distance above its mouth, over the hill 
and up the Naugatuck river, crossing that river at Pine's bridge 
and uniting with the Naugatuck and New Haven turnpike on 
Beacon brook. Hence, in order to connect Chusetown with 
that turnpike we find the following action of the town : " April 
12, 1802. Voted, that the town of Derby will petition the Gen- 
eral Assembly at their session at Hartford, May next, for a 
grant for a turnpike road from the Falls bridge in said Derby, 
taking in said bridge and to extend to Oxford turnpike, and 
liberty to set up a gate at said bridge and to take such toll as 
shall be affixed, and that Russell Tomlinson, Esq., be appointed 
agent for said town to prefer said petition." This petition not 
being granted, was renewed the next year. All efforts having 
failed to connect Derby Landing by a turnpike with the Ox- 
ford turnpike, the town proceeded in its own behalf as follows, 
in December, 1804: "Voted, that the selectmen be directed 
to accept of the donations, and proceed as soon as the weather 
will admit, and lay out a road from Shrub Oak, so called, to 
Derby Narrows, where it will in their judgment best accommo- 
date the public and the town of Derby with the least injury 
and exjiense." The report of the selectmen in laying out this 
road was accepted April 18, 1805, and a vote passed to make 
the road. 



LEAVENWORTH BRIDGE. 3O7 

The extravagant ideas of the profits arising from a turnpike 
and toll bridge at that time, may be seen from the following 
record: "March i6, 1807. Voted, that this town will aid 
Dan Tomlinson, Nathan Mansfield, Nathan Lewis and Isaac 
Botsford, in an application to the General Assembly for liberty 
to erect a bridge over the Naugatuck river at the westernmost 
end of Rimmon Falls turnpike road, and maintain the same, to- 
gether with the road from said bridge to Oxford turnpike road, 
and collect a toll therefor at such place as the General Assem- 
bly or the committee shall direct, provided they exonerate the 
town from all expenses in making and maintaining said bridge 
and road in future, and provided the inhabitants of said town 
have liberty to pass, toll free." It would seem that if the 
town could be relieved from maintaining a bridge which had 
been an expensive article for many years, it would have gladly 
rendered its aid as proposed without further consideration, but 
it went so much further as to ask to withhold a large source of 
revenue to the proprietors of the proposed bridge and turnpike, 
for if the inhabitants of the town passed toll free, where would 
sufficient funds come from to remunerate the owners of the 
property ? It must have been a time of " great expectations " 
from turnpikes. 

It was after this effort to get rid of the Falls bridge that the 
New Milford turnpike was chartered and made. The bridges, 
however, continued to be of great expense to the town, and the 
day for the prevalence of this luxury is not yet passed. Seven 
large bridges are now maintained on the Naugatuck within the 
bounds of ancient Derby, and one on the Ousatonic. For a 
hundred and twenty-five years the town built, on an average, 
one bridge in ten years at the place called the Lower Bridge 
(Up Town), and nearly the same expense, although not quite 
as great, was incurred at the upper bridge (at the Falls). 

It is said that the first Leavenworth bridge was built across 
the Ousatonic, a little way above the Red House, in 1768, and 
was a toll-bridge, but the following town record indicates that 
either the bridge had not been built, or, if built it had been 
carried away before that time : " Dec. 13, 1790. Voted, that 
the town will oppose the building of a bridge at the Leaven- 
worth ferry, and that Capt. John Wooster and Thomas Clark, 



308 lirSTORV OF dkkrv. 

Esq., be appointed agents for the town of Derby at the (Gen- 
eral Assembly, to oppose the building of said bridge at Leaven- 
worth ferry." The bridge, after standing at that place some 
years, was partly carried away by an ice-flood, and rebuilt, re- 
maining afterwards until 1831, when it was removed down the 
river to Hawkins Point, and there rebuilt by Donald Judson 
and Philo Bassett. In February, 1857, it was again carried 
away by an ice-flood, and immediately rebuilt and continued 
a toll-bridge until about 1875, when it became free. It is now 
the great thoroughfare between the prosperous villages of 
Shelton and Birmingham. 

But while the want of bridges in the town was a great calam- 
ity, the fact of one being built at Stratford, obstructing the com- 
merce of Derby, was thought to be almost a greater one. Some 
account of the difficulties concerning this bridge have already 
been given, but further items have been obtained and are here 
added, connecting the troubles of that bridge with the efforts 
of men now living. In 1800, the town voted to send an agent 
to the General Assembly to oppose the building of this bridge, 
and in 1802 they did the same thing, showing that for a time 
they prevented the building of the bridge, but finally it arose, 
" master of the situation." 

THE BRIDGE AT STRATFORD. 

Washington bridge at Stratford, to which allusion has already 
been made, being long a serious obstacle to the commercial 
prosperity of Derby may properly be connected further with 
Derby. Its charter was granted in 1802, the Legislature mak- 
ing no provision to alter or amend it. The draw was only thirty- 
two feet wide, while the right of navigation was in no way to 
be obstructed. In the winter of 1805 and 1806 a freshet car- 
ried away a large portion of the bridge, and in 1 807 the Leg- 
islature granted the original company a lottery to aid them in 
rebuilding it. 

On the early introduction of steamboats they were built of 
small dimensions and thus enabled to pass the draw, though 
frequently not without damage. When the manufacturing in- 
terests of Derby increased it became necessary to transport 
large quantities of freight, which required boats of greater ca- 



STRATFORD BRIDGE. 3O9 

pacity and thus the bridge became a great barrier to steamboat 
navigation. In 1845 an application was made to the Legisla- 
ture to compel the bridge company to widen the draw. Hon. R. 
I. Ingersoll of New Haven was employed as counsel. He took 
the broad ground that the state had no right to close the river 
against steamboat navigation, especially when Derby was a port 
of delivery, having vessels and steamboats regularly enrolled 
and licensed. 

Edward N. Shelton, Esq., took a very active and influential 
part in pushing the matter before the Legislature, where it was 
referred to the appropriate committee, which reported a bill 
compelling the bridge company to widen the draw to sixty feet. 
It passed both Houses but was vetoed by the governor, R. S. 
Baldwin, on the ground that it was in conflict with the condi- 
tions of the charter. This created much indignation, espe- 
cially among those in the interests of Derby, and the bill was 
finally passed over the governor's veto. The bridge company 
refused to comply with the law and a quo warranto was issued 
by the state's attorney in Fairfield county against the company 
to show cause why the charter should not be forfeited by neg- 
lecting to widen the draw. The case was ably argued, but in 
the absence of any proof that any vessel had been prevented 
from passing the draw, although admitted by all that steam- 
boats could not, the court decided in favor of the bridge com- 
pany. 

The citizens of Derby became highly incensed at this dodge 
of the main question, and at once a meeting was called, money 
raised, and a committee appointed to act with Anson G. Phelps 
of New York to force a passage through the bridge, as had 
been done in a similar case at the Pelham bridge in the state 
of New York. The committee, Mr. Edward N. Shelton and 
Mr. Thomas Burlock, called on Mr. Ingersoll, who said, under 
the circumstances, he could not blame the citizens for this sum- 
mary process, but after the committee left him, fearing he might 
be censured for favoring mob-law, wrote to Mr. Phelps saying 
that he had discovered that in the statutes the act of obstruct- 
ing the travel over a public bridge was a criminal offense, upon 
which Mr. Phelps decided to have nothing to do with forcing a 
passage through the bridge. Not to be beaten in a good cause 



310 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

the committee, with Mr. Phelps, decided to charter a steamboat, 
load it with freight and send it to Derby. The steamer Salem 
of New Jersey was engaged and soon headed for Derby, being 
ten feet wider than the draw. As she neared the bridge, with 
colors flying, there was great excitement. She was forced into 
the draw when open, as far as she could be and remained wedged 
tight nearly two hours, and then with difificulty backed out and 
sailed to Stratford dock. The next step was to hire a sailing 
vessel and take the freight to Derby. A suit was then brought 
by Mr. Phelps in the United States court for the expense of 
getting the freight from the steamer to Derby. While this suit 
was pending the New York and New Haven railroad company 
to avoid any conflict with the Washington bridge company, 
which had in its charter a provision that no bridge should be 
built within three miles of it, purchased the bridge and pro- 
posed to put in a draw sixty feet wide, provided the suit be 
withdrawn without cost to the railroad company. 

In 1848 the draw was widened to sixty feet, and in 1869, the 
bridge having been abandoned by the owners, the citizens of 
Milford and other towns applied to the state for aid in some 
shape to rebuild it, when it was enacted that when " said bridge 
should be rebuilt it should be with an eighty feet draw, also 
when the railroad bridge should be rebuilt it should have the 
same width of draw," which is the width in both at the present 
time. 

Thus for more than half a century this bridge has been a 
bone of contention, and during great freshets many a wish has 
been expressed that it might drift into the ocean and no longer 
obstruct the navigable waters of the Ousatonic. b. 

THE OUSATONIC CANAL. 

Considerable excitement was awakened at one time in view 
of the proposition to construct a canal from Derby to the Mas- 
sachusetts state line, and the subject came before the town 
meeting, and on it the following record was made : 

" March 4, 1822. Whereas it has been reported to this meeting that 
a petition will be brought to the next General Assembly to incorporate 
a company for the purpose of establishing a navigation by the Ousa- 
tonic river, by means of a canal near its banks or by improving the bed 



NAUGATUCK RAILROAD. 3II 

of the river as far as the state line ; and whereas said operations are 
in part to be done within the limits of this town, therefore voted, that 
said canal may be laid through this town and the contemplated opera- 
tions in the river be made, and that this town waive all objections to 
said petition on the ground that said petition shall not be regularly 
served on this town ; and the representation from this town is hereby 
instructed by all proper means to forward the object of said petition, 
provided nothing herein contained is to be constructed to subject this 
town to the expense of purchasing the land over which said canal may 
pass." 

THE NAUGATUCK RAILROAD. 

The proposition for a railroad in the Naugatuck valley was 
entertained first by Mr. Alfred Bishop of Bridgeport, who, after 
consultation with various parties whom he supposed might be 
interested in the enterprise, brought the subject before the 
Legislature of Connecticut, and a charter was granted in the 
year 1845, which was amended in 1847 and in 1848. The per- 
sons named in the grant were the following : 

Timothy Dwight of New Haven. Philo Hurd of Bridgeport. 

Green Kendrick of Waterbury. Alfred B. Brittain of Bridgeport. 

Thomas Burlock of Derby. George L. Schuyler of New York. 
William P. Burrall of Bridgeport. 

At first it was proposed to make the road only from Bridge- 
port to Waterbury, with a capital stock of $800,000, but after- 
wards it was e.xtended to Winsted and the capital increased to 
$1,200,000. This amount of stock was afterwards increased to 
$1,500,000 to furnish the road with engines, cars and coaches, 
or what is commonly called rolling-stock. An organization of 
the company was effected in February, 1848, and a contract 
made with Mr. Alfred Bishop to build the road complete and 
receive in pay $800,000 cash and $400,000 in bonds. 

The first officers of the road were : Timothy Dwight, presi- 
dent ; Ira Sherman, secretary, and Horace NichoLs, treasurer. 

The profile and survey of the road, having been prepared, 
was presented to the directors March 14, 1848, and was adopted, 
and in the following April the work was commenced. The 
contract stipulated that the road should be built in the most 
thorough and durable manner, with a heavy H rail, similar to 
that used on the Housatonic road, which Mr. Bishop had just 



312 HISTORY OF [)KRHY. 

completed, it being among the first railroads built in the United 
States. 

When the building of the road was assured appHcation was 
made to the business men along the line of the road to sub- 
scribe for stock, and thus aid the project by furnishing money 
with which to build it. This proposition was declined, suppos- 
ing that no dividends would ever be realized, and they preferred 
to make a donation at once, without any expectation of returns 
except in the use of the road. In view of such want of faith 
in the enterprise Mr. Bishop named the sum of $100,000, but 
in a final arrangement he accepted $75,000, which was raised 
and delivered to the company. In raising this sum and render- 
ing special aid in the construction and completion of the road, 
Mr. Philo Hurd, who was the general agent in all the work, 
mentions the following men as having been of great service. 

At Winsted, John Boyd, Mr. Beardsley, M. and J. C. Camp, 
William L. Gilbert, George Dudley. 

At Burrville, Milo Burr. 

At Wolcottville, George D. Wadhams, John Hungerford, Fran- 
cis N. Holley and William R. Slade. 

At Thomaston, Seth Thomas gave $15,000 or more'. 

At Waterbury, Dea. Aaron Benedict and his son, Charles M. 
Benedict, W'. C. Schofield, Green Kendrick, John P. Elton, 
Brown Brothers, William Phylo, Almon Terrell, Scofield Buck- 
ingham, Charles B. Merriman, Norton J. Buel, Israel Holmes. 

At Naugatuck, Milo Lewis, William B. Lewis, J. Peck, Wil- 
liam C. DeForest, Mr. Goodyear, Josiah Culver. 

At Seymour, Dwight French & Co., George F. DeForest, S. 
Y. Beach, General Clark Wooster. 

At Ansonia, Anson G. Phelps, Thomas Burlock. 

At Derby and Birmingham, John J. Howe, Edward N. Shel- 
ton, Henry Atwater, Fitch Smith, Abraham Hawkins. 

Two men are mentioned by Mr. Hurd as having rendered 
special aid throughout the valley, George D. Wadhams of Wol- 
cottville and Israel Holmes of Waterbury. The former of these 
was peculiarly qualified for pushing new enterprises ; the latter 
was remarkable for his general insight into enterprises for the 

'The amounts would have been given but for the fact that the old records are kept 
in New York. 



OPENING THE ROAD. 3I3 

public good, in which respect, probably, he had no superior in 
his day. 

On the fifteenth of May, 1849, the first fifteen miles of the 
road was ready for the transaction of business, and Old Derby 
was connected with the outside world by a railroad. On the 
eleventh of June the road was open to Waterbury ; on the 
twenty-third of July it was open to Plymouth, and on the twen- 
ty-fourth day of September, 1849, the whole road was completed. 
Mr. Bishop, the contractor, having died in June the completion 
was thereby delayed a few days. 

The first time-table was issued on the fourteenth of May, 
1849, '1"'^^ o'^ tl"'^ fourth of July of the same year a regular ex- 
cursion train was run, and that time-table mentions the follow- 
ing stations, beginning at Inchliff's Bridge and passing Water- 
ville, Waterbury, Naugatuck, Pine's Bridge, Humphreysville, 
Ansonia, Derby, Baldwin's Platform, the Junction and Bridge- 
port. 

On the twenty-third of July a time-table was issued, the train 
starting at Plymouth. 

On November 15th, the same year, a time-table was issued 
naming the following stations : Winsted, Rossiterville, Wol- 
cottville, Harwinton, Plymouth, Waterville, Waterbury, Nauga- 
tuck, Humphreysville, Ansonia and Derby. 

No particular change was made from the first plan of the 
road except at the south end, where instead of crossing the 
Ousatonic river at Derby and going direct to Bridgeport, they 
ran down the east side of the river, as at present, to the New 
York and New Haven railroad, and on that to Bridgeport. 

The directors in their first report, 1849, say: "The road 
commences at Winsted, in Litchfield county, about nine miles 
from the north line of the state, and terminates in the town of 
Milford, near the Ousatonic river, about twelve miles from 
New Haven and five miles from Bridgeport, at which point it 
intersects with the New York and New Haven railroad. It is 
fifty-five miles in length, and passes through the villages of 
Winsted, Wolcottville, Thomaston, Waterville, the city of W^ater- 
bury. Union City, Naugatuck, Seymour, Ansonia, Derby and 
Birmingham, besides several other intermediate stations." 

While the country all along the line of the road has been 
40 



314 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

greatly benefited, it is pleasant to know that the road, as. a 
business enterprise, has been a success, and in every respect 
an honor to the country and the men who have conducted it. 
There has been no repudiation of bonds, nor of bills, nor dam- 
ages, from the first day to the present time. The president of the 
New York and New Haven railroad not long since, pronounced 
it "one of the best managed roads in the country." This must 
be true or it would have been a one horse affair, instead of be- 
ing one of the most prompt and energetic institutions in the 
state. 

The expense in repairs on this road, above that of many oth- 
ers, absorbs annually a large per cent, of the income. The 
road is built in a narrow valley, and the hills on either side, 
much of the distance, are very precipitous, and the water rush- 
ing down the steep rocks and hills often does much damage to 
the grading of the road. The clouds sometimes settle down 
below the tops of the adjacent hills and empty their waters as 
in a flood, when bridges and heavy masonry are carried away 
as floating chips, as was the case in 1875, between Thomaston 
and Waterbury, and also on another occasion when the 
bridge was carried away at Pine brook, a short distance above 
Thomaston. On this occasion the workmen on the road above 
the bridge closed their work at six o'clock and went down the 
road over the bridge (which was then all right) to Thomaston. 
Soon after, a heavy shower came along above the bridge, mak- 
ing a great flood, most of it within the distance of about one 
mile, which flood carried away the abutment of the bridge, the 
bridge remaining in its place. When the up train came to 
Thomaston the workmen took a baggage or freight car, which 
when they came to the bridge went into the river with the 
bridge, and nine out of the sixteen men in the car were 
drowned. Great precaution is taken to have track walkers 
examine the road after showers as well as after the passing of 
trains, but in this case the shower was so confined to a short 
distance, and that between the stations, that no apprehension 
was entertained as to the safety of the road. That shower in 
its extent was very unusual, as it fell within the distance of 
one mile on the road, and in three or four hours the flood of 
water was gone and the river assumed its natural low water mark. 



NAUGATUCK VALLEY. 315 

In consequence of the abruptness of these rocky hills the 
scenery along the road is wild and picturesque. At Wolcott- 
ville the valley widens a little, and the rising of the hills both 
east and west is gradual and free from rocks, forming one of 
the most beautiful sites for a city that ornaments the valley. 

THE NAUGATUCK VALLEY. 

The valley of the Naugatuck, through the entire length of 
which the railroad passes, has long been famed for the variety 
and beauty of its scenery. Not only has it attracted the at- 
tention and enlisted the pens of writers who have been familiar 
with it from childhood, but those who have come as strangers 
from remote parts of the nation have taken pleasure in de- 
scribing its picturesqueness and grandeur. From Wolcott- 
ville, where the two main branches of the Naugatuck unite, 
to Derby and Birmingham, where it empties into the Ousa- 
tonic, the river flows between wooded hill-sides, verdant mead- 
ows and precipitous ridges of rock. All these, with busy 
manufacturing villages interspersed, present themselves in 
rapid alternation to the traveler on the Naugatuck railroad, as 
he is borne northward or southward along its winding track. 
A recent quite noted writer speaks in the following manner : 
"The Naugatuck railroad runs through one of the most charm- 
ing valleys in all New England. The scenery is rare in its 
beauty, and renders the locality delightful either for permanent 
residence or for brief visits. Besides these natural advantages, 
the towns all along the line of the road are homes of numerous 
and important manufactures, whose products are shipped all 
over the world, and whose industries give employment and 
support to large numbers of people."^ It is believed that 
eighty per cent, of all these manufacturing interests have been 
introduced into the valley since the construction of the rail- 
road. Hence, the writer just quoted thus continues: "In 
view of these things it is a matter of the highest importance 
that the railroad facilities afforded shall be ample and ably 
managed, for without such assistance that whole fertile and 
productive country would lose its value to the rest of the world. 
It is, therefore, most fortunate that the Naugatuck railroad is 

^Rev. George Lansing Taylor. 



3l6 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

one of the best managed institutions in the country. It does a 
very large passenger and freight business, and at the same time 
all its officials are courteous and accommodating, looking care- 
fully to the wants and conveniences of the public, and making 
business intercourse agreeable and profitable ; the credit of 
which is almost entirely due to the superintendent, Mr. George 
W. Beach." 

Until the opening of the railroad, the knowledge of this val- 
ley scenery was comparatively limited, but since then, and es- 
pecially within the last ten years, the visitors have been so 
many that " High Rock Grove" has become a household word 
in thousands of families, the children being as familiar with it 
and the name of Superintendent George W. Beach, the deviser 
of so many pleasant things for them, as the older people. 

At High Rock, a little above Beacon Falls village, the scen- 
ery is notably wild and picturesque, and very much so for two 
miles below that place. On ascending the river on the railroad, 
the first prominent hight seen is Castle Rock, just below the 
village of Seymour, on the west side of the river, where it 
stands in all the grandeur of its ancient days, looking down 
upon the Falls of the Naugatuck as it did when the Red man of 
the valley made that his chief fishing place. This rock is about 
two hundred feet in hight, and without trees or shrubbery. 
Passing above the village of Seymour, Rock Rimmon rises in 
sight, jutting out, apparently, in the middle of the valley from 
the north, and rising to the hight of about four hundred feet, 
as if it were the foremost tower in a range of hills, like a bat- 
tlement, to defy the northward progress of an army of railroads. 
When this rock is seen from a distance at the south, it seems 
to be on the confines of a boundless wilderness, and this ap- 
pearance was probably the suggestion of the name it bears, as 
brought to mind in a very ancient historical declaration, upon 
the defeat of a great army : " And they turned and fled toward 
the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmonl" On the west side 
of the river from Seymour, northward for two miles, the scen- 
ery is wild and hilly, but after this the hills disappear so as to 
allow the coming of two brooks into the Naugatuck, and some 
little valley land at the place called Pines Bridge. At the up- 

8Judges, 20:45- 



HIGH ROCK GROVE. 



317 



per end of this little opening of the hills is Beacon Falls vil- 
lage, just above which the hills again close in, leaving little 
more than space for the river and the railroad, and then again 
the scenery becomes magnificently wild and rocky. On the 
west side of the river the hills rise very abruptly to the height 
of three and four hundred feet ; the rocks standing out in prom- 
ontories successively, in a gradual curve, until they reach High 
Rock, which has an elevation above the river of four hundred 




VIEW OF TllK IKAIN AI'I'ROACHINt; HIGH ROCK (JKOVK 1-KoM THE NORTH. 

and seventy-five feet, and from which northward the hills grad- 
ually decrease in height to the village of Naugatuck. On the 
east side of the river at High Rock the hills rise more gradu- 
ally, but are still very steep, and covered with trees of small 
growth. The accompanying picture represents the hills and 
the valley just above High Rock, where the valley is but about 
twenty rods wide. A little below this is the picnic ground. 

HIGH ROCK GROVE. 

In the summer of 1876, the centennial year of the nation, 
the Naugatuck railroad company prepared a delightful picnic 
ground at this place, for the comfort and enjoyment of multi- 



HIGH ROCK GROVE. 3I9 

tildes of visitors, as well as to add somewhat to the returns from 
the investments made in the road. 

By the washing of the river, and the deepening of the channel 
on the east side of the valley, a strip of land had been formed 
on the west side, which had grown up within the last fifty years 
into a beautiful grove. This was cleared of underbrush and 
graded as far as was needful ; two spacious pavilions and other 
houses were erected ; croquet fields arranged ; a supply of boats 
provided on the river, which is here well adapted for rowing in 
consequence of the Beacon Falls dam just below, and numer- 
ous other provisions made for the entertainment of visitors. 

In the above cut. High Rock Grove is in the centre at the 
upper edge of the water, and High Rock is the high point at the 
left. 

The grounds of this Grove, together with all the various con- 
veniences and privileges for entertainment and amusement, are 
furnished by the company without expense to visitors, except 
the usual rates of fare, unless in the case of picnics when the 
fare is greatly reduced. 

In the heart of this rugged region, and just at the upper end 
of the grove, there is a narrow wooded glen, opening upon the 
river on its western bank, which in former years was a favorite 
resort for small picnic parties, and was known as " Sherman's 
Gorge." Through this a beautiful mountain stream comes 
plunging down, winding around the huge boulders which lie in its 
path, and leaping over rocky ledges, forming a series of charming 
little cascades, some of them hidden under the dense shadows 
of the woods. Southward and northward from this glen extends 
a ridge of hills, or rather crags, the southern division of which 
is known in history as Tobie's Rock Mountain. It derives its 
name from an Indian who, in colonial times, was the slave of 
one of the chief men of the region, and who soon after his 
freedom received from the Paugasuck Indians, " upon the con- 
sideration of friendship," a considerable tract of land including 
this mountain. To the highest of these great crags the name 
of " High Rock" has been given, and the gorge at its base has 
been named "High Rock Glen." Just below the mouth of the 
glen, between the railroad and the river, lies the strip of level 
land which constitutes the famous Hi<rh Rock Grove. It is 




SCENK IN HIGH ROCK GLEN. 



SHERMAN S CUT. 



i2I 



sheltered on the west by the towering ledge spoken of, whose 
summit commands a view of distant woods and hillsides ; while 
on the east the river, deep and dark, flows quietly by ; and be- 
yond it rises the eastern bank, high and steep, covered with 
evergreens and other trees, their foliage hiding from view the 
highway which runs close by. Taken altogether, it is one of 
the cosiest and most retired nooks to be found in any district 
into which railroads have penetrated ; and yet, it is so conven- 
ient that a single step transfers the excursionist from the noise 
and hurry of the train to the seclusion and coolness of the 
forest. 




SHERMAN S CUT A FEW RODS NORTH OF HIGH ROCK GROVE. 

The glen affords a charming walk in the shade of the forest 
for more than a mile. The varying views of the ravine, with 
its cooling waterfalls and deep, dark water pools, its moss-grown 
and fern-covered rocks, its glimpses of pure azure above, seen 
through the opening of the " melancholy boughs," the mirrored 
images of the " far nether world" in the deep waters, the mini- 
ature caves and caverns, the flume of the upper gorge, the drip- 
ping and trickling, the plash, rush and play of the gurgling, 
leaping water, the flecks of golden sunlight, and the dark green 
41 



322 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

shadows, all these in their ever changing forms allure and charm 
the spirit and give the realizing sense that there is indeed " a 
pleasure in the pathless woods," and in the "love of nature." 

High Rock itself is worthy of a visit from the ocean's side. 
Lookout Point, from the top of it, is reached more frequently 
by a circuitous route of nearly a mile in length through the 
woods, ascending so rapidly much of the way as to cause the 
traveler to pause " to take breath," and where frequently on 
turning to look northward he views the almost perpendicular 
columns of granite on the opposite side of the glen, or still far- 
ther away, discovers the rising summits of this range of hills. 
Standing on the point, the fragrance and coolness of the ocean 
atmosphere, in the summer, is quite perceptible and exhilara- 
ting, and the enjoyment very satisfying, especially to visitors 
from the large cities. A few lines written by a recent visitor 
while standing on this height are appropriate to be recorded : 

" From here I gaze over a landscape that has been hunted out by 
many an artist, engraved and published in a magazine, and is worthy 
of the brush of Church or Broughton. or Bierstadt or Gifford. The 
scene is not vast. The sense of the Infinite is given only in the 
sky above. But here is a mixture of verdure and sternness, of ro- 
mantic gorge and wild, tumultuous billows of hill and rock, that brings 
a feeling of solitude, yet of strength to the soul of man. There is an 
element of almost moral character, a teaching power, in a grand, gray 
cliff of upright uncompromising granite, that can be felt and remem- 
bered. A silent strength goes out of nature into the soul of man amid 
such scenes as this. 1 sit amid the vast and roomy silences, studying 
that twin cliff opposite to this, that infinite upper deep, and feel my 
heart lifted upward to a Somewhat in that abyss above, a Somewhat 
that is looking in full faced consciousness on me, and whose inaudible 
whisper, out of the infinite silences, steals through my soul with a voice 
more penetrating and more abiding than all the thunders that ever 
crashed upon these Titan brows of time-defying rock." 

Thus seated upon the point of High Rock an impression is 
sensibly felt of the wonderfulness of nature and the marvelous- 
ness of mechanical skill. Nearly five hundred feet below, and 
scarcely that distance in a horizontal line, is the railroad, upon 
which so often each day moves the majestic train, making al- 
most the foundations of these rocky hills shake, while the sound 



RAILROAD MEN. 323 

of the Steam whistle echoes, higher and higher, until lost above 
the top of the hills, and therefore, the contrast between the 
silent grandeur of nature and the mystery of skill is realized 
with satisfaction and comfort. The grandeur of the Naugatuck 
valley, although not equal to, is instructive as well as, the Alps 
of Switzerland. 

If, therefore, the railroad of this valley has been a successful 
enterprise, as already stated, it must have been conducted by 
competent and honorable men, for if either of these conditions 
had been wanting, this end could not have been realized. It 
will be interesting, therefore, to look over briefly the business 
life of some of the leaders in this enterprise. 

ALFRED BISHOP. 

Alfred Bishop, first president of the Naugatuck railroad, de- 
scended from Rev. John Bishop, minister in Stamford, and was 
the son of William and Susannah (Scofield) Bishop, and was 
born in Stamford, December 21, 1798. At an early age he 
commenced his self-reliant career as a teacher in the public 
schools. After teaching a short time he went to New Jersey, 
with the intention of spending his years in farming. While 
thus engaged he made personal experiments with his pickaxe, 
shovel and wheelbarrow, from which he estimated the cost for 
removing various masses of earth to different distances. In 
this way, without definite intention, he prepared himself for the 
great business of his life, that of a canal and railroad contractor. 
Among the public works on which he was engaged and which 
constitute the best monument to his name, are the Morris ca- 
nal in New Jersey, the great bridge over the Raritan at New 
Brunswick, the Housatonic, Berkshire, Washington and Sara- 
toga, Naugatuck, and New York and New Haven railroads. 

He removed from New Jersey to Bridgeport, Conn., where he 
spent the remainder of his life. It is not claiming too much for 
him, to say that Bridgeport owes much to his enterprise and 
public spirit. Mr. Bishop readily inspired confidence in his 
plans for public improvements, and at his call the largest sums 
were cheerfully supplied. 

But in the midst of his extensive operations and while form- 
ing plans for greater works, he was suddenly arrested by his 



324 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

last illness. From the first, he felt that it would prove fatal, 
and under such circumstances, even more than while in health, 
he displayed his remarkable talents in arranging all the details 
of a complicated business. In the midst of great physical suf- 
fering he detailed with minuteness the necessary steps for clos- 
ing all his extensive business arrangements, laying out the work 
for his executors as he would have planned the details of an 
ordinary railroad contract. He then, in the same business- 
like manner, distributed his large estate, bestowing one-quarter 
in gratuities outside of his own family, partly to his more dis- 
tant relatives, partly to his personal friends who had been un- 
fortunate, and partly to strictly benevolent uses. 

Mr. Bishop married Mary, daughter of Ethan Ferris of 
Greenwich, and had three sons, all born in New Jersey. 

William D. Bishop, his son, was graduated at Yale College, 
and was president some years of the New York and New Ha- 
ven railroad. 

Edward F. Bishop, his son, was graduated at Trinity Col- 
lege, Hartford ; resides in Bridgeport, and is president of the 
Nangatuck railroad. 

Henry Bishop, his son, resides in Bridgeport. 

PHILO KURD. 

Philo Hurd was born in Brookfield, Conn., in 1795, and was 
the son of a farmer. He possessed a strong physical constitu- 
tion, which he used to say he gained " by inheritance, and by 
holding the plough among the rocks on the hills of Connecticut." 
He engaged in mercantile pursuits for a number of years in 
New York city, in the state of Georgia, and in the city of 
Bridgeport. While conducting business in Bridgeport, he was 
elected sheriff of the county, and before his time in that office 
had expired Mr. Alfred Bishop invited him to engage in mak- 
ing railroads. 

His first work in this line was in completing the Housatonic 
road, then being constructed by Mr. Bishop. He was next en- 
gaged nearly a year and a half on the New York and New 
Haven railroad, assisting Professor Twining in locating sections 
of it and in giving deeds and arranging the preliminaries to the 
eastern sections. 



THE RAILROAD WANTED. 325 

In the autumn of 1844, he went up the Naugatuck valley on 
an exploring tour, to inspect the localities and inquire as to the 
feasibility of building a road in this valley. His report was so 
favorable that application was made for a charter, which was 
granted and Mr. Hurd went through the entire valley with the 
engineers, as overseeing agent in locating the road and mak- 
ing the profile and survey. Then he went through again, sur- 
veyed and measured the land taken by the road, gave every 
deed, settled every claim of man, woman, orphan or child who 
owned any of the land, whether those persons resided on the road, 
in Michigan or in California. He has said that it seemed to him, 
he had slept or taken a meal of victuals in nearly every house 
from Bridgeport to Winsted, and that in all this work he never 
had any serious difficulty with any person. 

This last item is remarkable, and indicates that either the 
people of the Naugatuck valley are a good-natured sort of peo- 
ple, or Mr. Hurd must have been a man of unusual good-nature 
and kindly ways in transacting such business, or he would have 
had difficulty somewhere among so many people. 

Mr. Hurd gave very high praise to George D. Wadhams of 
Wolcottville and Israel Holmes of Waterbury for the assistance 
they rendered in a general manner as to the enterprise, as well 
as to their work and aid in their specific localities. 

In the construction of the road, Mr. Hurd bought all the ma- 
terial along the line, paid all the men employed, and saw every- 
thing completed and delivered into the hands of the directors. 

The one great thing that made the work comparatively easy 
was, "the people wanted the road." In 1853, the road had 
been so prosperous and Mr. Hurd's work so acceptable, that the 
company made him a present of $1,000. 

By the time the Naugatuck road was finished Mr. Hurd had 
become thoroughly a railroad man, and thereafter very natur- 
ally kept in the work. 

He went to Indiana, and was engaged some time in finish- 
ing the railroad from Indianapolis to Peru. Scarcely was he 
through with that when he was invited to engage on the Hud- 
son River road. Governor Morgan was president, and Mr. Hurd 
accepted the position of vice-president, where he continued 
some few years. 



326 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

When Robert Schuyler failed and the Hudson River road be- 
came somewhat involved in troubles, Mr. Hurd accepted the 
presidency of the Harlem railroad, where he continued about 
three years. 

At this time his health failed. He went to Florida and re- 
turned no better, went to St. Paul and returned the same. He 
then packed his trunk for a long journey, sailed for Europe, 
went to Nice, in Italy, and there in a short time entirely recov- 
ered, and has never since had pulmonary difficulty. 

After returning home he engaged a short time on the Dela- 
ware, Lackawanna and Western railroad, and after this, with a 
few items in regard to other roads, ceased to work on railroads. 

He resides at Bridgeport, spending the winters at the South, 
and is still an energetic, cheerful and agreeable man. 

HORACE NICHOLS. 

Horace Nichols was born in the town of Fairfield, Conn., and 
was a clerk some years in Bridgeport. He became the treas- 
urer of the Housatonic railroad in 1840, and has held that office 
since that time. 

When the Naugatuck road was started, he was elected secre- 
tary and treasurer, and has continued therein, a faithful, honor- 
able, prompt and energetic officer, until the present time. He 
is unostentatious, scarcely allowing a notice to be made of him 
in public print. 

GEORGE WELLS BEACH. 

George Wells Beach is the eldest son of Sharon Y. Beach 
of Seymour. The genealogy of the family is given elsewhere 
in this volume. He was born in Seymour (then Humphreys- 
ville), August 18, 1833, and received in his native village an 
education fitting him for the duties of an active business life. 
It was during his sixteenth year that the Naugatuck railroad 
was built, and he watched with more than ordinary interest the 
progress of this new enterprise, connecting Seymour and the 
whole Naugatuck valley with the great world without. 

Soon after the railroad was completed, that is, in 1850, he 
entered the service of the railroad company at the Humphreys- 
ville station in the capacity of a clerk, — with the understanding, 
however, that he should fill any position and attend to any du- 



GEORGE W. BEACH. 32/ 

ties on the railroad which might chance to be assigned to him. 
In 185 1 he was made second clerk in the ofifice at Waterbury, 
but from time to time was sent to different stations, where a re- 
sponsible person was required ; so that during this period in his 
life as a railroad man he served as agent at nearly every station 
on the road. Occupying such a position as this, and possessing 
much quickness of apprehension and keenness of the observing 
faculties, Mr. Beach became familiar to an unusual degree with 
the management of the railroad, with the methods of work upon 
it, and with the men connected with it. He become also ex- 
tensively acquainted with the people of the Naugatuck valley, 
and thoroughly informed respecting the interests centering at 
the different stations, and the requirements necessary to bring 
the railroad up to the highest level of efficiency ; so that his 
early railroad experiences constituted the best preparation he 
could have received for the higher position he was afterward 
called to occupy. 

In I 855, Mr. Beach received the appointment of agent at the 
Naugatuck station, and held this position for nearly two years. 
In April, 1857, he was made conductor of the morning and 
evening passenger train, and while in this capacity took charge 
of the general ticket agency, thus becoming still more familiar 
with the business of the railroad as a whole. He continued to 
perform this twofold work until 1861, when he was made agent 
at Waterbury, the point of most importance on the line of the 
road. Here he remained, fulfilling the various duties of his po- 
sition to the satisfaction of the railroad company and the pub- 
lic, for a period of seven years. 

When, upon the death of Charles Waterbury in September, 
1868, the office of superintendent of the Naugatuck railroad be- 
came vacant, the directors of the company were not long in de- 
ciding who should fill the place. Mr. Beach seemed to be 
specially marked out, by a life-long education and by his per- 
sonal characteristics, for this particular position, and it was 
forthwith tendered to him. He assumed the duties of his office 
in November, 1868, and has exercised them without interrup- 
tion, and with unrelaxing fidelity, until the present time. His 
appointment to this important trust has been fully justified by 
the results. For it is the judgment of those who know best, 



328 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

that there is no railroad in New England in better working 
order than the short but important line which extends from 
Bridgeport to Winsted. And this is largely due to the fact that 
the superintendent exercises habitually a supervision which, for 
thoroughness and system, is equaled only on the railways of 
England. By constant attention to details, he secures the ut- 
most safety and comfort of the traveling public, and does much 
to guard against the inconveniences and interruptions to which 
travel in the narrow Naugatuck valley is liable because of sud- 
den freshets in the river. 

Mr. Beach has been well described, in a biographical sketch 
already published, as " an unpretejiding, plain, business man." 
His manner is quiet and somewhat reserved, but his mandates 
as a railroad officer are never misunderstood, and are always 
sure to be fulfilled He possesses not only executive ability of 
a high order, but the forethought which enables a man to guard 
against disasters in advance, and to lay plans which will pro- 
duce remunerative results. It is safe to say that some of the 
most profitable investments made by the Naugatuck railroad 
Company during the past twelve years have been the fruit of 
careful experiment and wise suggestion on his part ; and the 
good results have been secured not by sacrificing the conven- 
ience of the public, but in such a way as to add to their comfort 
and enjoyment. This is well illustrated by the establishment, 
directly on the line of the railroad, of the summer resort now so 
well known as High Rock Grove, — an enterprise originated and 
carried through by the superintendent's efforts. 

Mr, Beach received his early religious training under the 
strictest Baptist influences, but is nevertheless a member of a 
Congregational church. He united with the First Church in 
Waterbury in May, 1863, and has continued in active connec- 
tion therewith until the present time. He was long a teacher 
in its Sunday-school, and for several years has held the office of 
Sunday-school superintendent, — a position which he seems to 
consider no less responsible and honorable than the other su- 
perintendency by which he is better known to the outside world. 
Since April, 1873, he has served as one of the deacons of the 
First Church. In 1861, he was a delegate of the Young Men's 
Christian Association to the convention in New York which 



ALFRED BEERS. 329 

organized the " Christian Commission" for the relief of soldiers 
in the late war. His interest in Christian Associations still 
continues, and he has done considerable service in their behalf 
in Connecticut, as a member of the State committee. Pie held 
the office of postmaster in Waterbury during 1866 and 1867, 
and represented that town in the Legislature in 1870 and 1871. 
Mr. Beach has resided in Waterbury since 1861. In 1855 he 
married Miss Sarah Upson, daughter of the late Hiram Upson 
of Seymour. Their children are Henry Dayton, born Decem- 
ber 29, 1858, and Edward Anderson, born October 10, 1873. 
Beside these names should be written, with tender remem- 
brances, the name of one who for a number of years occupied 
the position of a daughter in the household, and was the recip- 
ient of fatherly and motherly affection — Hattie Beach Smith, 
She went forth from her adopted home under brightest auspices, 
as the wife of William R. Goodspeed of East Haddam, but died 
June 20, 1879, ^t the early age of twenty-four, leaving two 
children. 

ALFRED BEERS. 

Alfred Beers, son of Jonathan Beers, was born at Canaan, 
Conn., September 26, 18 17, where he resided with his parents 
until about five years of age, when they removed to Lewisboro, 
Westchester county, N. Y. He continued to work with his 
father, after the old style, until he was twenty-one years of age, 
but during which time he had, by various methods and efforts, 
learned the trade of boot and shoe maker. 

At the age of twenty-three he married Mary E., daughter of 
Capt. Leander Bishop of Rye, N. Y. 

Mr. Beers resided a time in Shrewsbury, N. J., and removed 
thence to Bridgeport and commenced work as a conductor with 
the Naugatuck railroad company in March, 185 i, in which posi- 
tion he has continued to the present time, a term of over twenty- 
nine years. During this time he has served under all the su- 
perintendents who have been employed on the road : Philo 
Hurd, W. D. Bishop, Clapp Spooner, Charles Waterbury and 
George W. Beach. The distance he has traveled while in this 
work has been about one million miles, or the same as forty 

times around the earth, and has conducted about two millions 

42 



330 HISTORY OF DERHV. 

of passengers over the road in safety, having never lost the life 
of a passenger, nor having had one seriously injured. In one 
respect he has had the advantage of his brother in the matter 
of safety; his train runs in the middle of the day, and his broth- 
er's at morning and evening, and the only serious accidents 
which have occurred on the road were two, both on the up train, 
each in the evening, after a heavy shower of rain. 

Mr. Beers, having been so long connected with the road as 
conductor, has become the personal friend (and almost the per- 
sonal property) of everybody from Long Island Sound to the 
Old Bay State, and in traveling it is a matter of about as much 
satisfaction and sense of safety to the public to see the old con- 
ductor, as it is to know there is a steam engine ahead of the 
train. Indeed, his silver wedding in connection with the road 
ought to have been celebrated four years ago, and thereby 
given expression to the joyful fact that in regard to these " bans 
hitherto no man hath put asunder." 

Mr. Beers has six children, three sons and three daughters. 

Leander J., his eldest son, is conductor on the Shore Line 
railroad, and runs from New Haven to New London. 

Charles W., his second son, is mail agent on the Housatonic 
railroad. 

Alfred B., his third son, is an attorney at law and judge of 
the city court at Bridgeport. He enlisted in the late war as a 
private, served three years, and then re-enlisted, declaring that 
he intended to do what he could to the very last to put down 
the rebellion. He came out of the contest unharmed, and with 
a captain's commission. 

Mr. Beers's daughters are married, two residing in Bridgeport, 
the other in Litchfield. 

He has four grandsons, all of them, doubtless, if not on the 
railroad, are traveling in the "way they should go." 

Mr. Beers resides in East Bridgeport, is one of the vestry- 
men of St. Paul's church there, and warden of the borough of 
West Stratford. He is one of the assessors of the town of 
Stratford, and also grand juror. 



RAILROAD ACCIDENT. 33 I 

AMOS S. BEERS. 

Amos S. Beers, brother of Alfred, was born in South Salem, 
New York, in 1827, being the son of Jonathan Beers, a farmer. 
He worked on his father's farm until seventeen years of age, 
when he went to New Canaan, where he served his time, three 
years, as a shoe-maker. From this place he went to New York 
city, wher© he remained as clerk in a shoe store two years. 

He engaged in the service of the Naugatuck railroad in 1854, 
as fireman, remaining nine months and then left that position. 
In 1855 he was appointed conductor and has thus continued to 
the present time, a period of over twenty-three years, and has 
thereby, as well as his elder brother, become, if not a part of 
the rolling-stock of the road, a fixture so important and so famil- 
iar to all the people that his absence from his train would re- 
quire a definite explanation from high authority to satisfy the 
inquiry of the public. He has at different times run his train 
successive years without losing a trip. 

He understands his business and attends to it without fear or 
favor, and yet with the demeanor of a true gentleman as well as 
an officer. Attentive in an unusual degree to the sick and dis- 
abled who are compelled to travel, he is decided and thorough 
in securing perfect order and decorum on his train at all times. 

In the accident which occurred a little above Thomaston 
on the nth of May, 1876, by which a coach heavily loaded with 
passengers was thrown into the river, by the breaking of an 
axle, he manifested such presence of mind in rescuing every 
person in safety as to secure the approbation of all on the train, 
and also received a present of an elegant gold watch from the 
company. As to this accident he has been heard to say that as 
he was standing on the platform and saw the coach, the last in 
the train, go down the banks, although the brakes were already 
on, " it seemed to me that the train would never stop." Very 
possibly ! Persons have sometimes lived ages in a moment. 
All the sufifering and sorrow that might be the result of such 
an accident would pass before the mind in much less time than 
it took to stop that train, although that time was but half a 
minute. 

He also knows the road on which he travels and looks ahead 



332 HISTORY OF DERBY, 

to avoid possible calamity. Going down on a morning train 
after a shower in the night, he said to his engineer, " When you 
reach such a place, before passing the curve stop, and I will go 
ahead and see if the track is clear." The train stopped at the 
place, as directed, and in the waiting the passengers began to 
be uneasy, and to wonder what delusion had come over the en- 
gineer or the conductor to stop in such a place. The conductor 
passed around the curve and there lay a landslide covering the 
whole track, and if they had proceeded as usual the whole train 
must have gone into the river or been a wreck. 

Behind a clear intellect is often wanting a heart to feel for 
humanity. Men often know the possibility of danger and ca- 
lamity, but having very little human sympathy rush on, and 
much suffering is the result, which might have been avoided. 

The Naugatuck railroad has been very fortunate in its con- 
ductors. 

Mr. Beers's eldest son, Herbert S. Beers, is conductor on the 
New Haven and Derby railroad. 

His son, Willie H. Beers, is shipping clerk for the Gilbert clock 
factory at Winsted. 

NEW HAVEN AND DERBY RAILROAD. 

As the incipient thoughts of a railroad in the Naugatuck val- 
ley originated in the mind of Alfred Bishop, so the first moving 
of questions which resulted in the New Haven and Derby rail- 
road began in the mind of Francis E. Harrison of New Haven, 
in i860 and 1861. 

After studying over different propositions to facilitate public 
travel and the transportation of the mails between New Haven 
and the Naugatuck valley, the idea of a new railroad was fully 
entertained and entered upon, and the efforts resulted in the 
incorporation of the New Haven and Derby railroad company, 
by the Connecticut Legislature, in the year 1864, upon peti- 
tions numerously signed by the active business men of New 
Haven and Derby. 

The corporators were C. S. Bushnell, Henry Dutton, N. D. 
Sperry, L. S. Hotchkiss, lienjamin Noyes, Charles Peterson 
and N. H. Sanford of New Haven, and William E. Downs and 
Robert N. Bassett of Birmingham. 



DERBY ROAD DELAYED. 333 

In November, 1865, the project was presented to the pubHc 
at a meeting held at Tyler's Hall in New Haven, at which 
Francis E. Harrison and Charles Atwater of New Haven, and 
William E. Downs of Birmingham were the leading speakers, 
and the meeting resulted in an increased desire in the public 
mind for the road. 

But little was accomplished until the autumn of 1866, when, 
by a new and resolute effort on the part of the friends of the 
project, the subscription was increased until about ^200,000 
were secured, and on the 24th of April, 1867, the corporation 
was organized by the choice of its first board of directors, and 
the election of Henry S. Dawson, president, Morris Tyler, vice- 
president, Charles Atwater, treasurer, and Francis E. Harrison 
secretary. The board employed Col. M. D. Davidson of New 
York city, to make the necessary surveys which were at once 
commenced, and were completed in the autumn of 1867. In 
June, 1867, the city of New Haven subscribed $200,000 to the 
capital stock, and in July, 1869, guaranteed its bonds to the 
amount of $225,000. 

Early in the winter of 1867, the contract for constructing the 
road was awarded to Messrs. George' D. Chapman & Com- 
pany, with a proviso that it should be completed by the close of 
the year 1868. The work, however, proceeded very unsatisfac- 
torily, and finally, in the summer of 1869, was abandoned to the 
company by the contractors. In the spring of 1869, Mr. Dawson 
resigned the presidency and Hon. Morris Tyler was elected as 
his successor. In the autumn of 1869, a new contract for the 
completion of the road was made with Willis Phelps of Spring- 
field, Massachusetts. In 1871, Mr. Phelps having surrendered 
the contract, the road was completed under the direction of E. 
S. Quintard, Esq., who had been elected superintendent in 
August, 1870. 

The opening excursion was made on Saturday, August 5, 
1 87 1, and the regular running of trains commenced on Wed- 
nesday, August 9, 1 87 1. Since that date, its business has been 
fully equal to the expectations of its proprietors, and now 
amounts to about <| 100,000 per year. 

In September, 1874, Mr. Tyler resigned the presidency of 
the company, and late in the year Mr. J. H. Bartholomew of 



334 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Ansonia, was elected as his successor, and has continued to 
hold that office by successive annual elections until the present 
time. The officers of the company at the present time are as 
follows : 

President, J. H. Bartholomew of Ansonia, 
Vice President, Charles L. English of New Haven, 
Secretary, Francis E. Harrison of New Haven, 
Treasurer, Charles Atwater of New Haven, 
Super intenaent, E. S. Quintard of New Haven. 

The whole length of the road is thirteen miles, running 
through a rural district nearly the entire distance, having the 
good fortune to touch the villages at a single point and then pass- 
ing into the open country. The stations, beginning with New 
Haven are : West Haven, Tyler City, Orange, Derby, Birming- 
ham and Ansonia. A brief notice of the leading men engaged 
in this enterprise is given. 

J. H. BARTHOLOMEW, ESQ. 

Jeremiah H. Bartholomew was elected president of this com- 
pany, Sept. 29, 1874, and still holds that office. The biographi- 
cal sketch of him may be found in another part of this book. 

HON. MORRIS TYLER. 

Hon. Morris Tyler was elected president of the company in 
1867, which office he held until September, 1874, when he re- 
signed, but continued a member of the board of directors until 
his decease, in November, 1876. 

To Mr. Tyler, is due, perhaps, more than to any other mem- 
ber of the board of directors, the successful prosecution of the 
work to its completion, in which he, and the board, had to 
contend against innumerable difficulties, growing out of finan- 
cial embarrassments occasioned by the failure of the con- 
tractors, at a time when the work was about half done. His 
efficient effort in carrying it to completion is well expressed in 
the following resolutions passed by the stockholders at the an- 
nual meeting, November 15, 1876: ''Resolved, that in the 
death of Mr. Tyler, the New Haven and Derby railroad com- 
pany has lost a director whose services, far exceeding any re- 
quirement of official duty, were invaluable ; whose counsel and 



RAILROAD MEN. 335 

whose means, in the darkest days of its history, largely contrib- 
uted to preserve its road to the public interests which originally 
induced its construction, and whose unrewarded services as the 
executive officer of the company for several years, should ever 
be held in kindly remembrance. That in grateful acknowledge- 
ment of our obligations to Mr. Tyler for his unwearying devo- 
tion to the welfare of the company we place these resolutions 
upon our records." 

Morris Tyler was a noble type of American manhood. With- 
out the early aids which arise from inherited wealth, he, by the 
force of native energy and conscientious industry, acquired the 
confidence of his fellow citizens, and filled most important posi- 
tions in the city of his residence, and in the state. He was re- 
elected to the mayoralty of the city of New Haven, and lieuten- 
ant governor of the state, besides being connected with many 
financial and manufacturing corporations, in which he was a 
large stockholder. He died in the midst of his usefulness, leav- 
ing to' his family and fellow citizens a reputation for public 
enterprise, and duties well performed, which they will long 
remember with honor and affection. 

ELI S. OUINTARD, ESQ. 

Eli S. Ouintard is one of the oldest and best known of the 
active railroad men of Connecticut. He is a native of Norwalk, 
where he was born in 1820. His railroad life began with the 
establishment of the 9 30 morning down train on the New York 
and New Haven railroad, soon after its opening. Of this train 
he was the first conductor. Almost a quarter of a century after 
this (1872) his conductor's trunk, still in a state of good pre- 
servation, was sent him as a keepsake by the officials of the 
road. After a short service as conductor he was transferred to 
the New York agency of the road, and soon after, in 1852, en- 
tered the office and duties of its assistant superintendent, with 
his head-quarters at New Haven. This position he retained, to 
the satisfaction of the changing administrators of the company, 
and with the hearty good-will of its employes, until the winter 
of 1869, when he surrendered that office and removed to Cleve- 
land, Ohio, where he became superintendent of the Cincinnati, 
Sandusky and Cleveland railroad. 



33^ HISTORY OF DERBY. 

In the spring of 1870, negotiations were opened which re- 
sulted in the election of Mr. Quintard superintendent of the 
New Haven and Derby railroad, and his return to New Haven 
to supervise its completion and take charge of its work. It is 
but truth to say that his election gave general satisfaction, and 
was an element of strength in the public mind, which had be- 
come greatly discouraged in regard to the road by the various 
mishaps which had attended its construction. Under his super- 
intendence the road has been carefully and judiciously operated, 
by which the public confidence has been obtainecl. The road is 
now recognized as a very great convenience to the localities for 
whose benefit it was specially constructed, and the day is not far 
distant when its receipts will warrant further outlay to make its 
usefulness more complete and extensive. 

In addition to his large railroad acquaintance Mr. Quintard is 
one of the most prominent Free Masons in the state, having at- 
tained the highest honor in the Knights Templar and other 
kindred organizations of that body. He was also for some years 
a member of the New Haven common council. 

FRANCIS E. HARRISON, ESQ. 

Francis E. Harrison is a native of New Haven, having been 
born in that city in 1830. 

Graduating from Yale College in 1849, the subsequent years 
until 1861 were occupied in teaching and newspaper editing, in 
banking and insurance business. 

While acting as receiver of the suspended Litchfield Bank 
his attention was directed, by his own personal inconvenience, to 
the insufficient accommodations for travel between New Haven 
and the Naugatuck valley. The difficulties then experienced 
became still more apparent to him after engaging as chief clerk 
of the New Haven post-office in 1861, where he had occasion 
for observing the want of mail facilities between the two local- 
ities. To remedy these, he first petitioned the New York and 
New Haven road for an early morning train into New Haven, 
connecting with the only morning train down the Naugatuck 
road, and a corresponding returning train. Such a train was 
placed on that road, starting from Stamford, reaching New 
Haven at eight o'clock, and returning at noon. 



CHARTER SFXL'RF:n. 337 

While circulating this petition for this morning train, and ex- 
plaining its object to the business men of New Haven, he was 
constantly met by suggestions of a railroad making direct con- 
nections with the Naugatuck road at Derby. This was so fully 
in accord with his own ideas that in the spring of 1864, after 
consultation with prominent gentlemen in New Haven and 
Derby, Mr. Harrison drafted, secured signatures and presented 
petitions to the Legislature of that year for the incorporation 
of the company, which petitions were granted. Upon the or- 
ganization of the company in 1867 he was elected secretary, in 
recognition of his services, which position he has held since 
that date by continuous annual elections, taking an active part 
in the administration of the affairs of the road. 

In addition to his duties in connection with the road Mr. Har- 
rison continued in effect, though not in name, the assistant post- 
master of New Haven until January, 1872, when he was elected 
treasurer of the New Haven Gas Light Company, an office 
which he still occupies. 

HON. CHARLES ATWATER. 

Charles Atwater, the treasurer of the New Haven and Derby 
railroad company, is one of the well known business men of 
New Haven. Descended from one of the old families of the 
town, he was born January 2, 18 15 ; graduated at Yale College 
in 1834, and nearly all his business life, save a short period 
after graduation spent in Philadelphia, has been that of a New 
Haven merchant. The firms of English and Atwater, Charles 
Atwater and Sons, and Charles Atwater and Company, in each 
of which he has been a member, held a leading position in the 
iron and hardware trade in the city. He was also for many 
years a director in the City Bank, and some of that time its 
vice-president. Leaving that position he was the president of 
the Mechanics' Bank of New Haven about three years. In both 
these positions much of the active management of these insti- 
tutions was intrusted to him. 

Besides his business relations in New Haven, Mr. Atwater 

was a large owner in the Birmingham Iron and Steel Works, 

and for a time quite active in conducting that enterprise. While 

thus engaged his attention was directed to the advantages of 

43 



338 }I1.SJ()KV OK DKRin'. 

railroad communication between New Haven and the Nauga- 
tuck valley, and at the meeting in which the Derby railroad 
project was first brought to the attention of the public he pre- 
sented a resolution, '• that the business interests and general 
prosperity of New Haven would be greatly advanced by a more 
direct railroad connection with the Naugatuck valley," support- 
ing it with remarks of a practical and business-like character, 
and thus, from the very first, interested himself in that enter- 
prise. When the corporation was organized he was elected a 
director, and subsequently its treasurer, which position he has 
held to the present time, giving his services for many years gra- 
tuitously, and in the darker days of the road often uniting with 
Mr. Tyler in sustaining it with his personal credit. 

Mr. Atwater is not a stranger to public life, having been a 
member of the New Haven board of aldermen in 1858; a rep- 
resentative from New Haven to the Legislature in 1861 ; sena- 
tor from the fourth district in 1862 ; the democratic candidate 
for lieutenant-governor in 1872, and the greenback candidate 
for governor in two later years. He was also for thirteen years 
a member of the New Haven board of educatiqn. In all these 
public positions he has shown a practical sagacity that has se- 
cured the commendation of his fellow citizens, and has rendered 
valuable services to the interests intrusted to his care. 

EDWARD B. BRADLEY. 

Conductor Edward B. Bradley, a native of Newtown, Conn., son 
of J. W. Bradley, present proprietor of the Tontine Hotel in 
New Haven, entered the service of the New Haven and Derby 
railroad as conductor August 9, 1871, he being the first con- 
ductor employed under the first time-table issued by the com- 
pany, and has continued in the same position to the present 
time. Under his direction, and that of the other conductor, as- 
sisted by the engineers, no accident causing the sacrifice of hu- 
man life has occurred during the eight years, of five trips a day, 
in the business work of the road. 

HERBERT S. 15EERS. 

Conductor Herbert S. Beers, son of Amos S. Beers, who has 
been conductor on the Naugatuck railroad twenty-three years, 



FLOODS. 339 

began work as a brakeman on the New Haven and Derby road 
in March, 1872, wherein he continued until October, 1875, when 
he was appointed conductor, which position he still occupies: 



FRESHETS. 

The water and ice floods in the Ousatonic and Naugatuck 
rivers in the long past, according to tradition, were more mag- 
nificent and terrible than in later years. Large quantities of 
cord-wood upon the shores, saw-mill logs, ship timbers, huge 
trees broken or torn up by the roots, houses, barns and bridges 
were swept down stream almost annually by resistless floods. 
A wagoner with his team one day was swept from the cause- 
way while attempting to cross when the rivers were rising. He 
was rescued by two men in a flat-bottomed skiff from Derby 
shore, now rowing through the stream, again floating on ice, 
veering out a long rope which was held by parties on shore. 
The wagoner was saved at great peril, nearly exhausted, but his 
team was swept into Long Island Sound. 

The Naugatyck often rises suddenly, and many accidents 
have happened and lives been lost in attempting to cross on the 
causeway when the water was not apparently very deep. Mr. 
Thomas Wallace, although warned of danger, was, some years 
since, very bravely and leisurely crossing over with horse and 
wagon, when, nearing the western shore, the swift current car- 
ried him, with driver and horse, from the roadway, lodging him 
in a clump of buttonwood trees. Quick as thought the lookers 
on rushed to the rescue. Mr. Wallace's beaver was " on the 
swim," and his venerable locks bristling above water. One 
thoughtful adventurer made a dive for the hat, when Mr. Wal- 
lace, like any sensible man, exclaimed, with great emphasis, 
" Never mind the hat — save me ! " — and all were safely landed 
on terra firma. 

Once it was more lucrative to catch drift-wood during fresKets 
than at present. This was frequently done by throwing a rope 
with a stone on its end over a log near the shore where it was 
clear of ice, and then towing it in. Catching wood in this way, 
a man from Captain Nichols's wharf, for fear of losing his rope, 
tied the shore end around his waist, and then grappled a log 



340 HISTORY OF DERBV. 

which proved too much for his strength. He was carried down 
the stream and drowned. One of our oldest inhabitants in- 
forms the writer that he has heard the roosters crowing in a 
barn while riding majestically on the swelling flood, happily 
unconscious of danger. Eighty years ago, or more, the ice was 
unusually thick in the Ousatonic, and during an ice flood it was 
piled up on Shelton's Island just below Birmingham, it is said, 
at least forty feet high, portions of which remained until the 
early part of the next June. It was during this freshet an in- 
cident occurred of exciting interest. The first house of Mr, 
Joseph Wheeler stood near the river at Derby Landing, just be- 
low the old Leman Stone building. It was a sort of store, 
eating house, and stopping place for travelers. During the 
freshet Wheeler was along the shore watching the elements, 
and saw a large sheet of ice, occupying nearly the entire width 
of the river, strike the western shore, then veering to the east 
and approaching his house, and the water rapidly rising. Mrs. 
Wheeler was alone in the house, unconscious of danger, when 
her husband rushed in and seizing her, without speaking, carried 
her, terrified and screaming, through deep water to dry land. 
The sight was rather ludicrous to the lookers on. Mrs. Wheeler 
was boiling doughnuts when her husband made the rude assault 
upon her, but she clung with tenacity to her dripping ladle, and 
this was all the furniture saved, for house, doughnuts and all, 
moved oft^ with the unyielding ice, before Mrs. Wheeler had 
time to realize what was going on. 

Mr. John Whitlock, a manufacturer of Birmingham, has kept 
a faithful record of the heights of freshets for the last thirty 
years, and some of the most notable are here given. Novem- 
ber 13, 1853, the water rose in the Naugatuck, seventeen feet 
and seven inches. This was one of the most destructive fresh- 
ets known in town. The water was one foot higher than in 
the great freshet of 1841, the flats and principal streets of An- 
sonia being completely submerged. The new bridge at An- 
sonia built two years prior to this was carried off about seven 
and a half o'clock Sunday evening, the immediate cause being 
the undermining of the middle pier. It went unexpectedly, and 
several persons were on the bridge when it began to reel and 
totter from its foundations. Two young lovers, John Allen 



A SAD CALAMITY. 34 1 

and Georgiana Bartholomew, failed to escape from the bridge 
and were carried down the stream, to an island some rods be- 
low partially covered with clumps of alders and overflowed 
with water seven feet deep. This unfortunate couple clung to 
the slender bushes, shouting for help, their frantic shrieks be- 
ing distinctly heard a great distance. Their situation was per- 
ilous in the extreme, not much less than the man who about 
this time lost his life on the island near the Falls of Niagara. 
Men and a boat in a wagon were quickly on their way from Bir- 
mingham to the scene, manned by Charles Hart, A. Kimball, 
Fred Smith and Herman Baum, but all efforts, with desperate 
hazard, to reach the sufferers, after repeated trials through the 
torrent of waters rushing and gurgling with lightning swiftness, 
proved a failure. After clinging to the bushes for nearly three 
hours with the most piteous cries for assistance, while growing 
fainter and fainter, they finally sank to rise no more. Oh, what 
a sermon the shrieks of those youthful hearts proclaimed to the 
thousands who stood through those long, dismal hours on the 
banks of that maddened river, gazing into the gates of eternity, 
which God in his providence had opened to the victims of that 
dreadful night ! Men and women wept bitterly, their hearts 
melted within them, but their right arms and prayers could 
bring no relief to that perishing girl and young man. 

The damage in this freshet was immense. Railroads, bridges, 
houses, barns and factories were swept away. Every bridge 
north of Birmingham as far as New Milford, was either car- 
ried away or greatly damaged. In Ansonia a man from a dis- 
tant town who held a heavy mortgage upon a house and lot near 
the river, on visiting the place, found to his great surprise the 
house not only down stream, but the lot had gone with it. 
Since that time a dyke has been built along the borders of the 
Naugatuck to prevent the freshet overflowing the village. 

One of the most disastrous ice freshets, it is believed, ever 
known in Derby occurred February 9, 1857. Factories, offices, 
stores and dwellings were flooded, and the damage estimated 
to different parties in the town was at least ^125,000. The 
water in the Ousatonic, from the blockade of ice at the " Point 
of Rocks " just below the Narrows, rose twenty-two feet and 
three inches above the ordinary level of the river. On the 



342 HISTORY OF DERBV. 

business floor of the Manufacturers Bank, which then stood at 
the foot of Main street, it rose six feet and two inches, burgla- 
riously entering the vault, and many a good note that day went 
under protest through a thorough and good soaking of water. 
At the Narrows the water was one foot over the counter of 
Capt. Z. M. Piatt's store. In some places the ice was from ten 
to fifteen feet over the railroad track, the lower story of Capt. 
Kneeland Curtis's old residence near the river was stove in and 
literally packed with ice, and the " Derby Building and Lumber 
Company's " property with great loss was scattered in awful and 
terrific confusion. The ice in the river was at least twenty-two 
inches thick, and the weather for several days had been rainy, 
foggy and warm. With the great devastation and ruin caused 
by this freshet, the heavy covered bridge across the Ousatonic at 
Birmingham known as " Judson's bridge," which had stood the 
fury of floods for twenty-six years, was carried away. As the 
water rose with its ponderous load of ice, the bridge was raised 
bodily two feet and three inches from its piers, and there it re- 
mained for hours. The citizens by hundreds flocked to see 
the bridge go off, but tired of watching for the sight, being as- 
sured by Mr. Lewis Hotchkiss that it would settle down again 
upon its foundations when the waters abated, they retired to 
their houses, but William B. Wooster, E. C. Johnson, William 
Hawkins and Dr. Beardsley remained as lookers on. At pre- 
cisely one o'clock in the morning, the ice cakes began to hurdle 
like so many dancing topers. Johnson put his cane upon the 
bridge with a " good-by," and the writer exclaimed, " It's pain- 
ful to see it go after crossing it so many times." Slowly and 
gracefully at first it moved down without a break about twenty 
rods, then yielding in the centre, forming a half moon circle it 
parted, the eastern half swinging near Birmingham shore, while 
the western portion took the current, looking like a train of 
cars with lights burning but no passengers, going with railroad 
speed down the river upon the swift and angry waters. The 
moon shining brightly upon the glistening ice afforded a most 
magnificent spectacle to the beholders. The toll grumblers 
never realized the value of that old bridge until the next day, 
when they gazed upon its naked piers standing as monuments 
of its great public convenience. The bridge was rebuilt by its 



HEIGHT OF FRESHETS. 343 

owners in the summer of 1857, and is now a free bridge owned 
by the towns of Derby and Huntington. B. 

Height of water freshets above high tide at Birmingham, as 
recorded by John Whitlock : 

November 13, 1853, 
April 30, 1854, 
February 9, 1857, 
March, 1S63, 
February 12, 1866, 
February 10, 1867, 
March 15, 1S68, 
October 4, 1869, 
February 19, 1870, 
April 19, 1870, 
January 8, 1874, 
February 25, 1874 
February 4, 1875, 
February 25, 1875, 
August 19, 1875, 
March 26, 1876, 
March 29, 1S76, 
April 4, 1876, 
March 9, 1877, 
March 28, 1877, 
February 23, 1S78, 
December 10, 11, 1878, 
February 12, 1879, 



17 feet 


, 7 inche; 


19 " 


8 1-2 " 


22 " 


3 " 


14 " 




13 " 


I 1-2 " 


14 " 


5-8 " 


12 " 


2 1-8 " 


16 " 




13 " 


5 1-4 " 


1 1 " 


7 1-2 " 


17 " 


4 1-2 " 


II " 


91-2 " 


8 " 


5 1-2 " 


II " 


9 


1 1 " 


6 


12 " 


8 1-2 " 


12 " 


2 1-2 " 


ID " 


II 1-2 " 


12 " 


5 


ID " 


5 


ID " 


5 


15 " 


9 " 


10 " 


9 




CHAPTER XII. 

BIRMINGHAM. 

ISTORY repeats itself" is a maxim often spoken, 
but the instruction of it is little heeded. Great ca- 
lamities might be avoided if little experiences or his- 
torical transpirations were regarded so as to make 
one wise to know the inevitable of the laws of forces. Noth- 
ing is new under the sun, while all is new to the actors on the 
drama of life. 

A great change has come upon the town of Derby, begin- 
ning at Birmingham Point, and moving with steady and sure 
prophecy of increasing and ennobling renaissance unto great 
honor and fame. But this transforming of a little town, 
bounded on one side by a river, and sleeping in an Indian's lap 
two hundred years on both shores of another, as in an infant's 
cradle, was prefigured on a vastly larger scale, in the Old World, 
when England emerged suddenly from feudal life into the man- 
ufacturing age ; the age of money for the common people as 
well as the courtier and ruler. A description of that change is 
thus given : 

" With the two-handed swords, heavy coats of mail, feudal keeps, 
private warfare, permanent disorder, all the scourges of the middle age 
retired and faded into the past. The English had done with the Wars 
of the Roses. They no longer ran the risk of being pillaged to-morrow 
for being rich, and hung the next day for being traitors ; they had no 
further need to furbish up their armor, make alliances with powerful 
nations, lay in stores for the winter, gather together men of arms, scour 
the country to plunder and hang others. The monarchy, in England 
as throughout Europe, established peace in the community, and with 
peace appeared the useful arts. Domestic comfort follows civil secur- 
ity ; and man better furnished in his home, better protected in his ham- 
let, takes pleasure in his life on earth, which he has changed and means 
to change. 

" Toward the close of the fifteenth century the impetus was given ;' 
commerce and the woolen trade made a sudden advance, and such an 



^1488, Act of Parliament on iiiclosiires. 



CHANGE IN ENGLAND. 345 

enormous one that corn fields were changed into pasture lands, 
'whereby the inhabitants of said town (Manchester) have gotten and 
come into riches and wealthy livings,' so that in 1553, 40,000 pieces of 
cloth were exported in English ships. It was already the England 
which we see today, a land of green meadows, intersected by hedge- 
rows, crowded with cattle and abounding in ships ; a manufacturing, 
opulent land, with a people of beef-eating toilers, who enrich it while 
they enrich themselves. They improved agriculture to such an extent 
that in half a century the produce of an acre was doubled.^ They grew 
so rich that at the beginning of the reign of Charles I. the Com- 
mons represented three times the wealth of the Upper House The 
ruin of Antwerp by the Duke of Parma sent to England ' the third part 
of the merchants and manufacturers who made silk, damask, stockings, 
taffetas and serges.' The defeat of the Armada and the decadence of 
Spain, opened the seas to English merchants.'' The toiling hive, who 
would dare, attempt, explore, act in unison and always with profit, was 
about to reap its advantages and set out on its voyages buzzing over 
the universe. 

"■ At the base and on the summit of society, in all ranks of life, in all 
grades of human condition, this new welfare became visible. In 1534, 
considering that the streets of London were 'very noxious and foul, and 
in many places thereof very jeopardous to all people passing and re- 
passing, as well on horseback as on foot,' Henry VIII. began the 
paving of the city. New streets covered the open spaces where the 
young men used to run races and to wrestle. Every year the number 
of taverns, theatres, gambling rooms, beer-gardens, increased. Before 
the time of Elizabeth, the country houses of gentlemen were little more 
than straw-thatched cottages, plastered with the coarsest clay, lighted 
only with trellises. ' Howbeit.' says Harrison (1580) 'such as be latelie 
builded are commohlie either of bricke or hard-stone, or both : their 
rooms large and comelie, and houses of office further distant from their 
lodgings' The old wooden houses were covered with plaster, 'which 
beside the delectable whiteness of the stufife itselfe, is laied on so even 
and smoothlie, as nothing in my judgment can be done with more ex- 
actness.'* This open admiration shows from what hovels they had es- 
caped. Glass was at last employed for windows, and the bare walls 

^Between 1537 and 158S the increase was from two and a half to five millions. 

*Henry VIII. at the beginning of his reign (1509), had but one ship of war. Eliz- 
abeth, his daughter, sent out one hundred and fifty against the Armada. In 1553 
was founded a company to trade with Russia. In 1578 Drake circumnavigated the 
globe. In 1600 the East India company was founded. 

••Nathan Drake, "Shakespeare and his Times," 1817, I. 72. 
44 



346 HISTORY OP^ DERBY. 

were covered with hangings, on which visitors might see with delight 
and astonishment, plants, animals and figures. They began to use 
stoves, and experienced the unwonted pleasure of being warm. Harrison 
notes three important changes which had taken place in the farm houses 
of his time : 

'"One is the multitude ofchimnies lately erected, whereas in their 
young dales there were not above two or three, if so manie, in most up- 
landishe towns of the realme The second is the great (al- 
though not generall) amendment of lodging, for our fathers (yea and 
we ourselves also) have lien full oft upon straw pallets, on rough mats 
covered onlie with a sheet, under coverlets made of dagswain, or hop- 
harlots, and a good round log under their heads instead of a bolster or 
a pillow. If it were so that the good man of the house had within 
seven years after his marriage purchased a matteres or flocke bed, and 
thereto a sacke of chaffe to rest his head upon, he thought himself to 

be as well lodged as the lord of the town Pillowes (said 

they) were thought meet onlie for women in childbed 

The third thing is the exchange of vessel!, as of treene platters in pew- 
ter, and wooden spoones into silver or tin ; for so common was all 
sorts of treene stuff in old time, that a man should hardlie find four 
peeces of pewter (of which one was peradventure a salt) in a good far- 
mer's house.''' 

*' Now that the ax and sword of the civil wars had beaten down the 
independent nobility, and the abolition of the law of maintenance had 
destroyed the petty royalty of each great feudal baron, the lords quitted 
their sombre castles, battlemented fortresses, surrounded by stagnant 
water, pierced with narrow windows, a sort of stone breastplates of no 
use but to preserve the life of their master. They flock into new palaces 
with vaulted roofs and turrets covered with fantastic and manifold or- 
naments, adorned with terra:ces and vast staircases, with gardens, fount- 
ains, statues, such as were the palaces of Henry VHI. and Elizabeth, 
half Gothic and half Italian, whose convenience, splendor and symmetry 
announced already habits of society and the taste for pleasure. They, 
came to court and abandoned their old manners ; the four meals which 
scarcely sufficed their former voracity were reduced to two ; gentlemen 
soon became refined, placing their glory in the elegance and singular- 
ity of their amusements and their clothes. They dressed magnificently 
in splendid materials, with the luxury of men who rustle silk and make 
gold sparkle for the first time ; doublets of scarlet satin, cloaks of sable 
costing a thousand ducats, velvet shoes embroidered with gold and sil- 

"Nathan Drake, " Shakespeare and his Times," i. ro2. 



EFFECT OF THE CHANGE. 34/ 

ver, covered with rosettes and ribbons ; boots with falling tops, from 
whence hung a cloud of lace embroidered with figures of birds, animals, 
constellations, flowers in silver, gold, or precious stones ; ornamented 
shirts costing ten pounds apiece. ' It is a common thing to put a thou- 
sand goats and a hundred oxen on a coat, and to carry a whole manor 
on one's back.' The costumes of the time were like shrines. When 
Elizabeth died, they found three thousand dresses in her wardrobe. 
Need we speak of the monstrous ruffs of the ladies, their puffed out 
dresses, their stomachers stiff with diamonds? As a singular sign of 
the times, the men were more changeable and more bedecked than 
they. Harrison says : 

" ' Such is our mutabilitie, that to daie there is none to the Spanish 
guise, to morrow the French toies are most fine and delectable, yer long 
no such apparell as that which is after the high Alman fashion ; by 
and by the Turkish manner is generalie best liked of, otherwise the 
Morisee gowns, the Barbarian sleeves .... and the short breeches 

. . . And as these fashions are diverse, so likewise it is a world 
to see the costliness and the curiositie, the excesse and the vanitie, the 
pompe and the braverie, the change and the varietie, and finallie the 
ficklenesse and the follie that is in all degrees.' 

'• Folly, it may have been, but poetry likewise. There was some- 
thing more than puppyism in this masquerade of splendid costume. 
The overflow of inner sentiment found this issue, as also in drama and 
poetry. It was an artistic spirit which induced it. There was an 
incredible outgrowth of living forms from their brains. They acted 
like their engravers, who give us in their frontispieces a prodigality of 
fruits, flowers, active figures, animals, gods, and pour out and confuse 
the whole treasure of nature in every corner of their paper. They must 
enjoy the beautiful, they would be happy through their eyes ; they per- 
ceive in consequence, naturally, the relief and energy of forms." 

Such was the change in England, instituted, caused or cre- 
ated by the introduction into that country of manufacturing 
enterprises for the production of staple commodities. The ef- 
fect of the change was to lead many at first into extravagance 
of personal show and splendor, but the secondary result was 
learning, science, literature and the study of the Bible and re- 
ligion ; and out of it grew the revival of practical piety, called 
Puritanism, which held fast to many errors and superstitions, 
but with sublime devotion pushed forward for "further light" 
in the way to the future life. 



348 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Such was the change in many respects ; the renaissance 
which came suddenly, mysteriously and marvelously upon the 
town of Derby, as the coming of the birds in the spring ; wak- 
ing in the morning, lo ! they are here, with all their beauty, 
their joyous flight and their songs. Quietly the magic power 
of art in its preparatory steps began its march of new life on 
Birmingham Point, the very spot where, just two hundred years 
before (lacking only six) the first stroke of the ax of Wakeman's 
men, broke the long, long night of silence in the wilderness. It 
was fitting that, upon this landscape of enchanting beauty, the 
genius and skill which were to put in motion ten thousand 
times ten thousand wheels of mechanic art should first plant 
the standard, lay the corner stone, and display the ensign pro- 
phetic of the future comfort and joyful life which should cover 
the entire region with beautiful homes, spreading lawns and 
the magnificence of money. 

It was in the following simple record that the first foot-prints 
were made of that power which should transform the entire re- 
gion from the old to the new, from the plain farmer life to the 
conveniences, comforts, polish and grandeur of city life. And 
as if the magic of that power was to reach every living form it 
seemed to have reached the pen, so that the reco7'd of that first 
transforming act is written in the very best style of the town 
clerk. 

"April. 1836. We, the selectmen of the town of Derby, upon the 
application of Sheldon Smith and Anson G. Phelps, both of the city, 
county and state of New York, and on due enquiry into the reasons of 
said application have laid out a highway through the land of said 
Smith and Phelps, lying at a place called the Point, now Smithville, in 
said Derby, having found that the public convenience and necessity 
required the same ; which is laid sixty feet wide and will form one of 
the north and south parallel streets of said Smithville." 

In the next June, 1836, the selectmen lay out a street in 
Birmingham "at the request of Sheldon Smith and Anson G. 
Phelps, both of the city of New York, at a place lately called 
The Point, now Smithsville, beginning at the west end of the 
wall inclosing said Sheldon Smith's lot on which his new house 
is built, on the Ousatonic turnpike road." That road was 
called Second street. 



BIRMINGHAM POINT. 



349 



This was the beginning of changes in the physical appear- 
ances, which foretold the coming of a city to adorn that locality. 

"The engraving below, shows the appearance of Birming- 
ham from the shore at Derby Landing. This village was 
commenced in 1834. There are at present (July i, 1836) about 
twenty dwelling houses and three mercantile stores ; there is 
in and about to be put in operation, one factory for making 
sheet copper and copper wire; one for making augers; one for 
making carriage springs and axles ; one for making nails or 
tacks ; one for flannels and satinets, with some other minor 
manufacturing establishments. The water by which the mills 
and factories are put in operation is taken from the Naugatuck 




BIRMINGHAM IN lS^6. 



by a canal which extends upwards of a mile and a half north- 
ward of the village. A steam-boat is about to commence run- 
ning between this place and New York. Part of the Leaven- 
worth bridge over the Ousatonic is seen on the extreme left. 
The dwelling of Sheldon Smith, Esq., is seen a little eastward 
of this, on the elevated ground above the copper factory. 
This edifice is elegantly situated, and commands a most beauti- 
ful and interesting prospect to the southward, particularly of 
the village at the Landing, and the passage of the Ousatonic 
through what is called the Narrows. A small, round structure 
is seen on the right; this is the reservoir from which water is 



350 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

supplied to the inhabitants of the village. It is raised fifty feet 
from a well under the grist-mill on the canal below."^ 

The further story of the rise and progress of Birmingham 
and Ansonia is told by Dr. A. Beardsley : 

The palmy days of agriculture and commerce in Derby had 
not long disappeared when the enterprising founder of Birming- 
ham, Sheldon Smith, by his adventure gave a new impulse to 
the town. Perplexed and discouraged at first, success finally 
followed experiment, and it now requires no stretch of im- 
agination to foresee that Derby and its environs are sure to fill 
a conspicuous place on the map of Connecticut. Almost every 
day develops some new project, some unthought of enterprise 
of importance among our business men. Extensive factory 
seats are being located and built upon ; superb mansions to 
adorn this or that street, overlooking our dashing rivers, are in 
process of erection, while neat little cottages or cozy dwellings 
are constantly springing up to dot our hillsides and accommo- 
date our growing population. The oldest inhabitant, with pride 
and satisfaction, may contrast the present with the almost for- 
gotten past of his native town. Things have changed. Derby 
took its first and most successful start in Birmingham. The 
first shovelfull of dirt, moved September i, 1833, in the con- 
struction of the Birmingham reservoir, has proved to be the 
motive power to nearly all the enterprise that now surrounds us. 
Stimulated by Birmingham old Derby Narrows has, so to speak, 
emerged from her fossil remains, and to-day is a vigorous and 
populous locality. Stimulated by Birmingham Ansonia sprang 
into existence, and we are proud to say is now one of the most 
flourishing spots that adorn the Naugatuck valley. Stimu- 
lated by Birmingham the little city over the river, christened 
after its self-sacrificing and energetic pioneer, Edward N. Shel- 
ton, is rapidly building up her solid factories, and now the noisy 
hum of their ponderous machinery blends in grateful sympathy 
with the roaring music of the Ousatonic dam. With all these 
flourishing suburbs around us, so charming in their scenery, 
filled with enterprising men and women, and centrally located, 
who believes that Birmingham that first set the ball in motion 
will retrograde or remain in statu quo ? The residents of Bir- 

•^Barber's Historical Collections, 198, 199. 



HAWKINS POINT HOUSE. 351 

mingham who can look back more than forty years may call to 
mind many pleasing and useful, as well as painful, recollections. 
At that period there were only twenty-one dwellings, two or 
three finished factories, as many stores, and neither a school- 
house nor a church. The beautiful park that now is, was then 
a rough, rocky, barren slope, and the very grounds whereon so 
many fine residences now stand were dotted and grassed over 
with little corn hills or potato mounds, just as they were left by 
the rude plough-man, seemingly as evidence of his lazy or un- 
handy work, with here and there a native tree remaining. Even 
the venerable rocks, relics of centuries, have rapidly disappeared 
before the march of improvement. . Little now remains as re- 
minders of the famous " Smith farm." The old "Hawkins 
Point House" (the birthplace of a father in Israel named Smith, 
connected with this farm, and who died a few years ago at the 
Neck), with its red coat of forty years old paint, has long ago 
yielded to the mansion now owned and occupied by Mr. Amos 
H. Ailing. For years it was scarcely tenanted, but the advent 
of Birmingham, first called Smithville, made it a good home for 
many, for no less than thirteen sons and daughters of Erin 
were born in one year within its dingy walls. Just below, 
around Alling's factory, was a storehouse built sometime in the 
eighteenth century. This place, Hawkins Point, was the orig- 
inal landing of traders with the Indians at Derby, when the 
now main road at the Narrows was only a foot-path through the 
woods. Along the broken shore, in front of this ancient store- 
house, small and many sloops 

Did roughly ride on foaming tide, 

Where weary, faint and slow, 
'I"he Indians drew their light canoes 

'I'wo hundred years ago. 

Warner's Tavern, the first hotel, has long since been rolled 
from its foundation walls of half a century. It was built in 
connection with the Ousatonic bridge by Donald Judson and 
Philo Bassett. It was once the centre of attractions in Bir- 
mingham, and many a rude dance and rustic gathering con- 
spired to make it celebrated. 

The bridge gate, with its huge padlock, stood upon this side, 
and some mav well remember when scarcely a traveling mendi- 



352 HISTOKV OF DERHV. 

cant could exchange counties without paying specie tribute to 
the toll gatherer. A favorite resort for huckleberry trainings 
and state elections for " a colored governor," Warner's Tavern 
sometimes drew crowds of people, when sport and fun were the 
order of the day. These elections were always simple, unique 
and satisfactory, without ballot-box stuffing. Their purity was 
maintained on the viva voce principle. On one of these occa- 
sions the election and parade were very imposing. The gov- 
ernor elect delivered his message, written by a Birmingham 
democrat, setting forth briefly the virtue of " rosin the fiddle 
and the bow." The chief marshal of the day, a tall and stately 
figure, the father of our Ex-Haytian minister, E. D. Bassett, 
was mounted, with his corps of assistants armed with pistols, 
with no lack of "fuss and feathers," and horses gayly capari- 
soned. No victorious general on the field of battle was more 
proud of his situation than (jrand Marshal Bassett on that day. 
To show off, and as evidence of his military tactics, he drew 
up in regular line his men and stated that he was about to issue 
an important order as a test of their saltpetre grit. " Now do 
as I do and show yourselves brave darkies — brave officers ! " 
All assented to obey the word of command, which was given 
in a stentorian voice : ''Attention ! All ready ! Advance ! WJied ! 
Fire and fall off ! The chief marshal put spurs to his horse, 
wheeled, fired and fell to the ground, but his mounted comrades 
sat dum founded in their saddles and saved their powder. 
This election ended as did many others in the mastery of rum, 
street fights and bloody noses, in which tlie colored gentlemen 
and the Irish were badly mixed. 

How different now the elective franchise of the black man ! 
For him in these days there is no need of a mock for he has 
a real election for his governor, as he walks up to the ballot 
box and deposits his vote like a man in support of a govern- 
ment which owes him a true instead of a false protection. The 
sixth Birmingham school district was organized and officered 
in a little room at " Warner's Tavern." Only six composed 
the meeting, and those who survive little thought then they 
should live to see their early efforts result in building one of 
the finest public school-houses in the state. 

Only eight men are in business here to-day who were in 



SHELDON SMITH. 353 

business in Birmingham forty-three years ago, viz. : S. N. Sum- 
mers, E. N. Shelton, T. G. Birdseye, Edward Eewis, L. L. 
Louver, Lewis Hotchkiss, David Nathan and Dr. A. Beardsley. 
These in one sense are now the old men, the fathers of the 
village, while a younger and faster generation are crowding 
to fill their places. Birmingham in its infancy was poor, capital 
being confined to a few of its pioneers. 

Sheldon Smith was a man of energy, foresight and perse- 
verance, and his name should be held in grateful remembrance 
by the people of Derby, his native town. Born March i6, 1791, 
his only education was in the district school-house which stood 
near the little brook at the Narrows. At the early age of four- 
teen, he was apprenticed to learn saddle and harness making with 
Edward Peet, of Bridgeport. After serving his time seven years, 
he had deposited to his credit, from over work and good habits, 
five hundred dollars ; he believing with Dr. Johnson that 
"without frugality none can become rich, and with it few would 
be poor." Having the confidence of Mr. Peet he was taken in 
as a partner, and with him as manager the business was carried 
on successfully for some years. He sold out his interest with a 
pledge not again to engage in the same business within the 
state. Turning his attention to his native town, with a snug 
little fortune for those days, he had a lingering desire to gal- 
vanize, if possible, the dead body of the old Derby bank, but 
he met with opposition, and unfortunately for Derby people 
the charter fell into the hands of Wall street brokers in New 
York. Mr. Smith then with Mr. Wright in the spring of 1822 
commenced the saddle and harness making business in Newark^ 
New Jersey, where the co-partnership was highly prosperous, 
and accumulated wealth. While in Newark, Mr. Smith showed 
himself a public benefactor to the city. He introduced, and 
supplied at his own expense the inhabitants of the place with 
good water, a sanitary want much needed. This enterprise at 
first was looked upon as visionary, and Mr. Smith was laughed 
at for the undertaking by capitalists, but when the blessings of 
pure water, by the citizens, were realized, he was importuned 
to sell out to an envious corporation, giving it control of so 
valuable a public improvement, which he did without profit or 
loss to himself, satisfied to confer a lasting benefit on a place 
45 



354 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

in which he had been so much prospered. The citizens of 
Newark to-day owe the introduction of water into their city to 
the enterprise of Sheldon Smith. Disposing of his interests in 
Newark, he once more contemplated a return to his native 
town. From its commercial downfall, its active capital wasted, 
Derby had then been dormant for nearly a quarter of a century. 
His first project was to dam the Ousatonic and thus lay the 
foundation of a manufacturing city in Derby, but meeting with 
John Lewis, he was persuaded to buy the old oil mills, rebuild 
the Naugatuck dam and construct the present Birmingham res- 
ervoir down to the old Point House property, thus utilizing the 
entire waters of the Naugatuck with a head and fall of fourteen 
feet. Whatever may be thought of the enterprise now, it was 
the common remark then, that it would involve the loss of 
more capital than would be expended to complete it. The first 
mill that Mr. Smith built in Birmingham was the grist-mill, 
long afterward occupied by his brother. Fitch Smith, but now 
owned and occupied by the Shelton Tack Company. Edward N. 
Shelton and his brother-in-law, Nathan C. Sanford from Wood- 
bury, in the spring of 1836, built the tack factory, and thus were 
among the first manufacturers in the village. These men were 
possessed of considerable means and proved valuable acquisi- 
tions to the place. Mr. Sanford, father of our ex-minister to 
Belgium, was a man of sterling integrity, highly influential and 
commanded universal respect. Among his last acts was a do- 
nation to the Episcopal church of St. James's parish at Birming- 
ham, of $500, which he never lived to see erected. He died 
deeply lamented, in June, 1841, and as a token of the esteem in 
which he was held by the village people, stores and workshops 
were closed on the day of his funeral. About the same time 
D. W. Plumb and Benjamin Beach built their woolen factory 
on Main street, and David Bassett his auger factory, now occu- 
pied by his son, Robert N. Bassett, for manufacturing purposes. 
Anson G. Phelps, a saddler by trade, but then an importer of 
tin, brass and copper in New York, was induced by Mr. Smith 
to start a mill for rolling copper in Birmingham, and he at once 
entered into arrangements to carry out this project. "The Big 
Copper Mill," as it was then called, was commenced early in 
1836, Almon Farrell being the mill-wright and Peter Phelps the 



SMITH AND PHELPS. 355 

agent. The mill was in full operation in the fall of 1836, and 
about simultaneously the mill of Plumb & Beach, and David 
Bassett's auger shop were put in motion. Mr. Anson G. 
Phelps, a wealthy and most enterprising man, now became 
deeply interested in Birmingham, and formed a joint partner- 
ship with Mr. Smith to push forward the manufacturing enter- 
prises of the place. The latter had built and completed the 
reservoir in 1834, the dyke afterwards, and influenced parties 
to locate in Birmingham at an outlay that could not be reim- 
bursed, and the firm of Smith & Phelps then gave permanency 
to the interests of Birmingham. In the fall of 1838 the Bir- 
mingham copper mills were burned and rebuilt the sameautumn. 
Prior to this Mr. Smith, who had expended so much money in 
the early enterprises of Birmingham, became disheartened from 
reasons which had no foundation in justice. Mr. John Lewis, 
who had no capital, influenced Mr. Smith to purchase the old 
oil mills, and he (Lewis) was deputized by Mr. Smith to buy the 
Hawkins' Point and the Smith farm which formed the nucleus of 
such varied manufacturing interests as now abound in this 
vicinity. Mr. Smith took peculiar pride in starting the village 
of Birmingham, laying out and naming its streets, and was very 
generous to those who turned grateful attention to his self- 
sacrificing interests. He helped many who were poor to start 
in life. He expended money with great loss in the experiment 
of steam-boating to Birmingham wharf, and the building 'of 
the long dyke. Mr. Lewis in the first purchase claimed a pros- 
pective interest (one-third) in Mr. Smith's operations, but 
ignored the fact that expenditure for steam-boats and dykes 
was a part of the original bargain.- This involved Mr. Smith, 
without just cause, in vexatious litigation with Lewis, and led 
him (Smith) to dissolve partnership with Anson G. Phelps. 
The firm of Smith and Phelps dividing their interests in real 
estate, the former sold his portion to his brother. Fitch Smith, 
and then returned to New York much to the regret of the citi- 
zens of Derby. He died at the former place, September 9, 
1863, aged 72 years. 

The copper mills were then carried on very prosperously by 
Anson G. Phelps, under the general management and superin- 
tendence of his nephew, Peter Phelps, employing about one 



356 HISTORY f)F DERBY. 

hundred hands until their removal to Ansonia in 1854. Among 
the first operatives in these mills who are still living, were 
David and Isaac Nathan, (brothers,) Patrick Quinn, Thomas 
Mills, David Cole, Lewis, son of Major Powe and Thomas 
James of Seymour. For several years these mills greatly in- 
creased the wealth and population of the place. The old Jack- 
son saw and plaster mill at the foot of Main street was early 
supplanted by the planing shop of Lewis and Willis Hotchkiss, 
the first house builders of the village. Added to the above, may 
be mentioned as pioneers, merchants and manufacturers, Stephen 
N. Summers, Edward Lewis, Sheldon Canfield, Charles At- 
wood, Sheldon Bassctt, Donald Judson, Julius Hotchkiss, Ly- 
man Smith, Lyman Osborne, Abram and William Hawkins 
(brothers), Sidney A. and his brother, Nelson H. Downs, Sul- 
livan and Sylvester M. Colburn, T. G. Birdseye and his brother 
Ephraim. These with others, not now in recollection, imparted 
a healthy and substantial business tone to Birmingham. 

Charles Atwood was one of the few who ventured to estab- 
lish manufacturing in Birmingham, and a short account of his 
life will be interesting. Born in Hard wick, Mass., in 1801, his 
father, Zaccheus, moved to Salem, N. Y., in 1804. Charles re- 
mained with his father until he was nineteen, learning of him 
the trade of manufacturing woolen cloths, embracing all its dif- 
ferent processes. Under the pressure of necessity his educa- 
tion was very limited. He took most readily to Arithmetic, 
which in later years enabled him to carry out many plans in 
machinery with accuracy. With him there was no " cut and 
try " in his modes. So skillful was he in Arithmetic that he 
could solve many problems which are usually solved by Alge- 
bra, of which study he knew nothing. 

At the age of nineteen Mr. Atwood went into the employ of 
Giles Tincker of North Adams, Mass., and during the two 
years he was there devised a most valuable inxention, which 
distinguished his career, but from which he never realized a 
dollar. This was an invention in wool carding with all its de- 
tails, which was called the double doffer, saving immense labor. 

Realizing no money from this grand invention, Mr. Atwood 
with chagrin saw others grow rich from its use, under patents 
of trifling improvement, besides claiming unjustly the original 



CHARLES ATWOOD. 35/ 

invention, he being embarrassed for want of the money to 
establish his claims, and thus failed. After working at the 
Alba cotton mills in Troy, N. Y., he married Lydia Crosby. 
By nature an artist in mechanics, whose judgment about his in- 
ventions had great weight, he went to Walden, N. Y., where he 
remained two years as superintendent of the woolen mills ; 
thence to Middletown, Conn., introducing his double doffers 
into a woolen mill of that place, but he only obtained employ- 
ment from the proprietors, who used to great profit his inven- 
tion. Leaving the woolen mill he discovered a way of making 
steel pens, not knowing any modes in use at that time in Eu- 
rope. In a little shop at Middletown, his machinery was driven 
by one horse, and continuing the manufacture of pens a few 
years, he came to Birmingham, and carried on the same busi- 
ness in the large building now owned and occupied by Sum- 
mers & Lewis. This building he erected and it was long known 
as "Atwood's Factory." To the manufacture of pens he added 
his discovery of making German silverware, confining himself 
mostly to making spoons. In the manufacture of this article 
competition ran high, and was carried on largely by the adul- 
teration of German silver, but in this shoddy cheating Mr. 
Atwood would not join, and he only succeeded for a while 
against his competitors, by reducing the amount of labor by im- 
provements in machinery. 

His next invention was the hook and eye machine, which 
made hooks and eyes more rapidly and beautifully than was 
ever done before from hard wire, being stronger ; and soon 
this invention look the lead in market, giving him great credit 
for its simplicity and ingenuity. To cheapen the price of sew- 
ing the hooks and eyes upon cards, after a long and almost 
hopeless struggle, in which his step-son, George Kellogg (father 
of the world renowned "prima-donna," Clara Louise Kellogg) 
was engaged, the discovery of a method was made almost sim- 
ultaneously by Atwood and Kellogg, but the invention was 
awarded to the former, who took out a patent and afterwards 
sold it to a Waterbury company for jS20,ooo. 

His next invention was a simple machine for making jack 
chains or scale chains, which he soon enlarged to the man- 
ufacture of the well chain. Considerable business was done bv 



358 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

this chain making, but the vital principle of the machine had 
been too much utilized before securing a patent, which, if ob- 
tained in due time would have been worth at least $200,000. 

Among other inventions, he set himself about making a pin 
machine when a great many plans had been devised and most 
of which were in use, but the distinctive principle of what has 
been called the "Atwood machine" fully perfected by others, 
is still recognized and used among most of the pin manufact- 
uring e^tablishments of the country. 

With a very limited education, a broad, massive, methodical 
brain, Mr. Atwood was a natural inventor, and his many de- 
vices were looked upon by mechanics with great admiration. 
Of genial, social qualities, free hearted, honest in all his trans- 
actions he died at Birmingham, deeply regretted, of congestive 
fever in the fifty-third year of his age. Such a character de- 
serves to live in history. 

Abram Hawkins, a native of Derby, started the business of 
blacksmithing in 1836, in the old red shop which stood where 
the office of the Birmingham iron and steel works now stands. 
Young, and full of enterprise, the next year in connection with 
his brother, William Hawkins, he commenced the manufacture 
of carriage axles and springs, in one corner of Plumb & 
Beach's stone factory, which stood where the Shelton Company's 
brick block is now located, on Main street. Without capital, 
these brothers built in 1839 the little factory now owned by 
Sharon Bassett on Main street, which is still standing, a relic 
of the early days of the village. This factory proved to be the 
starting point of the iron and steel works, which have in the 
past contributed very much to the wealth and prosperity of 
the place. The Hawkins Brothers took into partnership Mr. 
Henry Atwater of New Haven, in 1845, and in 1847 built the 
Birmingham iron and steel works, under the firm of Atwater 
& Hawkins, forming a joint stock company, and then com- 
menced making iron and steel in connection with springs and 
axles. In 1850, William Hawkins retired from the concern, 
and the next year bought the stone factory built by Plumb and 
Beach, and under the name of the Hawkins Manufacturing 
Company carried on the same business until 1859. Business in- 
creasing, they then purchased the old copper mills property, and 




<rl 



0, 



Cy^KU^yfV ^X^MltiW/l^^ 



THE M. E. CHURCH. 



359 



fitted it up with the addition of an iron foundry for making axle 
boxes and other castings. It is said this firm made more car- 
riage axles than any other in the whole country, up to 1865. 




THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 



After the company dissoh^ed partnership, the real estate was 
sold to A. H. and C. B. Ailing, and William Hawkins bought 
of Downs and Bassett his present factory, and began to make 
the patent Hawkins skate, patent wrench, and other hardware 
implements. 

The first house of worship for the M. E. Church in Birming- 



360 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

ham was erected in 1836, on the most beautiful and commanding 
site on the public green. It has since been much enlarged and 
beautified, and is well represented by the accompanying picture. 
The parsonage, also seen in the picture, occupies an equally at- 
tractive and beautiful location. 

As early as 1787 the Rev. Cornelius Cook, a Methodist min- 
ister, preached in Ridgefield, Conn., and Ambrose Olmsted, jun., 
received a paper dated Nov. 16, 1787, certifying that he was 
" a constant attendant at public worship (as opportunity offers) 
with the people called Methodists." 

At the first Methodist conference, held in New York city 
June, 1789, the Rev. Jesse Lee, from Virginia, was sent to the 
"Stamford Circuit " in New England. His first sermon was 
preached in Norwalk, on the highway, June 17, 1789. Me 
formed a two weeks' circuit, embracing Stamford, Norwalk, 
P'airfield, Stratford, Milford, Redding, Danbury, Ridgefield, and 
other intermediate places, and the name was changed the next 
year to " Fairfield Circuitl" Two classes were formed by him 
this year : one in Stratfield, a parish of Stratford, and the other 
at Redding, and on the 28th of the next January (1790) the 
first class in Ridgefield was formed, it being the third in New 
England. 

In February, 1790, Revs. Jacob Brush, George Roberts and 
Daniel Smith came from Maryland to labor under the direction 
of Mr. Lee in Connecticut. It is said that in the year 1791 
Mr. Lee, while passing from Ridgefield to Milford, on reaching 
Derby "hired a bell-man to ring the people out;" a number 
gathered, and he preached the first sermon ever preached by a 
Methodist in the town. This was at Up Town, and among the 
auditors on that occasion were Mr. John Coe and his wife, who 
after service invited Mr. Lee to come again and to hold the 
meeting at their house. This invitation he accepted, and one 
month from that time preached there, and thereafter Derby was 
one of the regular preaching places of the circuit, and in 1793 
a society was organized. 

In the autumn of this year the venerable Bishop Asbury, 
although ill in health, visited and held services in Derby, and 



Teller's History of Ridgefield, 132. Stevens's History of the M. E. Church, 11, 417. 



METHODISM PROSPEROUS. 361 

the place was connected with the " Middletown Circuit," and 
among the ministers appointed to this circuit from this time to 
1800, were Daniel Ostrander, Evan Rogers, Joel Ketcham, 
Peter Choate and James Coleman. During the year 1800 con- 
siderable religious interest was manifested, and thirty persons 
united with the society. It was in this year that one of the 
preachers visited Derby Neck, and preached in the house of 
Mrs. Pope, which was crowded to its utmost capacity, the peo- 
ple being anxious "to hear these strange Methodists." The 
preacher, in the usual pioneer style, read a hymn, then led the 
singing, as was the custom, and preached a sermon, which was 
so well received that he was invited to preach in the school- 
house when he should come again. In two weeks from that 
time the preacher appeared and commenced " Methodist meet- 
ings " in the little red school-house on Derby Neck, which be- 
came the rendezvous of Derby Methodism for more than twenty 
years. There are persons still living who remember the pleas- 
ant scenes enjoyed there while listening to the eloquent words 
of such men as Nathan Bangs, Laban Clark, E. Washburn and 
Heman Bangs. 

From 1820 to 1827 the work progressed steadily, although 
sometimes special religious interest was manifested, resulting 
in considerable additions to the membership. The preachers 
successively appointed to the circuit were Belden Smith, James 
Coleman, Laban Clark, J. Nixon, F. W. Sizer, Julius Field, S. 
D. Furgerson, W. Beach and E. Barnes. 

In 1830 several families belonging to the society were resid- 
ing at the Narrows, among them I. J. Gilbert, and it was de- 
cided to hold Sabbath services in that neighborhood. Accord- 
ingly the old Masonic Hall was engaged for that purpose, and 
the services on the Neck discontinued. 

In the spring of 1835 the Revs. Josiah Bowen and Oliver 

Sykes were appointed to the Derby circuit, and measures were 

immediately set in motion to build a church in Birmingham. 

Mr. Sheldon Smith donated the site (where the church now 

stands), the stone required for the foundation, and two hundred 

dollars towards the erection of the building. The following 

persons constituted the first board of trustees: Sheldon Smith, 

David Durand, Stephen Booth, Samuel Durand, Albert Hotch- 
46 



•362 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

kiss, John E. Brush and I. J. Gilbert. On the 17th of August, 
1837, the newly erected house was dedicated to the service of 
Almighty God, by the Rev. Professor Holdich of the Wesleyan 
University at Middletown ; which was the first house of wor- 
ship erected in Birmingham. The whole cost was $3,000, about 
half of the sum remaining as a debt. 

After the opening of the church provision was made for ser- 
vices every Sunday ; the Rev. Thomas Ellis, a local preacher 
residing in Seymour, being engaged to fill the pulpit in the ab- 
sence of the circuit preacher. The first preacher stationed in 
Birmingham, giving his whole time to this society, was the Rev. 
Orlando Starr, and the second, the Rev. J. B. Beach ; at which 
time the society numbered about seventy. A Sunday-school 
was organized before the dedication of the church. 

In 1841 the Rev. N. Mead was appointed pastor, during whose 
labors about one hundred members were added to the society ; 
the debt was nearly paid ; a class was organized in Orange, and 
Methodism stood strong in the community. 

In 1843 the Rev. J. B. Wakeley became the pastor, and is 
well remembered by the older citizens on account of a public 
discussion on Episcopacy with the Rev. Mr. Ashley of the 
Episcopal church. 

Then followed in the pastorate of this society the Rev. C. C. 
Keys in 1844, and after him the Revs. J. D. Marshall, F. W. 
Smith, W. Gothard, and in 1849 Rev. J. M. Reid. The labors 
of Mr. Reid were particularly successful ; it being during his 
labors that a Methodist church was built in Ansonia. In 185 i 
and 2 the Rev. T. G. Osborn was the pastor, and during his 
labors the church was enlarged and beautified ; more than one 
hundred were added to the membership, and the church was 
generally prosperous. The Rev. Charles Fletcher followed 
Mr. Osborn, and was noted for his pulpit ability. He was suc- 
ceeded by the Rev. G. A. Hubbell, also successful ; and he in 
1857 and 8 by the Rev. F. Bottome, a man considerably cele- 
brated for pulpit ministrations. During his labors he gathered 
material and preached a historical sermon, from which many of 
the facts herein contained have been taken. The membership 
at this time numbered about two hundred and forty ; the trus- 
tees being S. N. Summers, E. D. Beebe, Levi C. Lewis, Agur 



PROGRESS IN BIRMINGHAM. 3^3 

* 

Curtiss, I. J. Gilbert, Nelson M. Beach and Gould Curtiss. The 
stewards were W. L. Boardman, G. Wheeler, E. D. Beebe, S. 
N. Summers, I. J. Gilbert, C. S. Jackson and Amos H. Ailing. 
The class leaders were C. Curtiss, J. W. Osborne, George W. 
Cheeseman, J. Beecher and Amos H. Ailing. 

There was also at this time a flourishing Sunday-school under 
the superintehdency of J. W. Osborne. 

The pastors from 1859 to the present have been successively, 
Revs. R. H. Loomis, 1859 and 60; W. T. Hill, 1861 and 62; 
J. S. Inskip, 1863; J. W. Home, 1864 and 65; I. Simmons, 
1866, 6^ and 68; J. S. Breckenridge, 1869, 70 and 71 ; C. S. 
Williams, 1872 and 73 ; J. Pullman, 1874 and 75 ; Wm. McAlis- 
ter, 1876, "J J and 'j'^\ J. L. Peck, 1879. During the pastorate 
of Mr. Simmons the present parsonage was built. 

PROGRESS IN BIRMINGHAM. 

It should have been mentioned that the house now owned by 
Henry Whipple, and two others just above on Caroline street, 
were the first houses erected in Birmingham. This was in 1835, 
and Lewis Hotchkiss, his brother Willis and James Standish 
were the builders. These houses were built in an open field, 
the street then being only staked out by John Clones, an Eng- 
lishman who was employed by Sheldon Smith as an engineer 
and land agent. Clones laid out the principal streets, adorned 
them with young trees, gave the grades for locating houses, 
and had a general supervision over the interests of the place. 

The first store was built by Lewis and Willis Hotchkiss in 
1835, which still stands on the corner opposite the bank in Main 
street. It was called the Boston Store, and Sheldon Canfield 
who owned it carried on for some time a prosperous business 
in the line of dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes. The same 
year Donald Judson built the long stone store, now supplanted 
by the National Bank building and George C. Allis's book and 
jewelry store. A farmer passing through the place at that time 
remarked that " the people of Derby must be fools to build 
stores in a sand-bank." 

John Cloues is well and favorably remembered by many of 
our citizens. He was a most exemplary, dictatorial, and even 
ambitious man, but always exercised a moral influence in the 



364 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

right direction. With his men his word was law. In the ab- 
sence of courts he often acted as prosecuting attorney, judge, 
jury and witness. On one occasion he summoned a laborer to 
appear at his office at a certain hour. " Now, Pat," said he, 
" you are to be tried for your life. You were drunk at Warner's 
tavern last Sunday .-' " " In faith, you say so, my lord," said the 
trembling Irishman. " And drunk many times during the 
week .-'" " Very likely, but I don't remember." " I also hear you 
abuse your wife .-' " " I guess I do sometimes, but she always 
gets the better of me." After a severe reprimand the judge 
said : " The sentence of this court is that you at once mend 
your ways, stop drinking and abusing your wife, or get back to 
Ireland." "A devil of a court is this," said the prisoner, but 
the verdict had a most salutary effect. 

Mr. Cloues was identified with the early interests of Birming- 
ham and Ansonia, and was instrumental in planning and carry- 
ing forward many public improvements. During his general 
agency of six or eight years the village was in a most flourish- 
ing condition, notwithstanding the great revulsion in business 
interests which swept over the country in 1837. Building lots 
on the principal streets at that time were sold for four and five 
dollars a foot, and house building was encouraged by an admir- 
able feature in Smith and Phelps's decree, that whosoever bought 
a lot should within a year's time erect a building thereon, which 
was a measure to avoid undue land speculations. At this early 
period the place had its minister, doctor and lawyer ; the lyceum 
was established, the cemetery laid out, and labor, capital and 
manufacturing interests were drifting towards the infant village. 

THE BIRMINGHAM IRON FOUNDRY. 

In the spring of 1836 the Messrs. S. and S. M. Colburn 
(twin brothers) from Westville were induced to locate in Bir- 
mingham. Their business in the former place had been that of 
casting clock weights, and at that time no castings of the kind 
could be obtained but of them. When they came to this place 
they had only five thousand dollars capital, but being sturdy 
and full of native energy, they laid the solid foundations for the 
Birmingham Iron Foundry. They soon took into partnership 
their brother, Dr. Josiah M. Colburn, and still later Sheldon 




C^^C^^^^^^'^- ^^^—7 



^S,.,^!**-- -as^ 



faR| ^>^ 




^(^mA^vL^ L^^lC^ 



IRON FOUNDRY. 



365 



Bassett. In 1850 the concern was incorporated under the above 
name, and the Colburns then removed to Ansonia. Henry 
Whipple (now sheriff) made the first castings in Birmingham, 
and continued in this department about forty years, when fail- 
ing health forced him to leave the shop. This foundry was 
started on a capital of $32,000, which has been increased to 
$100,000. On the death of Sheldon Bassett in 1865, who had 
for some years managed the concern, his son Royal M. Bassett 
was chosen president, and his brother Theodore S. Bassett sec- 
retary and treasurer. The company has been very prosperous 




BIRMINGHAM IRON FOUNDRY. 



under their administration. The average number of hands em- 
ployed from year to year being about one hundred and twenty- 
five ; the monthly pay-roll amounting to $6,000 ; goods produced 
yearly, $200,000. The sale of goods during the war amounted 
to $35,000 per month. F. M. Clemons is the general superin- 
tendent, and H. F. Wanning book-keeper. 



THE HOWE MANUFACTURING COMPANY. 

The Howe Manufacturing Company was organized in New 
York, Dec, 1835, to manufacture pins by means of Doct. John 
I. Howe's machines and he was appointed its general agent. In 



366 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

the winter of 1836, a shop was fitted up and the company in 
New York commenced making their own machinery, and after 
a year and a half five machines had been constructed and put 
into operation for making what was then called the "spun- 
head pin." Previous to this, however, one machine had been 
changed to make the solid-headed pin. In April, 1838, the 
company, encouraged by Smith and Phelps, removed their 
manufactory to Birmingham for the advantages of water power. 
The machines then in use were all altered to "solid-headers." 
These were successful for a time, but were superseded by 
others invented by Doct. Howe. This man, whose reputation 
is world wide in the pin business, met with many discourage- 
ments in the outset with his inventions. Even after he came 
to Birmingham, the stock of his company went begging on the 
streets at fifty cents on the dollar, and many capitalists pre- 
dicted its failure. But Doct. Howe was patient, indomitable 
and persevering, and, as general manager of his company for 
thirty-five years or more he made it one of the most lucrative 
and successful enterprises ever established in the town. (See 
Biog.) 

The officers of this company are : 

W. Howe, president ; Charles E. Atwater, secretary ; Wm. 
E. Downes, treasurer ; Truman Piper, general superintendent of 
the factory. 

The company on an average employ about thirty hands, and 
turn out annually over one hundred tons of pins. 

THE IRON AND STEEL WORKS. 

The Birmingham Iron and Steel Works were prosperously 
carried on for many years under Abraham Hawkins and Henry 
Atwater, and afterwards by Thomas Elmes, employing on an 
average nearly two hundred hands, but recently the works have 
passed into the hands of Royal M. Bassett, E. N. Shelton, 
Wm. E. Downes, D. W. Plumb, N. H. Downes and Roswell A. 
Neal, and the old business is now being prosecuted with promise 
of good success, by Mr. E. S. Wheeler of New Haven, as agent, 
and Mr. Marvin Warner, superintendent ; employing about 
si.xty hands. These works have in the past added greatly to the 
industries and prosperity of Birmingham. 



BUSINESS ENTERPRISES. 367 



THE SHELTON TACK COMPANY. 

This firm was organized in 1854, with a capital of ^80,000. 
The tack business was started successfully in the place in 1836 
by Sanford and Shelton, and after the death of Mr. Sanford in 
1 841 was continued by E. N. Shelton until the formation of 
the present company, which has now a capital of $100,000. It 
is one of the best and most substantial establishments in the 
place, having a branch factory in Shelton, just across the Ousa- 
tonic river, and the two employ on an average 125 hands. The 
company manufacture into tacks, small nails and bolts about a 
thousand tons of iron yearly, producing $200,000 worth of 
goods. E. DeForest Shelton, president ; George Blakeman, 
secretary and treasurer ; Edward N. Shelton, George Blake- 
man and E. De Forest Shelton, directors ; Almon P. Glover, 
general superintendent. 

THE FURNITURE FACTORY. 

Stephen N. Summers commenced the manufacture of furni- 
ture in 1836 in a little shop, and the firm of Summers & 
Lewis was established prior to the purchase of the Atwood 
factory in 1858, since which time they have done a large busi- 
ness in the wholesale and retail departments. The firm employs 
about thirty hands, and the establishment has been very success- 
ful from the beginning. The firm is known as Summers & 
Lewis. 

PAUGASSETT MILLS. 

These well-known mills constitute one of the busiest indus- 
tries of the borough. The senior members established their 
reputation in Orange in 1845, ^^id, after thirteen years, their 
business demanding a change to a more convenient locality, 
they purchased the property of the Globe Company and removed 
their machinery into Birmingham in 1858. In January, 1864, 
their mills were entirely destroyed by fire. In 1865 the old 
Copper Mills property was purchased and their present exten- 
sive factory buildings were erected. The firm consists of Amos 
H. and C. B. Ailing, and the son of the latter, Charles H. Ailing. 



ORGAN COMPANY. 369 

They employ about 250 hands; their monthly pay roll amount- 
ing to $7,000. They produce about 7,500 pairs of hose per 
day, and the valuation of their products amounts to about $400,- 
000 annually. 

THE STERLING ORGAN COMPANY. 

The manufacture of reed instruments had been carried on 
in a limited way for a number of years in Derby, by various 
parties, but the business did not assume extensive nor profita- 
ble dimensions until the establishment of the Sterling Organ 
Company in 1871. Their works were destroyed by fire in 1875, 
but promptly rebuilt, and in 1879 were enlarged to nearly dou- 
ble their former dimensions, making a very spacious building, 
265 by 40 feet, four stories high, affording ample room for the 
construction of many thousands of organs a year. 

Mr. Rufus W. Blake, now the secretary and general manager, 
being the founder of a leading manufactory of a similar char- 
acter in Massachusetts, accepted the direction of the business 
of this company in 1873, since which time the enterprise has 
been very successful, with the exception that in 1875 it sus- 
tained a loss of $25,000 by fire, but was put upon a firm basis 
by Charles A. Sterling and the enterprising manager, R. W. 
Blake, and its reputation is now widely extended, its mercan- 
tile standing number one, and the various styles of organs pro- 
duced are unsurpassed by any establishment in the country. 
Their instruments are shipped to every state and territory in 
the Union and to various foreign ports. They employ about 
125 hands, and produce 4,000 organs per year. Charles A. 
Sterling, president ; R. W. Blake, secretary and general man- 
ager, and Oliver E. Hawkins, cashier. 

ALLIS'S BOOK STORE. 

The illustration represents the store of George C. Allis, the 
oldest continuous firm with one exception in Birmingham. Mr. 
Allis started his business when he was only fifteen years of age, 
in the stone building on Main street, in a room eight by sixteen 
feet, his original capital being fifty dollars of borrowed money. 

In 1857 Edward Lewis, to encourage Mr. Allis, built him a 

small store on the south side of Main street, which he occupied 

47 



370 



HISTORY OF DERBY. 



until 1866 when he purchased the store he now occupies, which 
he has rearranged and very much improved by extensive alter- 
ations and additions. 

In 1859 he founded his circulating library of the current pop- 




GEORGE C. ALUS S BOOK STORE. 



ular literature, which now numbers more than 3,000 volumes. 
He has been successful and is a standard representative in his 
line of. business. 



THE TRANSCRIPT. 371 



DERBY PRINTING COMPANY, 



Thomas M. Nevvson and John B. Hotchkiss of New Haven 
started the first newspaper in Derby December, 1846, which 
was called the Derby Jojirnal. Mr. Newson was the editor, and 
was young, talented and energetic. For a time he published 
in Birmingham a lively daily paper, but it failed for want of 
support, the community being too limited for such an enter- 
prise ; and Mr. Newson disposed of his paper and pushed into 
a larger field. He is now the editor and proprietor of a large 
monthly illustrated magazine in St. Paul, Minnesota. 

The yournal passed into other hands and for many years it 
was published by various editors, under the names of Valley 
Messenger and Derby Transcript. In 1868 William I. Bacon 
bought the paper and established the Derby Printing Company, 
from the ofiice of which he, in connection with his son Daniel 
Bacon, issues the Transcript weekly ; a stirring, enterprising 
and valuable newspaper. The department of job printing is 
commensurate with the wants of the locality, and is conducted 
with promptness, accuracy and enterprise. But what is of de- 
cided value in the paper is the fact that its moral influence is 
carefully guarded by its editors so as not only not to be offen- 
sive to a Christian community, but also to sustain the Christian 
sentiment of such a community. 

AN ANTIQUARIAN. 

John Whitlock, a mechanical genius, came to Birmingham in 
1844, and is particularly noted for tl>e variety of styles in his 
collection of old clocks. These time-keepers he has collected 
from various parties, in various stages of dilapidation, and with 
great ingenuity repaired the worn or broken parts and put them 
in good spirits, and set them at their old and almost forgotten 
work of measuring the revolutions of the earth. The variety 
consists of ninety or more different clocks, most of them the 
production of different makers. The oldest clock bears the 
date of 1656 (one year before the first deed of Birmingham 
Point was given by the Indians), having iron wheels, made in 
Germany, and was brought to this country by a Hungarian. 
Another is one hundred and fifty years old, and was once the 



l'J2 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

property of the grandfather of Commodore Isaac Hull of Derby, 
and of Revolutionary fame. Another, made in the black for- 
ests of Germany, is a tall pipe-organ clock and plays eight tunes. 
Two others, of " Crane's patent," run each 385 days with one 
winding. Mr. Whitlock is believed to be good authority on 
clocks, but if he is not his clocks are. 

The clock dated 1656 was an artistic and costly article, being 
constructed of iron and brass ; about six inches square, and was 
intended to lay on the table or mantel. The face is ornamented 
with allegorical figures ; those on the corners representing the 
four angels blowing the four winds of heaven ; those outside of 
the dial are Adam and Eve, between 7 and 8 o'clock in the morn- 
ing, the latter holding out the apple ; between 10 and 1 1, a group 
of young people; at 12 m., the Savior loosing the tongue of the 
dumb ; at 3 p. m., the good Samaritan pouring oil on the wounds 
of the bruised man by the wayside ; at 5 p. m., a monk going 
to the church in the Gothic age. Different styles of architec- 
ture representing different ages of the world are on the face. 
The case, constructed of brass and originally gilded, is orna- 
mented with allegorical figures and Latin inscriptions under 
them. Beneath the figure of " Minerva " is {the Latin ren- 
dered), " No one knows all things at all times ;" beneath " Tem- 
pus," "Time flies never to return ;" beneath " Hora," "Honor 
time as a god;" beneath "Mors," "We are dying every mo- 
ment." 

A partial classification of this collection may be stated : Of 
eight-day, brass hall clocks there is one by Osborn of Birming- 
ham, Eng.; one by WiUiams of Birmingham, Eng.; one by 
Richardson Miner of Stratford-on-Tyne, Eng,; one by Joseph 
Clark of Danbury, Conn.; one by Isaac Doolittle of New Ha- 
ven, Conn., and two by Macock Ward. 

Of the tall wooden clocks there are two made by Silas Hoad- 
ley of Plymouth, Conn.; one by J. and L. Harrison of Water- 
bury ; one by Asa Hopkins of Litchfield ; one by Eli Terry of 
Plymouth, and one by Hoadley & Thomas of Plymouth, Conn, 

Of the wooden shelf clocks there are three each by Mark 
Leavenworth of Waterbury and Silas Hoadley of Plymouth, 
and one each by the following : Eli Terry, Henry C. Smith, 
Robert Seymour, Bishop & Bradley, James Bishop, Sedgwick 



CLOCK MAKERS. 373 

& Bishop, all of Waterbury ; one each by Ephraim Downs, Oli- 
ver Weldon, Boardman & Wells, Jerome & Darrow, Eldridge 
G. Atkins, Mitchell & Atkins, and Chauncey Boardman, all of 
Bristol ; one each by M. & E. Blakeslee and Seth Thomas of 
Plymouth, and one each by the following : Riley Whitney of 
Winchester, Hotchkiss & Field of Burlington, Eli Terry, jun., 
of Terryville, William Orton & Preston of Farmington, Orton, 
Preston & Co. of Farmington, Samuel R. Hitchcock of Hum- 
phreysville, R. E. Northrop of New Haven, Charles Stratton of 
Worcester, Mass., Wads worth, Lounsbury & Turner of Litch- 
field, Julius Peck & Co. of Litchfield, B. H. Twiss of Meriden, 
B. & A. Richards, made for Lawson & Ives of Bristol, and L. 
& F. Andrews, John Bacon, Barnes & Bacon, Terry & Andrews, 
Samuel Terry, E. & G. W. Bartholomew, all of Bristol, Conn.; 
George C. Marsh of Torrington, and Norris North of Wolcott- 
ville. Conn. 

Mr. Whitlock's object has been to obtain a wooden clock by 
every maker of clocks who has conducted his work in Connec- 
ticut, and thinks he has made a good beginning, but is still far 
from the end. He has many brass clocks with peculiarities in 
their mechanical construction, in various stages of wear and 
tear, and a variety of cases, faces and ornamental parts, suffi- 
cient to meet the wants of repairing for many years to come. 

OTHER ENTERPRISES. 

L. L. Loonier & Sons are manufacturers of corsets, and pro- 
duce about $175,000 worth of goods annually, employing 13d 
hands. 

Tomlinson & Brewster are manufacturers of corsets, employ- 
ing 60 hands at an expense of $1,500 a months producing yearly 
about $75,000 worth of goods. 

In addition to the enumeration thus far given should be men- 
tioned the following enterprises now in active operation, con- 
tributing to the industries of the place : Robert May, corset 
maker, and the first importer of kid gloves into Birmingham ; 
Robert N. Bassett, maker of corset steels ; Wm. Hawkins, rhan- 
ufacturer of skates and wrenches ; Henry G. Bassett, box maker ; 
Sturges Whitlock, machinist and builder of printing presses ; 
John Whitlock, machinist ; H. S. Sawyer & Sons, grist-mill ; 



374 



HISTORY OF DERBY. 



S. L. Otis, machinist ; George G. Shelton & Brothers, baby 
carriages; Cornell & Shelton, folding boxes; R. M. & T. S. 
Bassett, corsets, successors to Downes & Bassett, and Downes 
& Krous, corsets, just established. 

In closing this brief account of business companies it is 
proper to say that Birmingham has been the starting point from 
which have sprung many of the now prosperous enterprises in 
the town of Derby and its vicinity. The Derby Building and 




ST. James's church. 

Lumber Company at the Narrows ; Wallace & Sons, Slade 
Woolen Company, formerly owned by D. W. Plumb, Colburn's 
Foundry, now owned by F. Farrell, Osborn & Cheeseman Com- 
pany, W. & L. Hotchkiss Lumber Company, and the Copper 
Mills, of Ansonia ; and Sharon Bassett's bolt factory, Star Pin 
Company, Wilcox & Howe Company, Shelton Factory, Derby 
Silver Company, and Derby Gas Company, of Shelton, are all 
outgrowths of men and capital once largely identified with the 
interests of Birmingham. 

April 30, 1 84 1, the members of the Episcopal parish of St. 
James's church held their first meeting to change the location of 



SAVINGS HANK. 375 

their church edifice, by a warning duly given, and it was voted 
to change it to Birmingham. The accompanying cut represents 
the present structure, which is in striking contrast with the 
first church built in this ancient parish in 1738. The lot was 
donated by Smith and Phelps, and the money ($6,000) raised 
by subscription for a stone church. Since its erection it has 
been enlarged, a stone tower erected in place of a wooden one, 
and a chime of bells furnished. The stone work was built by 
Harvey Johnson, and the wood work by Nelson Hinmon ; the 
building committee being A. Beardsley, E. N. Shelton and Jo- 
seph P. Canfield. This edifice was erected under many dis- 
couragements, but was completed in the spring of 1843, and 
consecrated by Bishop Brownell, April 11, the same year, the 
following clergymen being present : Rev. William B. Ashley, 
rector, Rev. Drs. Daniel Burhans and William C. Mead, and 
Rev. Messrs. Stephen Jewett, E. E. Beardsley, G. H. Stocking, 
Rodney Rossiter, D. G. Tomlinson, G. S. Coit, J. Pures, G. S. 
White, C. Hopson, Joseph Scott, J. D. Smith, S. S. Stocking 
and J. L. Clark. 

The earlier and more complete history of this church is given 
in chapter fifth of this book. 

Three of the churches in Birmingham are beautifully located 
on the Green, St. James's on the east, the Methodist on the north 
or upper end, and the Congregational on the west side. Two 
of these, with the old public school-house, are represented in 
the accompanying illustration. 

DERBY SAVINGS BANK. 

The Derby Savings Bank was chartered in May, 1846, the 
original corporators being John I. Howe, Donald Judson, Thomas 
Burlock, David W. Plumb, George W. Shelton, Fitch Smith, 
David Bassett, George Kellogg, Thomas Wallace, Samuel 
French, George Blakeman, S. M. Colburn, Henry Atwater, S. 
N. Summers, Isaac J. Gilbert, Edward Lewis, Sheldon Bassett, 
Henry Hubbard, Sheldon Smith, jun., John W. Davis and Sid- 
ney A. Downes. The officers were, John I. Howe, president; 
Edward N. Shelton, vice-president ; Joseph P. Canfield, secre- 
tary. 

Mr. Canfield held his office sixteen years. At the end of the 



376 



HISTORY OF DERBY. 



first year the deposits in the bank amounted to $2,391.50. In 
the sixteen years following they increased to $187,103.50, with 
a surplus of $5,337. In 1862 Mr. Canfield resigned and Thad- 
deus G. Birdseye was elected to fill the place as secretary and 
treasurer, which office he has ever since held. The deposits 
have increased to $1,226,085.95, with an increased surplus of 
$55,381.63, without the loss of a dollar. 

During the past two years the directors have limited the 
deposits, thereby reducing the total deposits nearly $200,000. 




PUBLIC SQU.'VRK, BIRMINGHAM. 



Of the original incorporators, twenty in number, only ten are 
living, four of whom remain its officers. 

It is believed that few if any savings banks in the state have 
been better, more judiciously or honestly managed than this. 
Both officers and institution have the entire confidence of the 
community. The present officers are, president, Joseph Arnold ; 
vice-president, D. W. Plumb ; directors, David Torrance, Sid- 
ney A. Downes, Stephen N. Summers, \Vm. E. Downes, Henry 
A. Nettleton, Clark N. Rogers, Truman Piper. 



BANK CHARTERED. 377 

MANUFACTURERS BANK. 

This bank was chartered in 1848, with a capital of $100,000, 
with authority to increase the same to $300,000. It was 
organized and commenced business the same year, $100,000 
being subscribed. The first board was composed of the follow- 
ing gentlemen : president, Edward N. Shelton ; directors, J. I. 
Howe, Lewis Downs, Fitch Smith, William Guthrie, Thomas 
Burlock, Edward Lewis, Sidney A. Downes, H. S. Nichols ; 
cashier, James M. Lewis. 

The granting of the charter was violently opposed in the 
Legislature on account of the prejudices against the old Derby 
Bank, but soon after its organization it was found that the 
$100,000 capital was insufficient for the business of the town 
and vicinity. 

In 185 1 the stockholders voted to increase the capital to 
$300,000, which amount was subscribed and paid during the 
next two years. 

In 1853 Mr. Lewis resigned his position as cashier to accept 
the position of president of the Union National Bank of New 
York city, and Mr. Joseph Arnold of the' Meriden Bank was 
elected to and accepted the vacated position, which he has 
retained to the present time. 

With the exception of a few months in 1865, Edward N. 
Shelton has remained president of this Bank, from the time of 
his first appointment in 1848 until the present. 

In 1865 the institution was reorganized under the National 
Bank Act with the title of the Birmingham National Bank ; the 
same officers being retained. 

At first the Bank was located in a small room over the Shel- 
ton tack factory. In 1850 a banking house was built on the 
low grounds opposite the Iron and Steel Works, but in conse- 
quence of injuries done by freshets, another location was 
selected and the present bank building was erected on the cor- 
ner of Main and Caroline streets, which is still occupied by this 
Bank and the Derby Savings Bank. 

The institution has proved a successful and most accomodat- 
ing enterprise to the citizens of Derby and its vicinity. The 

present board of officers and employes are : president, Edward 
48 



378 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

N. Shelton ; vice-president, D. W. Plumb ; directors, George 
Blakeman, Edward Lewis, Merritt Clark, Wm. E. Downes, 
Charles H. Pinney, Joseph Arnold ; cashier, Joseph Arnold ; 
book-keeper, Wm. S. Browne; teller, Charles E. Clark; clerk, 
Charles C. Blair. 

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 

The Birmingham Congregational Society was organized July 
30, 1845. The first meeting was held at the house of 
Ephraim Birdseye, the present residence of Sharon Bassett, in 
Birmingham. There were present, David Bassett, Asa Bas- 
sett, G. Smith, Ephraim Birdseye, David Nathans, George W. 
Shelton, F. T. Frost, Edward Kirby and Samuel P. Tomlin- 
son ; four of whom are still living. David Bassett, Josiah 
Smith, 2d, and George W. Shelton were the first society's com- 
mittee, and Ephraim Birdseye, clerk and treasurer. The name 
adopted was the " Birmingham Congregational Society." The 
church edifice was erected the same year by Hotchkiss, Clark & 
Company, at an expense of about ^6,000. The lot was donated 
by Anson G. Phelps, for church purposes only, and the new 
edifice was dedicated January 28, 1846; the sermon on the 
occasion being preached by the Rev. Joel Parker, D. D., of 
Philadelphia. 

In the summer of 1859 ^^^ edifice was enlarged by adding 
seventeen feet to its rear, at an expense of ^2,500. In 1866 
the present parsonage was erected at a cost of about ;^6,ooo. 
On January 4, 1846, sixty persons, in good standing, were dis- 
missed from the First Church of Derby, and on February 13, 
1846, organized themselves as a church by the adoption of arti- 
cles of faith and a covenant. Feb. 25. 1846, a council of neigh- 
boring churches was held and the church formally recognized, 
the Rev. George Thatcher, pastor of the Derby Congregational 
church preaching the sermon. On March 9, 1846, the society 
voted to hire the Rev. E. W. Cook for six months and to pay 
him three hundred and twenty-five dollars. 

Rev. Charles Dickinson was installed as the first settled pas- 
tor, Sept. 16, 1846, and continued as such until his death in 
1854. Rev. Zachary Eddy of Warsaw, N. Y., was installed 
Dec. 19, 1855, and dismissed at his own request Feb. 11, 1858. 



CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 



379 



The Rev. C. C. Carpenter was ordained pastor of this church 
Feb. 13, 1861, and continued thus until June zj, 1865, when he 
voluntarily resigned. May i, 1866, the Rev. Stephen S. Mer- 
shon was installed, and by his own request was relieved of the 




CuNCKia.A'liUNAL CllUKClI AND PARSONAGE. 

duties of pastor March 17, 1869. The Rev. Charles F. Bradley 
was installed over this church Dec. 30, 1873, and remains at 
the present time its pastor. 

At a church meeting, April 10, 1846, Josiah Smith, 2d, and 
David Bassett were chosen deacons. The followine: have since 



380 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

been chosen : Truman Gilbert, E. G. Atwood, Henry Somers, 
J. R. Hawley, G. W. Shelton, S. M. Gardner, and Joseph Tom- 
linson. The last three are acting at the present time. 

At a church meeting held Feb. 13, 1846, George W. Shelton 
was appointed superintendent of the Sabbath school and was 
re-appointed yearly until 1854, in which year William B. Lewis 
was elected. In 1855 George W. Shelton was again chosen 
and held the office until April, 1858, when Truman Piper was 
elected. In April, 1859, Joseph Tomlinson was appointed and 
has held the office with the exception of one year up to the 
present time. 

During vacancies in the pastorate the Rev. J. Wiley, D. D., 
Rev. Robert G. Williams and Rev. John Willard have occupied 
the pulpit as stated supplies. 

In the early history of the church the music was vocal and 
instrumental. At one time the latter consisted of a bass-viol, 
two violins and a flute. In 1856 an organ displaced these in- 
struments. In 1 87 1 the pulpit was removed from the recess 
at the west end of the church and the organ transferred from 
the gallery to it, and a movable platform with a neat plain desk 
substituted for a pulpit, occupying a few feet in front of the 
former. With this change the gallery choir was abandoned 
and singing was congregational, led by a precentor, the organ 
being accompanied by a flute. In 1874 an orchestra was 
added and has continued to the present time, mostly without a 
precentor. 

This church has been harmonious and prosperous, and now 
numbers 221 members. 

KING HIRAM LODGE. 

The King Hiram Lodge, No. 12, was chartered by the Grand 
Lodge of Massachusetts to Brothers Charles Whittlesey and 
twenty-six others, Jan. 3, A. L., 5783, in the year of our Lord, 
1783. The first communication was held at Derby Narrows, 
and the first lodge building was erected in 1791, of which the 
lodge was only part owner, the lower story being used for a 
schoolroom ; the upper one for the lodge. The corner stone 
of this building is all that remains (a sacred relic), on which is 
inscribed the following : 



masonic lodge. 38 i 

"This Stone was Erected 

to 

KING HIRAM LODGE, No. XIL, 

By Samuel B. Marshall in the year of light, 5797." 

" Breast to Breast 
Let Brotherly love continue." 

This lodge received its present charter from the Grand Lodge 
of Connecticut, May 12, 1792. Its ancient records with many 
Masonic valuables were destroyed in the great fire at Birming- 
ham Jan. 12, 1879, and like many other institutions has had its 
seasons of growth and depression, and received its full share of 
odium in the days when bitter invectives were hurled against all 
who dared to profess the name of Freemasonry, but in spite of all 
this the light of the order was kept burning upon its altar. 
Lodge meetings were held at the Narrows until 1828, when it 
was voted to hold them at Humphreysville. 

In 18 1 2 the lodge was called upon, and assisted in laying the 
corner stone of St. Paul's church, Huntington, an edifice still 
standing. Communications at that time were often held during 
the day, and sometimes a whole day was occupied in Masonic 
work. " The refreshments furnished at the lodge rooms were 
such as would shock our sense of propriety at the present day, 
for we read from the records that the steward be instructed to 
procure one gallon of rum or half a gallon of French brandy for 
the use of the craft. But if we consider that in those days it 
many times took large quantities of the ardent to celebrate a 
fashionable wedding or raise a meeting-house, it would not be 
unreasonable to suppose that a little would be required on the 
occasion of raising a brother to the sublime degree of Master 
Mason. 

That custom however has long since been prohibited ; ar- 
dent spirits of no kind being now permitted within the walls of 
the lodge room, and the practice of temperance is among the 
first duties taught in the lodge. "^ 

In 1850 the furniture of the lodge was removed from Hum- 
phreysville to Birmingham where its communications have ever 
since been held. About this time the indiscriminate use of the 



®John H. Barlow's Historical Sketch King Hiram. 



382 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

blackball created internal dissensions and proved a dark day 
for King Hiram, for because of this its charter was arrested 
in September, 1854, by the Grand Master of the state, but 
afterwards, in May, 1857, it was restored, and the lodge since 
that has increased in energy and vigor ; numbering at present, 
216 members, and attends to all regular Masonic work. It has 
nearly reached its centennial, and few lodges in the state are in 
a more flourishing condition. The present officers are : 
Clarke N, Rogers, W. M., Leonard Jacobs, S. W., Wm. T. 
Gilbert, J. W , Wm. H. Hull, treasurer, John H. Barlow, secre- 
tary, H. Stacy Whipple, S. D., George C. Moore, J. D. 

VALLEY LODGE, NO. I4. 

This is a benefit and benevolent association, organized March 
4, 1870 and called the Knights of Pythias. It has a fund of 
of about ^1,000, and a membership of seventy-five, and the or- 
der is in a prosperous condition. Present officers : D. A. 
Beeman, C. C., George Munson, V. C., A. Gould, P., H. Hertz, 
M. of E., W. S. Thomas, M. of F., George Johnson, K. of R. 
and S. 

OUSATONIC LODGE, NO. 6, L O. O. F. 

On the 13th day of October, 1841, five brothers of the order 
resided in Derby, a territory in which there are now three flourish- 
ing lodges and two encampments. Their names were Sheldon 
Bassett, Robert Gates, Peter Phelps, Richard Evans and Robert 
R. Wood. These having received a dispensation from M. W. 
James B. Gilman, then Grand Master, met in a small, dingy 
room at Derby Narrows and were organized into the present 
lodge by P. G. M. Rev. Charles W. Bradley assisted by 
brothers from lodges Nos. i, 4 and 5, located at New Haven 
and Bridgeport, the only lodges then existing in the western 
part of the state. At this time eight were initiated into the 
order, and thus, with an empty treasury, a little apartment 
without furniture for meetings, and a membership of thirteen, 
Ousatonic Lodge commenced its work. It was very prosperous 
up to 1853, when its members numbered 168 with a fund of 
^2,000. At this time there were sixty-nine lodges in the state, 
with a membership of 5,000. From apathy and other causes the 



BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES. 383 

number of lodges in the state in i860 had dwindled to twenty, 
with only 1,600 members, but the Ousatonic Lodge with only 
sixty-eight of the faithful persevered in well doing against the 
disrepute into which Odd Fellowship had then fallen, and as a 
result of their labors, No. 6, I, O. O. F. has been resuscitated 
and now has a membership of 180 with a fund of over $5,000. 

In the great fire of Jan. 12, 1879, everything in the lodge 
room appertaining to the order was destroyed, including a se- 
lect library of 600 volumes. Within the past year a spacious 
and most magnificent hall has been erected, richly furnished for 
the use of the order, and its free library is fast accumulating. 
It is not too much to say that this hall is one of the finest and 
and most tasty in the state. 

The disbursements from the treasury since its organization 
for relief purposes have been a little short of $15,000. The 
lodge has never been in a more flourishing condition than at 
present, numbering in its enrollment of members our enterpris- 
ing and substantial citizens. Its present officers are : Charles 
E. Clark, N. G., Charles E. Bradley, V. G., Gould A. Shelton, 
M. D., S. P. G., John H. Barlow, secretary, Charles H. Coe, 
treasurer, W. V. Bowman, librarian, A. B. Ruggles, chaplain. 

EXCELSIOR ENCAMPMENT, NO. 1 8. 

This institution has been established some time but the fire 
of Jan. 12, 1879, destroyed all its effects. The present officers 
are : A. E. Burke, C. P., G. M. Wakelee, S warden, Franklin 
Burton, high priest, P'rank D. Jackson, treasurer, J. H. Barlow, 
scribe. The misfortunes which have overtaken the order have 
been overcome and it is now in a flourishing state. 

THE PEOUOTS. 

Many, many moons ago, on a beautiful summer day in 
August at Cold Spring on the banks of the Ousatonic this so- 
cial, friendly, and harmonious organization had its birth. A 
great medicine man, Thomas A. Button, M. D., who had stud- 
ied the history of the wild though friendly Pequots of Derby, 
found that many of their social qualities and harmless amuse- 
ments were worthy of imitation by the white man, and acting 
upon this principle, imbibing the Indian's Cold Spring water, 



384 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

and devouring some game of which he was so fond in olden 
time, and while around the festive board this medicine man 
called a council, addressing them in the native language of the 
tribe. Credentials were at once issued for membership and 
from that day to this, the Pequots have been known as a well 
orofanized and select council, which has a limited number of 
twenty- five active members and twelve honoraries. 

The Pequots during the Indian summer of every year, rain 
or shine, visit their hunting grounds in quest of wild game, and 
the Great Spirit in the past has crowned their pastimes with 
abundant success. From their conquered game a royal feast or 
annual supper is prepared and enjoyed with invited guests, 
speeches, poems, songs, and the merry dance. They also have 
a masquerade ball at which the members appear in Indian cos- 
tume ; also their clam-bakes at the sea side in imitation of their 
tribe. 

Nor is this all ; the Pequots are a benevolent organization. 
They never quarrel among themselves, but help one another in 
sickness and in distress from accumulated funds, and do other 
acts of Christian kindness which entitle them to the name of 
the good brotherhood. The first grand sachem of the tribe 
was William C. Beecher ; the present grand sachem is Henry 
Whipple ; R. C. Gates, 2d sachem and scribe ; A. Beardsley, 
medicine man. 

THE NOUS CLUB. 

This is an institution in the borough composed of a limited 
number of literary gentlemen who meet at least once a week for 
readings, discussions, the presentation of essays, poems and 
other exercises for mental elevation. It has been in existence 
about ten years, and enrolls among its members those of 
our best citizens An agreeable and interesting feature of the 
club is that the birthday of Robert Burns is yearly commemo- 
rated with invited guests, and supper, speeches, poems and 
other intellectual entertainments. 

IRISH SOCIETIES. 

There are several Irish societies in Birmingham ; the oldest 
being the Hibernian, established a quarter of a century ago, 



THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. 385 

and is benevolent in its object. Its officers are John Dockery, 
president, Timothy Gorman, vice president, Edward Mansfield, 
secretary, Thomas Sawyer, treasurer. 

The St. Mary's Roman Catholic Total Abstinence society 
has been in existence about twelve years and numbers seventy 
members. Its officers are : George Beeman, president, John 
E Dockery, vice president, John Corcoran, secretary, Thomas 
I. Reynolds, treasurer. 

St. Vincent De Paul organization has been in existence some 
years and has disbursed many charities to the poor. It has sixty- 
four members, and during the past year has paid $150 to the 
destitute in the town and $100 to suffering Ireland. The offi- 
cers are : John Dockery, president, Patrick Doghan, vice presi- 
dent, William Rowan, secretary, Thomas Cordon, treasurer. 

The Young Men's Temperance Roman Catholic association 
has seventy-eight members and holds monthly meetings for 
mental improvement, and having a fund in its treasury. Its 
officers are : Joseph McDonald, president, Dennis Reiley, vice 
president, Thomas Malloy, secretary, James Sweeney, treasurer. 

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. 

St. Mary's church was erected in 1845 5 the spacious lot 
being donated by Anson G. Phelps for the Catholic people of 
Birmingham. It was consecrated by Bishop O'Reilley, and 
since the first edifice was erected, large additions have been made, 
a tower built and furnished with the heaviest and finest toned 
bell in town. The priests connected with this church have been 
Fathers McDermont, Smith, O'Neal, James Lynch, Sheridan, 
P. J. O'Dwyer, J(jhn Lynch, Peter Kennedy ; the curates ; C. 
Duggett, Michael McCauley, James Gleason, P. McKenna, 
Wm. O'Brien and Thomas F. Shelley, 

Of the priests only one is now living, Peter Kennedy, and of 
the curates only two, Gleason, and Shelley the present in- 
cumbent. 

With this parish, in and out of town, are connected about two 
thousand and two hundred persons. Looking through the past 
history of this people we call to mind the Irish pioneers of 
Birmingham, John Phalan, Wm. P^oley, John O'Conners and 
Matthew Kellady, who, on the loth of September, 1833, were 
49 



386 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

landed at Derby dock from on board that old sloop The Guide. 
A son of Erin at that time was rather a curiosity to the deni- 
zens of the town. 

Phalan and Conners in the quietude of old age, with honest 
and well- spent lives, still linger among us as Irish landmarks. 
Michael Stokes, Patrick Ouinn, John Regan, Parrel Reilley 
and others soon followed the first, until their number was 
legion. Along the canal banks, through the workshops, at the 
dam, and around the private residences may be seen the handi- 
work of this foreign element. As the Irishman looks back and 
contrasts the rustic mud shanties of his fatherland with his 
present cosy dwelling or neat little cottage that he here enjoys, 
through temperate and industrious habits, he may love the 
shamrock, but he ought no less to love the country of his adop- 
tion. He may here say with the Irish poet : 

" Tho' poor the peasant's hut, his feast tho' small. 

He sees his little lot, the lot of all ; 

Sees no contiguous palace rear its head 

To shame the meanness of his humble shed." 

THE BOROUGH. 

Birmingham, in territorial limits is small and the settlement 
and population very compact In 185 1 it was chartered as a 
borough and the following gentlemen have since then held and 
discharged the duties of the office of warden : 

Thomas Wallace, 2 years. Thomas Elmes, i year. 

Abraham Hawkins, 3 " William Hawkins, i " 

John 1. Howe, i year. Sharon Bassett, i " 

Henry Atwater, 3 years. Henry Whipple, 5 years. 

R. M. Bassett, 3 " Ambrose Beardsley, 8 " 

L. L. Loomer, i year. 

The borough has three well organized fire companies : The 
Hotchkiss hose company. No. i ; Storm company, No. 2 ; and 
the R. M. Bassett hook and ladder company. 

In 1859 William B. VVooster and William E. Downes with 
laborious efforts obtained a charter for constructing the 
Birmingham water works, which being completed is proving 
to be a great blessing to the borough. The supply of water 
is abundant, with a fall of about two hundred feet ; which 
not only accommodates the entire community, but is of incal- 
culable value to the property owners in case of fire. The 



BIRMINGHAM. 387 

reservoir is located on Sentinel Hill, near the old Col. Daniel 
Holbrook place, now the property of Mr. U. H. Swift, but at 
first the home of Capt. Abel Holbrook, one of the early set- 
tlers. These works were constructed late in the summer of 
1859 at a cost of $26,000, and the outlay since has increased the 
sum to $60,000. Prior to this public desideratum, the people 
were poorly supplied with water thrown into a small reservoir, 
from a force pump in the old grist-mill of Fitch Smith, one of 
the earliest enterprises of the place. This reservoir stood near 
the residence of Stephen N. Summers on Caroline street. The 
present officers of this company are : S. N. Summers, president, 
Col. David Torrance, secretary and treasurer, Chas. H. Nettle- 
ton, superintendent. 

The principal streets of the borough are lighted with gas 
from the Derby gas company located in Shelton. 

Within the limits of the borough there are 365 houses, twenty 
factories and forty-four stores, great and small ; the population 
being over 3,200. Many of the houses accommodate two or 
more families ; in some instances from eight to fifteen in a 
block, and many live over stores which are not included in the 
above estimate. 

The municipal authorities have within the present year 
taken measures to carry into effect a thorough system of drain- 
age by sewers, and when this is accomplished the village will 
stand, especially in a sanitary point of view, second to no city 
in New England. 

The borough has four churches, Methodist, Episcopal, Con- 
gregational and Roman Catholic ; five clergymen, four lawyers, 
five resident physicians, three dentists, two banks, a post-office, 
two hotels, and a district school-house which is an ornament to 
the place. It was built in 1869, at a cost of about $40,000, un- 
der the superintendency of Joseph Arnold, Royal M. Bassett 
and Father O'Dwyer. It is a noble structure ; of large dimen- 
sions, three stories high above the basement, built of brick, and 
ought to stand a thousand years. 

The building has twelve separate divisions or apartments ; 
fourteen teachers ; the highest room being classical. The an- 
nual expense of running the institution, including interest on 
the debt, is about twelve thousand dollars. 



?88 



HISTORY OF DERBY. 



The location of Birmingham is picturesque in every point of 
view ; even the rocky, wooded hill to the north-west being 
pleasant to the sight, and a beacon defense from the wind. The 
street opened but a few years since from a little above Edward 
N. Shelton's residence, along the brow of the hill to the Anso- 
nia lower bridge, is surpassed for beauty of location by very 




RESIDENCE OF GEORGE S. ARNOLD. 



little inland scenery in New England. This street, called At- 
water avenue, is being rapidly adorned with beautiful, palatial 
residences, surrounded by spacious, ornamented lawns ; begin- 
ning with that of Mr. Shelton, built of gray stone, and continu- 



VIEW FROM SENTINEL HILL. 389 

ing nearly to the bridge just mentioned, a distance of over a 
mile. 

The accompanying illustration is but a sample of fifty or 
more residences, in the upper part of Birmingham and on this 
avenue, that indicate the newness and prosperity of the place. 
The eastern and southern view from all the residences on this 
avenue is very agreeable in the day-time or during the evening. 
The Naugatuck valley lies on the east, and above it rises old 
Sentinel Hill, covered on its brow with picturesque green fields 
a large portion of the year, and along its base extends one con- 
tinuous village from the point of rocks at the Narrows, on the 
south, to the extremity of the old North End on Beaver brook, 
and joining this, extending northward and westward, in full 
view, is the new and flourishing borough of Ansonia. In the 
evening this whole region presents the enchanting scene of 
one grand amphitheatre more than three miles in length and 
nearly two in breadth, illuminated by hundreds of street lamps 
and lights from the windows of the dwellings, to such an extent 
that, in the darkest evening, the whole panorama in its various 
parts is visible to the beholder. Such a sight as this, probably, 
the early fathers did not dream of when they stood on Sentinel 
Hill and saw only one dozen lights in all this region. Passing to 
the west side of Birmingham, on the high point in the ceme- 
tery, the view overlooking the village of Shelton, on the Ousa- 
tonic, although not as extensive, is like unto that on the east 
side, augmented by the beautiful Ousatonic Lake, and the 
sound of the water rolling over the great dam. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



THE DAM AND SHELTON. 




^"HE OusATONic Water Company at Birmingham was 
organized in December, 1866, with a cash capital of 
^322,500, having as its object the building of a dam 
across the Ousatonic river. 

On the loth of October, 1870, the completion of the work 
was honored by a grand celebration, consisting of an imposing 
procession, music by the Birmingham brass band, speeches by 
distinguished personages, and the gathering of a vast concourse 
of people. 

The day opened cloudy, and seemed unfavorable for the ful- 
fillment of the expectations of the occasion, but before noon 
the clouds were all dispersed, and, with the exception of high 
winds, the weather was every way delightful. 

A little after noon the Russell Rifles, Capt. Naramore com- 
manding, together with members of Kellogg Post, No. 26, 
Grand Army of the Republic, began to gather in the streets 
and soon after assembled in the public park with a section of 
battery, preparatory to marching over to Derby to receive 
Governor English and staff, Mayor Lewis of New Haven, and 
other distinguished guests. 

Between one and two o'clock, these gentlemen were met, 
and escorted to the Perkins hotel, Birmingham, where they 
dined ; the battery on the park thundering its jubilee and wel- 
come ; after which a procession was formed in the following order : 
Capt. A. E. Beardsley, grand marshal of the day, with Messrs. 
Abijah Gilbert, Henry Blackman, William Beecher, Dr. Pinney 
and Son, S. H. Brush and George T. Bushnell, mounted as 
assistants ; Birmingham brass band ; Russell Rifles, with bat- 
tery ; Governor English and staff; Mayor Lewis of New 
Haven ; General Kellogg, Paymaster Charnley of New Haven 
and others ; president and directors of the Ousatonic Water Com- 
pany ; children of the public schools, followed by an immense 
train of carriages and a multitude of people, closing up with 



392 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

the faithful working oxen of the company with trucks and 
carts ; the whole cavalcade and procession exceeding a mile in 
length. 

Reaching the vicinity of the dam, the great multitude gath- 
ered on the eastern shore around a large platform, on which 
were seated the speakers and invited guests of the day ; and 
the great multitude listened with much interest for two hours 
or more to the speeches, interspersed with music by the Bir- 
mingham band, manifesting, thereby, their high appreciation of 
the triumph of the great undertaking, the making of an im- 
mense water power by damming the Ousatonic river. 

The president of the day, after a few introductory remarks, 
introduced the speakers, and directed the services of the 
occasion. 

SPEECH OF JUDGE GEORGE H. PECK, PRESIDENT OF THE DAY. 

Fellow Citizens : Those of us who have watched from day to day, 
from week to week, and from year to year, the progress of this great 
work until its final completion, have thought it fitting to turn aside 
from our usual occupations and close our places of business, and show 
by this appropriate demonstration that we consider this the completion 
of a work of no ordinary character. The committee having the matter 
in charge have to submit to you the following order of exercises : 

SPEECH OF DOCTOR A. BEARDSLEY. 

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentktnen : We have met to celebrate a 
great event. 1 am glad to see so large an assemblage on an occasion 
SO interesting and important to this whole community. In common 
with a sentiment which I hope prevails in the breast of every one here, 
and in behalf of the citizens of Derby and Huntington, I heartily con- 
gratulate the pioneers, projectors, stockholders and builders of this 
dam, on the completion, thus far, of this grand and most magnificent 
enterprise. Thirty years ago the project of making the waters of the 
Ousatonic available for manufacturing purposes was discussed in this 
community, by capitalists of that day; a survey up and down this river 
was made, a charter obtained and other preliminaries arranged ; but for 
want of sufficient encouragement that project failed, and it has remained 
for the zeal, the energy, and the indomitable perseverance of a Shelton 
and his companions, to carry forward and consummate a work, which now 
guarantees to this locality a water power scarcely equaled in the whole 



OUSATONIC DAM. 393 

country. Where can you find another structure of such magnitude, 
pushing back such a stream, forming a lake so beautiful, environed 
with such charming scenery, and built as this has been, in tide water, 
and near the head of navigation ? Certainly not in Connecticut, and 
scarcely in all New England. 

We ought to be more than thankful that we have had men in our 
midst of sufficient nerve, pluck and financial ability to prosecute this 
herculean task to a successful termination. This structure, now more 
than three years in the Potter's hands, has been built under great dis- 
couragements, but you see we have at last an earthen vessel " made to 
honor," capable of holding more water than that which turns the 
factory wheels of the famous " Spindle City " of the old Bay State. 

I said this dam had been built under great embarrassments. No 
one can know the anxious days and sleepless nights of the men who 
have had the matter in charge, except those who have passed through 
the experience. It is easier to croak and find fault than to go forward, 
take the responsibility, and make things come out all right. Great en- 
terprises always have their difficulties. Diversities of opinion will pre- 
vail, mistakes happen, but final success will eventually silence all 
doubt and harmonize discordant feelings. Many have predicted this 
undertaking a failure from the start. Why, I remember, about the 
time the books were opened for subscriptions, a worthy gentleman, 
and one whose opinions I have generally received as law and gospel 
on most subjects, said to me ; " Why Doctor, the boy isn't born who 
will live long enough to see the Ousatonic dammed." I can tell my 
friend if he is here to-day, that a good many boys have been born in 
Derby since that prediction, and some of them, I am glad to say, have 
already opened their eyes upon this structure. The granite, timber 
and cement have been fashioned and consolidated into graceful form, 
and we hope to see this solid wall of masonry standing for years to 
come in grateful memory of Shelton, Potter, Wooster, Plumb, Howe, 
Smith, and many others, even to every toiling Irishman who has been 
instrumental in completing the work which has called us together to-day. 

Let us then rejoice on this occasion, and not only wish the stockhold- 
ers abundant success, but a rich reward for their investment. We owe 
them a debt of gratitude for their untiring efforts, paralyzed as they 
have been, from time to time, by perils in the water as well as perils 
among the people. For the success of this work, thus far, we are under 
greater and more lasting obligations to the president of the company, 
Mr. Edward N. Shelton, I was about to say, than all others combined. 
He has not only largely invested his fortune here, but for more than 
three years, day and night, this " dam of dams " has hung like an in- 
5° 



394 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

cubus on his mind, but with an iron will and devotedness of pur- 
pose, with an eye single to success he has braved every obstacle in 
in his way, and without his exertions this water power might have re- 
mained idle for ages and we not have been here to-day rejoicing. The 
building of this dam will form a new era in the history of old Derby 
and Huntington. I do not expect to live to see the results expected, 
but there are those within the sound of my voice, who may yet see in 
reality what I see in imagination, the rising glory of the city which is to 
line these shores and cover these hill-sides as the " waters cover the 
sea." 

Factories, mansions and temj^les of worship, neat little cottages, 
beautiful parks, verdant lawns and spacious avenues, teeming with a 
population of life and activity, will rise up here and in the glow of 
prosperity, and through the dignity of all the varied occupations of in- 
dustry make this place take her stand among the first manufacturing 
cities of New England. Already the signs of the times are working in 
our favor. Why, you see we have here to-day, for encouragement, our 
worthy governor and staff, his Honor Mayor Lewis, General Kellogg 
and other distinguished gentlemen, and we expect railroads from every 
point of the compass aided by liberal state legislation will centre here, 
and when our congressmen shall have removed the clogs of navigation, 
and this dam shall have proved immovable against the fury of ice and 
water floods, then who shall doubt, who shall deny that in this vicinity 
and to this spot in the future, 

" The Star of Empire shall take its way !" 

Standing near this monument of Yankee enterprise and looking back 
through the past, how striking is the contrast to day in comparison 
with two hundred years ago ! Then Derby contained a population of 
only eleven small families of British stock ; Huntington " beautifully 
less," while these surroundings were a mere howling wilderness, lined 
with winding footways, along which the savage man and more savage 
beast traveled alike in single file ; birds here built their nests in the 
forests, unmolested by roguish boy^, while the cunning fox dug his hole 
in yonder hill unscared. Sturdy oaks and taller pines hung in deep 
shadows over the margins of this ancient Pootatuck, which for centu- 
ries had rolled its waters unchecked in silent majesty down to their 
ocean bed. " Here lived and loved another race of beings." Yonder 
mound of mother earth, which now links the savage with the civilized 
was once an Indian fort, in front of which no white man dared show 
his face. The " Poor Indian," monarch of all he surveyed, brought to 
his wngwams here and there the fruits of his daily hunt, smoked his 
pipe in peace, and sailed up and down this river, not in the Monitor nor 



OUSATONIC DAM. 395 

the Dunderburg^ but in his little bark canoe. Such was this spot in its 
primitive loveliness, stamped as it were from the first dawn of creation, 
but wild and uncultivated as it was, still it was the paradise of Indians : 

" Over whose graves the reckless ploughshare driven, 
Has scattered their ashes to the winds of heaven." 

Tradition tells us that in later times just below where we stand, our good 
forefathers once erected a vast store-house, where cargoes of sugar and 
not a little good rum were brought from the West Indies, dumped and 
stowed away to cheat the colonial government, just as some of our 
pious rascals nowadays cheat the federal government out of its lawful 
revenue. Hence this place was given the savory name of " Sugar 
street." It is well that they did not call it " Rum street." But how 
changed ! It has lost its historical significance in the slow but sure 
march of civilization. The same river rolls at our feet, but changed in 
its course as it now is, may its waters in the noisy hum of factory 
wheels, yet roll down streams of plenty to this people, and to genera- 
tions that shall come. Once more, let us rejoice in the completion of 
an undertaking which unfolds to our view a brighter, more hopeful, 
more prosperous future. May the blessings of heaven rest upon the 
enterprise ; and when the dwellers upon the east and upon the west in 
after years shall from day to day, go to their evening repose lulled by 
the roaring music of this little Niagara, may they, in gratitude, never 
forget the authors and finishers of the Ousatonic dam. 

SPEECH OF EDWARD N. SHELTON, ESQ., PRESIDENT OF THE COMPANY. 

I must make my grateful acknowledgments for the manner in which 
the doctor has alluded to the directors of the Water Company. They 
have labored incessantly for more than four years, and the result is be- 
fore you and will speak in more impressive language than anything 
that I can say. As to the eulogy pronounced on myself it does not 
become me to speak, but I will leave it to the citizens to say how well 
it is merited. Few persons that have not been engaged in a similar 
enterprise can appreciate the amount of labor necessary to bring a 
work of this magnitude to completioh, to say nothing of the annoyances 
and interruptions always attending it. And perhaps a brief statement 
of the origin and progress of the enterprise may not be out of place at 
this time. 

The question of damming the Ousatonic river for manufacturing pur- 
poses was first agitated in 1838 ; and in 1839 application was made to 
the Legislature of this state for a charter, or rather the revival of a 
charter that was granted in 1822, for a canal from Derby or Hunting- 
ton to New Milford, for purposes of navigation, and which had expired 



396 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

by its own limitation. The requisite legislation was obtained, but as 
the shad interest was so important, and science had not then discov- 
ered that fish like individuals could climb ladders and go over dams, 
the company were not permitted to build a high dam like the one com- 
pleted, but a low dam, with a tumbling rapid over it for the shad. 
This required the location of the dam near Zoar bridge and the water 
to be brought down in a canal to the present location or below. The 
surveys made at that time made the expense so great that it was aban- 
doned, and most of the men who were engaged in the enterprise at that 
time have gone and but few remain to be with us to-day. 

The enterprise was then allowed to sleep more than twenty years, 
and many supposed it would rest forever. But in 1863 a few individ- 
uals, looking upon it as of much importance to this vicinity, concluded 
to make another effort. To make it an object to enlist the necessary 
capital, the real estate must be secured, which was obtained after much 
labor and many embarrassments. Application was made to the Legis- 
lature in I864 for permission to dam the river. Here we were met by 
parties from New Milford and other places by a strong opposition on 
account of the shad fisheries. A delegation was sent to Maine to inves- 
tigate the fish weirs in operation in that state. So satisfied were they 
of the success of the weirs that they engaged a gentleman who had had 
considerable experience, to come with them to New Haven and bring 
a model of a weir, and they were successful in convincing the commit- 
tee of the Legislature of the practicability of passing the shad over the 
dam, and thereby obtained a report in their favor, and thus secured 
the legislative enactment, and we trust we shall be equally successful 
in demonstrating to our New Milford friends the coming spring that 
shad will go over dams on properly constructed weirs. The weir now 
bei^g built will be the first in the state. 

An effort was made in 1864 to raise the necessary capital and failed. 
After the close of the war, in 1865, the revival of manufacturing by the 
great demand for all classes of goods revived the hopes of the friends 
of the enterprise. Another effort was made in 1866 with better resiflts 
and the company was organized in the autumn of that year, since which 
time the work has been progressing, embarrassed and retarded by fre- 
quent freshets. In 1869 the dam was nearly completed, when by the 
great freshet of October 4, owing to the manner in which the work was 
left, a portion of the dam was swept away, being near one quarter of 
the work. We were disheartened but not discouraged, and now pre- 
sume the work to be completed and able to resist the roaring torrents of 
the Ousatonic, as we put perfect confidence in its stability. It is also 
proper to mention in this connection, that most of the capital for this 



OLD DAYS OF YORE. 397 

great work was raised in our vicinity, an instance of the great public 
enterprise of its citizens. 

But, gentlemen, although the dam is completed our task is but half 
finished. That sheet of water, as beautiful as it is, is of no particular 
value to this community until it is made to turn the wheels and drive 
the machinery, guided by skillful hands, to be made productive, and 
every citizen should feel that he has an interest in the enterprise, for if 
it prospers the whole community will prosper, and if it is allowed to lan- 
guish the community will be affected by it. As the dam has become a 
fixed thing, all discussion whether it is located in the right place, or 
built in the best manner, or of the best and most approved materials, 
should cease, and everything should be done to give confidence and 
thereby secure success by attracting capital and labor to it, and we 
shall then soon see these hills covered with residences and the whole 
valley teeming with prosperity. 

POEM BY JOHN W. STORRS, ESQ. 

O fair and smiling stream that flows 

So sweetly, grandly on, 
Beneath the slanting, genial rays 

Of mild October's sun; 
We come to-day a festal throng. 

To give thee joyous hail. 
And crown thee in our speech and song 

The monarch of the vale. 

To-day the bow of promise spans 

The crystal waters o'er, 
While Hope with radiant visage stands 

Upon thy shining shore; 
And with her prescient finger points 

To history's glowing page. 
Where foremost stands thy name among 

The blessings of the age. 

Fair Ousatonic ! Round thy banks 

Full many a mem'ry clings, 
Of tree and crag and eddying nook — 

Those old familiar things. 
There's not a rock upon thy banks. 

No pebble on thy shore. 
That has not some sweet tale to tell 

Of good old days of yore. 

Lo ! yonder cliff with frowning front 

Reveals a granite page. 
Whereon is writ in mystic lines 

Of that primeval age, 



398 HISTORY OF DERBY 

When, from earth's groaning centre came — 

By fierce volcanic shock — 
'Mid sulph'rous fumes and burning flame, 

The boiling, bubbling rock. 

On old Fort Hill, athwart the stream, 

Methinks an hundred braves 
Awake to anger as the spade 

Of progress strikes their graves ; 
And forth they come upon the trail — 

The war whoop sounds again, 
And burning cabins tell the tale 

Of vengeance on the plain. 

Nay, 'twas a dream ! Through fairer fields 

To-day thy waters flow, 
Nor molten rock, nor forest child 

The present age can know ; 
Forever hence 'mong peaceful scenes 

Thy onward waters press. 
While busy progress bendeth down 

Thy white lipped waves to kiss. 

Upon thy fair and sunny slopes, 

Luxurious homes of ease 
Raise their proud forms, while wealth and art 

Join hand in hand to please. 
Around your rustic cottage door 

The laborer tills the soil, 
And finds in love — 'tis all he asks — 

Sweet recompense for toil. 

Behold the future bringeth now 

A vision to the eye ! 
A city, lofty spired and domed. 

Looms up against the sky ; 
Its serried walls of brick and stone 

Wind upward from the shore, 
Where men may come, whence men may go. 

Till time shall be no more, 
With restless hearts, to chafe and beat 

Against life's prison walls, 
Or sport the hour of pleasure sweet 

Among its palace halls. 

And hark ! Along the winding shore 

An hundred giant mills. 
With hammer clack, and screaming gong, 

Re-echo to the hills. 
While forge and wheel and glowing steel 

Take up the glad refrain, 
And sing the song of toil redeemed 

From manacle and chain. 



OUSATONIC DAM. 399 

Oh, glorious thought that l)reaks upon 

The spirit of the age, 
Which lights and cheers the present and 

Illumes the future page : 
That tells of those millennial days 

Which e'en may now begin, 
When common aims and common ends, 

Make all mankind akin. 

When generous wealth, forgetting self. 

Shall come with lavish hand 
To spread broadcast for public good 

Its influence through the land, 
To build its giant walls of rock 

The mountain streams to span. 
To stay their rushing tides and tame 

Their energies for man ; 
Who dies that other men may live . 

The world hath crowned with bays, 
Who sows that other men may reap 

Shall surely wear the praise. 

O generous men ! heroes of peace 

Whose courage never failed, 
When timid hearts beat faint and low 

And croaking tongues assailed ; 
This lesson let us learn from thee. 

That not life's sunny side 
Shall give us strength ; that greatness comes 

From battlins; with the tide. 



SPEECH OF JAMES E. ENGLISH, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE. 

Fellow Citizens of Birmingham : While it was not my fortune to 
have been born in the Naugatuck valley, it was my good fortune to be 
born in the good old state of Connecticut, and to have spent my life 
within her borders. As a citizen of Connecticut, I have always felt a 
deep interest in every thing that was calculated to promote the best in- 
terests of both the people and the state. 

Geographically speaking we are confined within very small limits. 
Our ancient fathers were for the most part farmers, and at best ob- 
tained but scanty reward for their labor. We have a hard and un- 
yielding soil, which submits reluctantly to the hand of toil and gives 
but grudgingly of its rewards to industry. 

The agricultural production of the state is but a small portion of our 
consumption ; in fact there are not four months' food in Connecticut 
to-day. Stop the importation of food and our people would have to 
leave the state or die of starvation within that period. Hence the 



400 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

necessity for a diversity of pursuits. Early in the eighteenth century 
there was but a single fulling mill in the state ; this manufactured what 
is called fulled, but undressed cloth. 

Col. Humphreys commenced the manufacture of fine cloth in this 
valley early in the present century. So celebrated had become his 
cloth, that in November, 1808, Thomas Jefferson, then president of 
the United States, desirous of appearing at the White House on New 
Year's day. with a suit of clothes of American manufacture, sent the 
collector of customs at New Haven the following order : " Home- 
spun is become the spirit of the times. I think it an useful one, and 
therefore that it is a duty to encourage it by example. The best fine 
cloth made in the United States, I am told is at the manufactory of 
Col. Humphreys. Send enough for a suit." From that early be- 
ginning to the present time manufacturing in your valley has been 
increasing, until to-day it ranks as one of the most extensive manufact- 
uring districts in the state. 

In this whole dam, with its gates and canals, you have a work of 
which you may well be proud. It is a monument to your foresight, 
skill and liberality. We celebrate its completion to-day, and all re- 
joice that we are permitted to be here and witness the water as it flows 
over this grand structure. It is a beautiful sight. You that have 
erected, at so much cost, this power, need not be told by me how to 
utilize it. A liberal man deviseth liberal things. This work is but an 
evidence of your great liberality. I doubt not you will extend to those 
who may seek to use your power the same liberality you have expended 
in erecting your privilege. 

When this power comes to be used, as it will, to its full capacity, 
then your village will reap all the benefit which must come from a work 
of so great a magnitude. Nor will the benefit be confined to your 
town, as every town and county in the state will be benefited by it. 

SPEECH OF HON. S. W. KELLOGG. 

It is no ordinary event that has brought this vast assembly together. 
It is the happy consummation of an enterprise, rare in its magnitude 
and rare in the difficulties that have been surmounted, which has called 
out every household in this community, has closed their shops and 
factories, and poured forth their whole industrious population on this 
auspicious occasion, as if it were a day of jubilee. It is right, emi- 
nently right, to celebrate such an event. It is right for the whole peo- 
ple to come together, to do honor to tbe energy and the enterprise of 
the men who planted and carried forward this great work, in spite of 
disaster and unexpected obstacles, to its glorious completion. I well 



OUSATONIC DAM. 4OI 

remember the history of the legislation of 1864 by which the charter 
of this company was obtained, which has been so well related by Mr. 
Shelton in his speech ; and it is to his individual energy and persever- 
ance that you are so much indebted for this great work. Mr. Shelton 
and other leading citizens of your place came to the Legislature that 
year with a petition for a charter ; and I was associated with John S. 
Beach, Esq., as counsel in the matter, and the case was heard before 
the committee. The petitioners came before the committee with their 
evidence ; and the case was so strong, that it seemed as if there could 
be no objection to the granting of a charter for so beneficent an enter- 
prise, but all at once we heard the shrill cry of " Shad ! shad ! " echoing 
down the river from the lips of some representatives of towns above you, 
interested in their up-river shad fisheries. They thought they could 
defeat the petition with this cry, too ; for you know it is the popular 
impression, that, with a Connecticut Legislature, there is not in the 
whole field of logic or in the wide range of legislative debate, so potent 
and controlling an argument as "shad ! " But the men who had charge 
of the petition ; Messrs. Shelton, Downs and others, were not to be de- 
feated in that way, and one of them, Mr. William E. Downes,went at once 
to Maine and brought back with him an expert in the building of dams 
on the rivers in that state. They then produced before the committee a 
model of a fish weir, such as had been used in the construction of their 
dams in Maine, and it was made so plain that the fish could go above 
the dam by means of this weir, that the committee were satisfied they 
could grant the charter and preserve their respect for the right of the 
shad and the shad-eaters at the same time. I am not very certain 
what the shad will do about it now. And although opposition did not 
cease, the charter was granted, and we knew then that the fulfillment 
of this great enterprise would come. 

The war was then being prosecuted to its final grand struggle ; it 
was the last year of the war, and the whole resources of the country, 
money as well as men, were demanded to sustain the government in its 
efforts to preserve its existence. It was impossible at such a time to 
raise the necessary capital for so great a work. When the war was at 
an end, we watched with interest the progress of the enterprise and 
were glad when its success was assured. And when one year ago this 
month, the floods had broken up our railroad and interrupted our com- 
munication with each other, and we learned that the same destructive 
storm had swept away the work of years of anxiety and toil, I did not 
meet with a single man among all the business men of Waterbury, who 
did not speak of it with sadness and with sympathy for you in your 
great calamity. But though the work of weary years was gone, disas- 
51 



402 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

ter and loss could not stay the enterprise in such hands as yours ; its 
fulfillment has come and before us is the grand result which you are 
here to-day to celebrate. 

Our good state of Connecticut must depend upon manufactures, 
more than any one interest, for its increase in wealth and prosperity. 
Our worthy governor has just told you, in his speech, that Connecticut 
was very early a manufacturing state, and was among the first to establish 
certain branches of manufacturing industry. While we are proud of 
the history of our state for this and many other reasons, we must ad- 
mit, I think, that the manufactures of the state were comparatively a 
small interest, until within the last thirty years. I think my friend 
Plumb and some others I see before me remember well that in the 
Naugatuck valley thirty years ago, the manufacturing establishments 
were upon a very small scale compared with those of the present day. 
The increase in this time has been wonderful — thanks to the energy 
of men like him and others here. 

Some have claimed that the day of increase in the manufacturing 
interests and prosperity of New England has gone by, and that other 
sections of the country are fast supplanting her in this respect. I 
know that the manufacturing interest has largely increased in the West 
the last few years. But while some branches of industry may seem 
to have declined, let us see if the manufactures of New England, as a 
whole, have not rapidly increased during these years. By statistics 
taken during the last year, it was found that in 1869 there were, in 
New England alone, four thousand and one hundred factories, whose 
annual production of goods would average one hundred and fifty 
thousand dollars for each factory. One-half of these had been estab- 
lished since the beginning of 1863, and one-fourth since the beginning 
of 1866. And the whole annual production of these establishments is 
more than six hundred millions of dollars, more than enough in four 
years to pay our whole national debt, and this in New England alone. 
Tell me not, then, that the manufacturing interest of New England is 
declining, and that the day of its rapid increase is gone. At the same 
time, many branches of manufactures have been established in the 
Western states and in other sections of the country ; and there are 
to-day over six hundred woolen mills west of the AUeghanies, more 
than half of which have been established within the last five years. 
Thank God, there is room enough in this broad land for them all ; and 
there is room enough in the rapid development of the resources of the 
country for new and more extensive establishments of the manufactur- 
ing interest of the country. 

The great work in whose presence we stand is the combined result 



THE DAM. 403 

of capital and labor. Capital employed as this has been is devoted to 
the interests of labor. Upon labor it bestows its blessings and benefits. 
Their interests are the same and they go hand in hand. How many 
families have had their daily wants supplied, and the rewards of toil freely 
bestowed upon them, in the progress of this work ; and how many 
more there will be, we trust will be seen in the near future, when the 
mills shall line both banks of the river below ! Give labor its full 
reward ; but the men who have planned and carried forward this great 
work, through discouragement and disaster, have had the hardest of the 
labor. Unto each be their full share of the merit of its completion, 
and how soon in this land the energetic and industrious laborer may 
become the capitalist. There are to-day, upon the banks of a single 
branch of the Naugatuck, in Waterbury — the Mad river — five large 
manufacturing establishments, that employ daily from 1,200 to 1,400 
hands, and furnish the means of support and the comforts of life to 
more than three times that number of population. And yet the gener- 
ation has not entirely passed away since the men who built these 
establishments might be found, from morning until night, in their little 
one-story shops where their rolling mills and four-story factories now 
stand, with their coats off and their shirt sleeves rolled up, and with 
their own sturdy toil laying the foundations of their own future wealth 
and prosperity, b'o has it been here, and so has it been with others 
who have won the success they deserved. We trust you will gather a 
full reward for the energy and toil that have brought this great work to 
a successful completion. May the results of the increase and pros- 
perity of your community far outrun your most sanguine expectation. 
May the year soon come when both sides of your river shall be lined 
with factories, and the ringing of hammers and the rattle of machinery 
shall resound from bank to bank, and these beautiful hillsides and 
summits shall be covered with houses, the houses and homes of the 
people. And may the good God in his mercy, who gathereth the 
waters and bindeth the floods from overflowing, preserve you from any 
disaster or destructive freshet to sweep away the work of your hands. 

THE DAM. 

The Ousatonic is one of the largest rivers in New England, 
having a much greater volume of water than the Rlackstone, 
Quinebaug, Chicopee, Shetucket or Willimantic, all bordered 
by flourishing manufacturing towns, and but little less than the 
Merrimac, which drives the countless spindles of Lowell. The 
Ousatonic takes its rise among the hills of Berkshire county, 



404 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Massachusetts, more than one hundred miles above the head of 
tide water at Birmingham, and empties into Long Island Sound 
near Bridgeport. It drains about two thousand square miles of 
territory and receives numerous tributaries, some of which 
are rivers of considerable magnitude, such as Still river, Pom- 
peraug and Shepaug. These affluents usually commence their 
course at the outlet of large lakes which serve as natural reser- 
voirs, equalizing the flow of water, and insuring an unfailing 
supply at all seasons of the year. The minimum average flow 
of water during the lowest stages is estimated at not less than 
five hundred cubic feet per second, which is equivalent to 
twenty-five hundred horse power for twelve hours per day. 

Aside from the abundance of water which the Ousatonic 
affords, the fact that it was the last available large water power 
in close proximity to navigable tide water along the whole New 
England coast would seem to have been sufficient inducement 
for its speedy utihzation, but it was only recently that its in- 
comparable advantages appear to have been fully recognized. 

The dam is located at the head of navigation on the Ousa- 
tonic river, only seventy miles by rail from the city of New 
York. It consists of solid masonry twenty-two feet in height, 
constructed in the most approved and substantial manner across 
the Ousatonic, a distance of six hundred and thirty-seven feet. 
The great extent of country drained by this river, together with 
the immense reservoir above the dam five miles in length, en- 
sures a permanent supply of water equal to twenty-five hundred 
horse power twelve hours a day. Mr. Henry T. Potter was the 
engineer and superintendent of this great work, which occupied 
nearly three years in its construction and in rebuilding a portion 
which was torn away by a flood when the enterprise was near 
its completion. The work began on the eastern side late in the 
spring of 1867. The first year a considerable portion of the 
eastern abutment was built, and a portion of the dam proper 
was run across to an island near the middle of the river. The 
next year this portion was completed, a bed and apron were put 
in place for about one hundred feet in the middle of the river, 
and another section of the dam was pushed westward about 
half-way across the remaining portion of the river. Here be- 
gan a contest between human skill and the powers of nature, 



THE DAM. 405 

and after a struggle of no small magnitude, nature conquered 
and the work rested during the winter. In the spring of 1869 
it was taken up vigorously again, the dam was constructed to 
the western shore ; then the workmen returned to the middle 
gap in the river, and had very nearly brought it to perfection 
when a heavy flood came, drove the workmen away, tore out 
about two hundred feet of the structure to its foundations, and 
rolled it down the stream. 

In the spring of 1870 the work was again taken up, when the 
whole central gap was closed up by a solid wall and the whole 
dam stood in its place, a magnificent work of art. On Wednes- 
day afternoon, Oct. 5, at three o'clock and ten seconds, the final 
cap stone was lifted to its position. 

The engineer, Mr. H. T. Potter, received most hearty com- 
mendation and praise. He was a man of no specious pretense, 
yet very able ; patient as most men, often more so ; seeing at a 
glance what he could do, and always did what he promised ; 
many times under censure, and yet he went on his way steadily, 
pushing to the end, beating back one and another difficulty, 
until finally the work under his hands grew to its final comple- 
tion, a monument to his engineering skill. 

The length of the construction, compassing the curve of fifty 
feet in crossing the river, is six hundred and thirty-seven feet, 
to which must be added one hundred and seventy-five feet in 
length in both abutments, making eight hundred feet of solid 
masonry. The abutments are twenty feet at the base, eight 
feet at the top and from twenty-five to thirty-two feet in height ; 
the whole length of the masonry being capped with granite 
blocks from Maine. At the base of the dam juts an apron 
twenty-four feet in width of southern pine logs one foot square, 
resting upon and fastened to some two feet more of timber and 
masonry. The abutments at each end are thirty-seven feet 
high, each pierced by three eight feet square gate-ways, through 
which the water passes into the canals constructed on each side 
of the river. There is a lock constructed on the western canal ; 
also a weir or fish race through which an occasional June shad 
with a sprinkling of youthful lamprey eels are allowed to go up 
for the special benefit of the up country people. 

The whole structure consists of blocks of rock laid in water 



406 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

cement, all done by first-class labor under rigid directions ; and 
so perfect is the masonry over which the water pours, that the 
surface of the sheet of water the entire length of the dam is as 
unbroken and smooth as if it were but a foot in length. The 
effect of the fall of such a body of water is as if the earth were 
trembling, rather than a great sound in the air, although science 
tells us it is in the air. This trembling has been observed many 
times in the upper or western part of the city of New Haven, a 
distance in a direct line of over eight miles. 

While the whole community have cheered on this work and 
rendered its aid in many ways, it is nevertheless due. to men- 
tion in a distinctive form the men who have been prominent in 
securing the construction and completion of this enterprise. 

Edward N. Sheltou, William E. Downes, 

Edwin Wooster, Thomas Elmes, 

John I. Howe, Royal M. Bassett, 

A. H. Ailing, Robert May, 

C. B. Ailing, Thomas Burlock. 
David W. Plumb, 

SHELTON. 

This new and growing village, named after one of its pio- 
neers, Edward N. Shelton, is located directly opposite Birming- 
ham, across the Ousatonic in the town of Huntington. Its 
landscape rises gradually westward from the river over half a 
mile, reaching an elevation of two hundred and fifty feet facing 
the Orient sun, overlooking the Ousatonic and commanding a 
fine view of the charming and diversified scenery of Derby. 
The stranger is delighted with its natural and picturesque sur- 
roundings, and probably ftw localities in New England afford a 
more desirable site for a healthy and beautiful city. Since the 
completion of the Ousatonic dam in 1870 Shelton has grown 
rapidly and now numbers one hundred and seventy-five dwelling 
houses, many of which are spacious single residences, illus- 
trating the present day architecture as finely as any village in 
the country. "• Adam's block " on Howe street is a good illus- 
tration of that style of combination of less expensive residences. 

Shelton has now in operation twelve manufacturing establish- 
ments, all built of brick except the stone factory, and which 
afiford opportunity for the employment in the aggregate of about 



THE BASSETT FACTORY. 



407 



one thousand hands. Nelson H. Downs built the first factory, 
which is now occupied by J. W. Birdseye & Company, under 
the name of the Birmingham Corset Company, where they con- 
duct an extensive business, employing about 225 operatives. 

Sharon Bassett's extensive carriage bolt factory was com- 
pleted in 1872 ; employs at present about sixty hands ; the 
monthly pay roll amounting to $2,000, and the yearly products 
to one hundred thousand dollars. 

The stone factory, now occupied by E. C. Maltby & Son, 
manufacturers of spoons, forks and Maltby'sdessicated cocoa-nut. 




NORWAY IKON BOLT WORKS. 



was one of the early buildings of the village. This firm employs 
about 80 hands. The factory was built by Edwin Wooster in 
1872, he being one of the directors in the Ousatonic Water Com- 
pany, and labored industriously and was highly instrumental in 
obtaining subscriptions to the stock, overcoming prejudices 
against the undertaking, and was very efficient in forwarding the 
dam to completion, but the enterprise proved to be a sad misfor- 
tune to him. In 1873, while at work about the dam, he suffered 
the calamity of fracturing his thigh, which made him a cripple for 
life. On the 20th of April, 1876, he, in company with Frank 
Hayes and Patrick Cronan on board the Dunderburg laden with 



408 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

wood, was engineering the boat down the river about eight 
o'clock in a dark night, the water in the river being above its 
usual height, when, being deceived by an unusual light below, 
instead of entering the canal lock as he intended the boat went 
on the dam and all went over it. Wooster's last expression 
while going over was, " God save us all ! " Cronan either 
floated or swam to the western shore near Wilkinson's paper 
mill, while Hayes was rescued from the artificial island just be- 
low the dam, both men being nearly exhausted. Wooster was 
a good swimmer, but he was lost. His relative, Col. Wm. B. 
Wooster, spared neither pains nor expense to find the body ; 
experienced divers being employed with others for several days 
but without success. On the 5th of May following, Bradley 
Crofut and others, while fishing, discovered his body standing 
nearly erect in the river opposite the old Thompson place just 
below the point of rocks. 

Mr. Wooster was a native of Oxford and was connected in 
mercantile and manufacturing enterprises more than ten years. 
He was also for a long time deputy sheriff, and was a busy and 
enterprising man in his relations to society. He was sixty 
years of age, and his accidental death was deeply lamented and 
spread universal gloom over the community. 

Wilkinson Brothers & Company put up their extensive mills 
in 1 87 1 and 1872. In 1878 these mills were entirely destroyed 
by fire, sustaining a loss of 1^150,000. After the removal of the 
debris, through the remarkable energy and perseverance of Wil- 
liam Wilkinson, they were rebuilt in four months and eighteen 
days, and the manufacture of paper again commenced. 

The products of the mill are manilla colored envelope and 
hardware papers. They employ seventy hands and turn out over 
a million dollars worth of paper annually. The firm consists of 
William Wilkinson, sen., Thomas P. Wilkinson, William H. 
Leach, Charles A. Wheedon and George S. Arnold. This ex- 
tensive concern is surpassed by no paper mill in the country, 
and that the quality of their goods is superior to all others in 
their line is manifest from the extent of the annual sales. 

Derby Silver Company has been organized since 1872. Their 
present large factory was built in 1877. Mr. Edwin L. Britton 
inaugurated in Shelton the manufacture of Britannia or silver 



WILCOX AND HOWE. 



409 



plated goods of various descriptions, and the business is now in 
a most prosperous condition and constantly increasing. The 
capital stock of the company is ;$ 140,000. They employ one 
hundred and thirty hands and produce annually $200,000 worth 
of goods; their monthly pay roll being $8,000. E. De Forest 
Shelton, president ; William J. Miller, secretary ; William E. 
Downs, treasurer. 

The Tack and Bolt factory, a branch of the Tack Company 
of Birmingham, was built in 1871 ; employs about fifty hands, 
and is amono; the substantial firms of the villaire. 




in 







WILCOX AND HOWE, CARRIAGE HARDWARK. 

The Derby Gas works, which supply Derby and vicinity with 
gas, were constructed in 1871 ; the charter having been ob- 
tained in 1859 ^y William B. Wooster. Present officers: 
William B. Wooster, president ; Charles H. Nettleton, secretary 
and treasurer, and general manager. The board of directors 
are : Charles B. Hotchkiss of Bridgeport, Charles Nettleton 
of New York, Charles Hill, Sidney A. Downes, Wm. B. Woos- 
ter and Wm. E. Downs of Derby, 

Wilcox & Howe erected their present factory in 1875 ; the 
company consists of a copartnership, employing about forty 
hands, and is engaged in the manufacture of carriage hardware 



4IO HISTORY OF DERBY. 

of a superior quality of over $100,000 worth annually. Darius 
Wilcox, one of the partners, started the business in Ansonia on 
a capital of $39. Their monthly pay roll exceeds $2,000, and 
the business is constantly increasing. 

The Star Pin Company was organized in 1867 with a capital 
of $40,000 ; George H. Peck was then president, and Joseph 
Tomlinson, secretary and treasurer. At first the company 
manufactured pins at Wells Hollow in Huntington, Conn., but 
finding their business increasing, in 1875 they erected their 
present brick factory in Shelton. At that time Mr. Tomlinson 
sold largely of his stock to Mr. Peck, who has succeeded to the 
management of the business. Present officers : D. W. Plumb, 
president ; G. H. Peck, secretary and treasurer. To the mak- 
ing of pins has been added the manufacture of hooks and eyes 
and hair pins. The company is prosperous, employing fifty 
hands and turning out one hundred tons of goods yearly, at 
a value of $125,000. 

Radclifife Brothers, manufacturers of hosiery goods, built their 
factory in 1874. They employ about one hundred and ten 
hands, and produce $140,000 worth of goods annually, the 
monthly pay roll being $3,000. 

The Beardsley Building Company is located in Shelton and 
is among the foremost in house and factory building. They 
employ on an average forty hands. 

The Derby Cotton mills, for the manufacturing of linings, 
mosquito nettings, buckram and crinoline, have just been estab- 
lished and promise to be a regular bee-hive to Shelton. Their 
extensive works, as lately enlarged, are now nearly in full opera- 
tion. Robert Adams, sole proprietor of the concern, is a live 
man, enterprising, and understands thoroughly his business ; 
and will employ at least three hundred and twenty-five hands, 
with three hundred power looms, 17,000 spindles, turning out 
4,500 pieces of goods per day. Monthly pay roll $7,000, and 
the annual products amounting to $350,000. 

There are several smaller enterprises in the village. 

Zachariah Spencer, machinist, turns out fine goods and work- 
manship in his line as a specialty. 

Church Brothers, manufacturers of brackets and fancy wood- 
ware. 



THE INDIAN WELL. 



411 



The village is supplied with four grocery stores, two meat 
markets, one large carriage and blacksmith shop, conducted by 
John Donavan ; two extensive coal yards, one by Horace 
Wheeler, the other by Perry Brothers, and two livery stables. 




IHK INDIAN WELL. 



The place is blest with only one physician, Doctor Gould A. 
Shelton, a graduate of Yale Medical school, who is now in ac- 
tive and successful practice. 

The Shelton Water Company, at an outlay of $20,000, have 
supplied the village with good water, having a fall of two hun- 



412 



HISTORY OF DERBY. 



dred and fifty feet, and preparations are in progress for ample 
protection against fire. D. W. Plumb, president ; C. H. Net- 
tleton, general agent. 

The accompanying illustration represents the Indian Well on 
the west of the Ousatonic about a mile above the dam ; it being 
one of the attractions of the Shelton side of the river and is a 
quiet spot in the gorge of the mountain where the sun seldom 
penetrates its rays. Silence reigns here supreme, broken only 
by the soft murmur of the stream falling a distance of twenty- 
five feet. Tradition says the Indians fathomed the well to the 
depth of a hundred feet and found no bottom and that they 
held some superstition of awe and veneration for the place. It 
is an enchanting spot and thousands of pleasure seekers visit' 
it in the summer to enjoy its romantic scenery and seek recrea- 
tion from the busy routine of daily avocations. 

In the midst of all this money and enterprise there is one in- 
stitution not professedly engaged in the acquisition of wealth, 
" The Scattergood Mission," the beginning of a church, sup- 
ported by all denominations, which is prosperous under the 
energy and perseverance of Rev. Friend Hoyt, who inaugurated 
the movement. A bill is now before the Legislature to legalize 
it into a Union Church society. 

Thus within the last decade Shelton has put on the garb of a 
miniature city. The place is so intimately connected with 
Birmingham and Derby in business enterprises and social life 
that although located in another town it properly belongs to 
the history of Derby. , 




CHAPTER XIV. 

ANSON I A. 

HE territory on which Ansonia stands was originally 
called the Little Neck, it being formed a neck by the 
Naugatuck river and l^eaver brook. Plum meadow 
was that part of this neck, which is low land lying 
between the river and the brook and extending up the brook 
until it is partly in the rear of the village. 

Thomas Wooster, son of the first lidward, seems to have 
been the first man to own any of the territory of this Little 
Neck, he being granted one-half of Plum meadow in 1680. 

In 168 1 John Hull built the first grist-mill in the town on 
Beaver brook at the upper end of Plum meadow. In October, 
1684, the town granted to John Hull and John Griffin, "each 
of them a home lot in the Little Neck near the ponds." These 
ponds were caused, most probably, by the dam constructed for 
the grist-mill. 

This locality about the old mill and along the road on the 
east side of Beaver brook below the dam was called the North 
End one hundred and fifty years, and is still recognized by that 
name. John Griffin and his brother, Samuel Griffin, resided in 
this place, one being a blacksmith, perhaps both. This mill 
continued some time after 1700, but Hull's mills on the old 
Naugatuck, absorbed all mill work after about 17 10. From this 
last date the Little Neck was devoted exclusively to farms, un- 
less it might have been that some small enterprises of manufact- 
uring were conducted at the old mill-dam, perhaps a hat factory 
by James Humphrey and afterwards removed to Humphreys- 
ville. 

This flourishing and enterprising part of the town is located 
over a mile above Derby Narrows and Birmingham. On the 
east and west the hills gradually rise from the Naugatuck, form- 
ing a picturesque landscape on either side. P'orty years ago a 
large portion of the locality was a sandy plain with a few scat- 
tered farm residences on the elevated grounds. Ansonia proper, 



414 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

or within the borough limits, contains 456 dwellings, capable of 
accommodating 600 families, but many of these houses are pal- 
atial residences and the surrounding lawns beautified with or- 
namental trees and shrubbery. There are twelve factories, five 
churches, two banks, thirty-four stores of all kinds, three school- 
houses, three drug stores, three coal yards, four meat markets, 
and a great variety of shops where different kinds of goods are 
made and retailed. The factories are located on the east side 
of the Naugatuck, and are mostly built of brick or stone. In 
1852 a fire destroyed several manufactures, causing an aggre- 
gate loss of $75,000, and in 1854 the Ansonia Clock Company 
was burned at a loss of $120,000, all of which was a great in- 
jury to the place. 

After Birmingham had become established, as far back as 
1836, Anson G. Phelps conceived the idea of utilizing the wa- 
ters of the Naugatuck for manufacturing purposes upon the 
west side of the river, and thus making one continuous village 
(and finally a city), from Birmingham north a distance of two 
or three miles, the location being eminently beautiful, and he 
continued in an unsettled state of mind six or eight years be- 
fore making any purchases of land in view of carrying out his 
noble project. By this time he had come into possession, by 
various purchases, of all the desirable real estate on the west 
side of the river except one piece called the " Old Bassett farm," 
and which was so situated as to be the key to the whole enter- 
prise. Learning from busy rumor what was going on, Stephen 
Booth (often called Squire Booth) stepped in to play a sharp 
game at speculation, and bought the farm for $5,000, a big price 
in those times, for agricultural purposes. Whether this was 
done to defeat the grand object of Mr. Phelps or to extort 
money, is not easily determined, but Mr. Phelps, chagrined at 
the movement, rested from his labors and took matters coolly, 
as he was not easily cornered and held in " durance vile " by 
strategy. At length Peter Phelps, the agent of his uncle, 
Anson G., made advances to Mr. Booth, and the result, after 
much circumlocution, was like the last chapter in the history 
of Rasselas, viz. : " the conclusion in which nothing was con- 
cluded." Ten thousand dollars was the sum talked of and par- 
tially agreed upon, but no writings were drawn. Meanwhile 



OLD RASSETT FARM. 415 

Mr. Booth moved into the ancient house on this farm, and when 
the rising sun greeted the old mansion his speculative brain 
fancied golden visions of the future while he thus soliloquized : 
" This farm is the key to Phelps's adventure, and to me these 
rocks are as diamonds of great value, and I will yet get my price." 
At the next meeting the old farm had gone uj) in value to $15,- 
000. Mr. Phelps was ready to strike the first blow could the 
dog in the manger be removed, and the people, for the success 
of his project, now became interested. Many stories pro and 
con were raised about town, and an influential committee from 
Birmingham, — Sheldon Bassett, Donald Judson and others — 
waited on Mr. Booth, and in vain tried to persuade him to sell 
his farm, and as he wanted it for cultivating purposes, as he 
claimed, another was offered worth twice as much, but this 
seemed no temptation. The farm grew in value upon his mind, 
and after a while, matters remaining in statu quo, Mr. Booth 
became anxious, and hearing from one and another that he 
could get his $15,000, made advances to Peter Phelps, and an 
hour was appointed for an interview. The meeting was held 
in the parlor of Doct. Beardsley at Birmingham. After a lengthy 
preamble Mr. Booth said, " I have concluded to part with the 
farm, and after all that has been said the lowest price now cash 
down is $25,000, but if this offer is rejected the lowest figure 
hereafter will be $30,000. Peter Phelps, the agent who had 
full powers to close the bargain at $15,000, and expected to do 
so, spurned the proposition and turning indignantly said : " Go 
to h — 1 with your old farm ; when you get what we first offered 
you let us know." This was a back stroke to the wheel of for- 
tune to Mr. Booth and a fatal blow to the city project of Bir- 
mingham. 

Mr. Phelps now turned his attention to the east side of the 
Naugatuck, but this was claimed by Old Booth, (as he was now- 
called) simply as a ruse to overreach him, and once more the old 
farm was held in still higher valuation. 

The first survey of the grounds now teeming with the busy 
life of Ansonia was made by John Clouse, Anson G. Phelps, 
Almon Farrell and other gentlemen. After nearly a day's 
tramp around the lots Clouse planted himself upon a high rock 
near where the Congregational church now stands, and casting: 



4l6 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

his eyes around, said, " Mr. Phelps, this is one of the finest 
places for a village in this Western world. I would be content 
here to live and die, and be buried near this very spot with no 
other monument to my name than this rock and the memory 
of those who may come after me." Purchases were immedi- 
ately made, and about the same time the Seymour dam, 
built by Raymond French, was bought, which defeated the pur- 
pose of a manufacturing village on the west side of the river a 
mile north of Ansonia, to be called Kinneytown. 
. Mr. Phelps now bent his masterly energies towards carrying 
out his plans, and the last lingering hope of selling the diamond 
farm did not vanish from the mind of Mr. Booth until he saw, 
in 1845, 3- lorig liiiG of Irishmen with picks and shovels, carts 
and horses ready to commence broad and deep the canal and 
other foundations for the new village. From the first building 
erected on Main street, Ansonia has steadily grown in wealth, 
population and enterprise until she now vies with any manu- 
facturing village in the state. Eagle like, she has spread her 
wings in all directions, and the old Bassett farm, having under- 
gone many mutations, is now adorned with beautiful lawns and 
gardens, and dotted with neat little cottages and elegant man- 
sions. Many imprecations were heaped upon Mr. Booth by the 
people of Derby, for being a stumbling block in the way of Bir- 
mingham progress, while the denizens of Ansonia may now rise 
up and call him blessed. 

While Mr. Phelps was one day at Doct. Beardsley's dinner 
table, about this time, he said " Doctor, we are in a quandary 
as to what name to give our new village. Some are in favor of 
calling it Phelpsville, but I have one place by that name already." 
The Doctor remarked, " 1 suppose you would like your name 
associated with the place." "That would be very desirable." 
Impromptu, the Doctor said, "Take your Christian name, An- 
son, and make a Latin name of it and call it Ansonia ; this will 
be euphonious, rather poetical, and will carry your name down 
to the latest generation." Instantly Mr. Phelps dropped his 
knife and fork, and exclaimed. "That's the name; it suits me 
exactly ; " and at the next meeting of the company it was 
adopted, and hence it was called Ansonia. 

The embankment, a mile and a half long, forming the great 



COPPER MILLS. 417 

reservoir, was commenced in 1845 and finished in 1846. The 
first contractors, two in number, from Massachusetts, after 
expending $10,000, abandoned the work, and it was then given 
into the hands of Ahnon Farrell with Abraham Hubbell, the 
latter having come to Ansonia in April, 1845, and under their 
supervision it was completed. 

The Copper Mills of Ansonia were the first mills built ; the 
company having a capital of $50,000. The foundation was 
laid in the fall of 1844, by Almon Farrell, and the superstructure 
was erected by Harvey Johnson the same year. Donald Judson 
was president of the company, and Sheldon Bassett, secretary 
and treasurer. In 1854 the big copper mills at Birmingham 
were removed to Ansonia and merged into the present copper 
mills of the latter place. Donald Judson soon retired from the 
company with others, and the concern, most of it, fell into the 
hands of Anson G. Phelps. Afterwards, for several years, the 
business was conducted extensively and successfully by Abra- 
ham Hubbell, Thomas Whitney, now deceased, and Major Powe. 

This " Ansonia Brass and Copper Company " is probably the 
most extensive manufacturing establishment in the town, having 
several branch factories in Ansonia, namely, the upper copper 
mills and the lower wire mills, besides the factories on Main 
street, alP within the limits of the borough. The company has 
also a branch factory in Brooklyn, N. Y. It owns largely of 
real estate in the town. The company manufactures largely 
brass and copper, iron wire, sun-burners, nickel and silver 
plated sheets, brass-kettles, copper tubing, and many other 
articles in this line of goods. The good management of this 
company has added greatly to the wealth and prosperity of 
Derby, and its business is continually increasing. Its warehouse 
is the elegant store in Cliff street, Phelps Building, New York. 

On an average it employs 175 hands and turns out about 
$2,000,000 worth of goods annually. The monthly pay-roll 
for several years past has been from $20,000 to $25,000. The 
present officers are : William E. Dodge, jun., president; George 
P. Cowles, vice-president and treasurer ; A. A. Cowles, secretary. 

The Birmingham Water-power Company is now owned by 
parties in Ansonia, where the office is located. It originally 
belonged to Smith and Phelps, and was one of the first enter- 
53 



41 8 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

prises of Birmingham. It fell into the hands of Anson G. 
Phelps, and his heirs sold it to the present stockholders in 
December, 1859. The present officers are : J.H.Bartholomew, 
president ; George P. Cowles, secretary and treasurer ; Abraham 
Hubbell, general superintendent. 

WALLACE AND SONS. 

The names of statesmen, warriors, philosophers, scientists, 
and those toiling in the professions may stand out most promi- 
nently in history, and the masses accord them the highest honors, 
yet some of the ablest men in the world have been those 
engaged in secular pursuits. To carry forward great manufact- 
uring and mercantile interests demands an amount of talent, 
enterprise, brain power ; a broad comprehensive and executive 
ability far beyond that required in any of the learned profes- 
sions, — a knowledge must be obtained that can only be acquired 
by practical contact with the business world, while many a man 
would have utterly failed in business pursuits, yet, by devoting 
all his energies to some special study he has become eminent. 

Great manufacturing establishments do not grow up spon- 
taneously from nothing, although nearly all the largest and most 
successful ones, in this country at least, germinated from very 
small seed, producing at first but tiny plants which by dint of 
careful culture have developed to commanding proportions. 
Every such establishment has been emphatically worked up by 
the strong hands and active brains of earnest thinking men. 

These statements are not only especially applicable to the 
Wallace and Sons' mammoth establishment, but are equally so 
to many others alluded to in the pages of this history. 

Thomas Wallace, now deceased, came to Derby with his wife 
and seven children and all his effects on board the Old Par- 
thena and were landed on a bright Sunday morning in May, 
1 841, at the Birmingham wharf. Captain E. F. Curtiss, com- 
mander of the sloop, often said, he "felt proud of having trans- 
ported from up the Hudson so valuable an acquisition to the 
town as the Wallace family." Mr. Wallace came here through 
the influence and in the interests of Doct. Howe of pin 
notoriety, as a wire drawer. But he was not the first in Derby 
to manufacture wire from the metal, for William Smith, father 



WALLACE AND SONS, 4I9 

of Wm. W. Smith now of Birmingham, was an adept in this 
business. He came from England to Derby in 1842 and was 
an experienced and capital mechanic, but he died in a few years 
after his arrival. He manufactured from the raw material and 
drew wire for Charles Atwood and others while in Birmingham. 

Thomas Wallace with his sons, John, Thomas and William, 
whom he taught the trade, by application during about seven 
years, drew wire for the Howe Pin Company, and in 1848 
established with moderate beginning the brass business in 
Ansonia. Although small at first, the enterprise proved suc- 
cessful, it being in the hands of an experienced, energetic and 
sagacious man, who, by honest persevering industry and fair 
dealing with his fellow men, struggling on in his way in life, 
was granted abundant success, and his business soon grew into 
promising proportions, and in later years his sons, imbued with 
the spirit and sturdy methods of the father, imparted fresh vigor 
to the establishment, enlarging its resources, and in every way 
meeting the exigencies and demands of the times and of a pros- 
perous business. 

From the first factory building erected in 1848, others have 
almost yearly been added until now the establishment covers, 
in buildings, an area of nearly five acres of land. A prominent 
part of these is the tall chimney (the largest in the state) which 
rises to an altitude of over 200 feet, and in its construction, 
over 500,000 bricks were used. It is a marvel of strength, 
beautiful in proportions, and the draught all that could be 
desired. A novel feature of it is that one of its massive sides 
is made to do duty as a clock tower, and at the height of eighty 
feet one of Seth Thomas's celebrated town clocks points to the 
employes the correct time, as well as to all living in that 
vicinity. 

This noble structure was planned and built under the imme- 
diate supervision of Mr. William Wallace, a member of the 
firm. Most of the main buildings are either stone or brick, and 
one of the latter has just been erected thirty feet wide and one 
hundred and forty feet long, four stories high. A large store 
and warehouse at 89 Chambers street. New York, is connected 
with this concern. Brass and copper goods, pins, burners and 
more than a hundred other articles are manufactured from 



420 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

metals by the Wallace and Sons, and the great perfection and 
variety of their machinery give them the advantage over com- 
petitors, and their goods are found in almost every market in 
the world. Their business is immense and constantly increas- 
ing, and to obtain any just idea of their works and the variety 
of goods made would require a day's inspection. 

The average number of hands employed is 450, and the 
weekly pay-roll is about ^5,000 ; annual products, over ^2,000,- 
000. The present officers are : William Wallace, president ; 
Thomas Wallace, secretary and treasurer. 

The Farrell Foundry and Machine Company is one of 
the largest concerns in the town, with vast buildings, and does 
an extensive and varied business. The company was started 
early in the history of Ansonia by Almon Farrell, and with him 
were connected the Colburns, formerly of Birmingham. Their 
first building was erected by Lindley and Johnson, who came 
to Ansonia from New Haven in 1845. At that time the capital 
was only ^15,000, but it has gradually increased. The company 
now manufactures chilled-rolls, and about forty different kinds 
of goods in connection with their branch factory at Waterbury. 
It has shipped various kinds of iron machinery to France, 
Germany, Switzerland, England, Sandwich Islands and Cuba. 
To the latter place they have shipped two sugar mills for 
crushing sugar cane since 1877, the last one in 1878, which 
weighed over 320 tons, the heaviest and largest ever cast and 
built in this country, if not in the world. 

The sole management of this establishment has been for 
many years under the direction of its president, who has 
brought the stock of the company from a nominal cash capital 
of $100,000 to a real capital of $500,000. The number of hands 
employed is 175, and the monthly pay-roll about $11,000. The 
present officers are : Franklin Farrell, president ; Alton Farrell, 
secretary ; E. C. Lewis, agent and treasurer. The annual 
products, without the Waterbury branch, $500,000. 

THE OSBORN and CHEESEMAN COMPANY. 

The accompanying plate represents in part the extensive 
manufactory of the Osborn and Cheeseman Company, which 
was built upon the ruins of the Ansonia Clock works, destroyed 



OSBORN AND CHEESEMAN. 



421 



by fire in 1854. The present factory, 200 by 50 feet, was built 
in 1 86 1. The large addition built since, 280 feet long and 40 
feet wide, and three stories high, does not appear in the cut. 

Osborn and Cheeseman conducted a mercantile business in 
Birmingham some years, and in 1858 went into the hoop-skirt 
business at that place, and removed to Ansonia in 1859. In 
1866 the Osborn and Cheeseman Company was organized with 
a capital stock of $120,000. Charles Durand was president of 
the company until 1875, when he sold his interest in the enter- 



.^1^- 




OSIiORN ANlJ CHEESK.MAN COMPANY. 



prise. The company now manufactures a great variety of goods, 
such as sheet and brass ware, gilding metal, German silver, 
copper and German-silver wire, seamless ferrules, and other 
kinds of metallic goods, which are sold in all parts of the 
United States. The number of hands employed averages about 
250; the monthly pay-roll is about $10,000; and the amount of 
goods produced about $500,000. The prosperity of the com- 
pany was never greater than at the present time. The officers 
of the company are : president, Wilber F. Osborn ; treasurer, 
George W. Cheeseman ; secretary, Charles D. Cheeseman. 



422 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

THE SLADE WOOLEN COMPANY. 

The Woolen Mill of Ansonia was established by David W. 
Plumb in 1847, (formerly in the same business in Birmingham,) 
and was run very successfully during the war of the rebellion. 
In 1865 Mr. Plumb sold his stock, and the new firm of the 
Slade Woolen Company was formed with a capital of $100,000. 
The firm manufactures cassimeres, beavers, doeskins, and vari- 
ous kinds of woolen goods. 

The number of hands employed is 135, and the monthly 
pay-roll $4,000. The annual amount of goods produced is 
$300,000. 

The present officers are : Charles L. Hill, president and 
treasurer ; Morris A. Hill, secretary. 

The Ansonia Land and Water-power Company has for 
its president, D. Willis James, and for its secretary and treas- 
urer, George P. Cowles. 

The Ansonia Clock Company has for its president, W^m. E. 
Dodge, Jr. ; for its vice-president, George P. Cowles ; for secre- 
tary and treasurer, A. A. Cowles ; and for general manager, 
Henry I. Davis. 

It manufactures clocks in great variety both at Ansonia and 
Brooklyn, N. Y. 

The W. and L. Hotchkiss Company, with an office on Main 
street, conducts a large and varied business in lumber, doors, 
sash and blinds. They have been successful dealers in lumber 
and house building from their boyhood. The business amounts 
to about $100,000 annually. The officers are : Willis Hotch- 
kiss, president; H. J. Smith, secretary and treasurer. 

John B. Gardner, in his large factory on Main street, man- 
ufactures clock dials and all sorts of clock trimmings, novelties, 
and picture frames, and employs on an average 40 hands. He 
started this business in Ansonia in 1857, and has had good 
success. On the ist of April, 1880, he took his son into part- 
nership, and the firm stands, John B. Gardner & Son. The 
monthly pay-roll is $2,000. 

George C. Schneller, on Main street, manufactures eye- 
lets, and is doing a brisk business for a manufacturer who has 
but recently started. 



CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 423 

Charles Schnucks & Company manufacture nickel and 
Japan plating; and employ about 40 hands and are doing a 
lively business. 

Wales, Terrell & Company make fifth wheels for car- 
riages, and have a well established business ; the company hav- 
ing been established about ten years. 

The Naugatuck Valley Sentinel was started on the 9th 
of November, 1871, with Jerome and Carpenter, editors and 
proprietors. 

On the 19th of the following April (1872) Mr. Carpenter re- 
tired, leaving Mr. Jerome sole editor, and on the 24th of Au- 
gust, 1876, Mr. Jerome sold to Messrs. Emerson and Kramer. 
On the 1st of September, 1877, Kramer sold his interest to his 
partner, who has since conducted the paper under the title of 
"J. M. Emerson & Company." 

The paper takes its place with credit among all its stirring 
neighbors in the Naugatuck Valley, and is an energetic, enter- 
prising publication. 

The Ansonia Opera House, on Main street, was built some 
years since by a joint stock company at a cost of about $40,000.' 
It is a fine structure of brick, four stories high, and the Hall is 
one of the finest in the state. It has recently passed into the 
hands of Dana Bartholomew, and is conducted by him. 

The present Ansonia Hotel was built by Lindley and John- 
son in 1846, when there was scarcely a finished dwelling in the 
place. It has had many landlords, but under the proprietor- 
ship of Mr. Wm. H. Dayton has a reputation second to none in 
the Naugatuck Valley. 

THE congregational CHURCH. 

Ansonia had scarcely an existence as a village when this 
church was organized in 1848. Previous to this the few fami- 
lies that resided within its circuit were cared for by the First 
Congregational Church of Derby Narrows. Religious meet- 
ings were occasionally held for their accommodation by the 
pastors of the last named church, and prayer-meetings were 
maintained by the pious portion of the population. 

In the winter of 1848-9, stated religious services on the Sab- 
bath were commenced in the village, but intermitted after a few 



424 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

months. In the winter of 1849-50 they were renewed and have 
been regularly continued to the present time. The church, 
with its covenant and standing rules, was fully organized April 
17, 1850, with thirty-one members, as follows, with the names 
of the churches from which they had been dismissed : From 
the First Congregational Church of Derby — Wales Coe, Julia 
E. Coe, Luther Root, Mary Tucker, Geo. W. Nettleton, Sarah 
Johnson, Roswell Kimberly, Delia M. Kimberly, Martha Jud- 
son, Phebe H. Phelps, Martha Fitch, Nancy Johnson, Eli Car- 
rington and Susan Carrington ; from Wolcottville — Jeremiah 
H. Bartholomew, Polly H. Bartholomew, Caroline Skinner and 
Edith Hubbard ; from Northfield — Benjamin Smith, Julia A. 
Smith ; from Plymouth Hollow — Francis C. Smith ; from Ober- 
lin, O., Lester B. Kinney ; from Norwalk — Edwin Ells ; from 
Bristol — Charles Cramer, Nancy Cramer, Salmon Root and 
Eliza Root ; from Waterbury — Fred Treadway and Esther J. 
Treadway ; from Plainville — Lucas H. Carter and Jane Carter. 

Colburn's Hall, on Main street, was used temporarily as a 
place for meetings, and the Rev. J. R. Mershon employed as the 
stated supply of the church during the first year of its exist- 
ence ; his support being furnished in part by the Home Mis- 
sionary Society. The winter of 1850-51 was signalized by an 
extensive work of grace in the community, resulting in the 
uniting of forty-four persons with the church by profession of 
their faith. In the meantime a church edifice had been com- 
menced which was completed and dedicated July r, 1852. 

Rev. Owen Street was the first pastor, being installed Sep- 
tember I, 1852, and dismissed May, 1857. Following this, for 
nearly three years, the church was without a settled pastor. 
Rev. Chauncy Goodrich and Moses Smith and S. L. Thompson, 
(afterwards missionaries to the NestoriansJ acted as supplies 
for a considerable portion of the time. Mr. A. L. Frisbie, then 
pursuing his preparatory studies at Andover, Mass., was called 
to the pastorate in 1859. Accepting the call, he was not or- 
dained until March 22, i860, and remained until July 11, 1865. 

While some women were cleaning the church in October, 
1865, it took fire in the flue of the furnace and was entirely de- 
stroyed. The present handsome stone structure was immedi- 
ately built, and dedicated May 25, 1865. During the five years 




CHRIST CHURCH, ANSONIA. 



EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 425 

succeeding the dismissal of Mr. Frisbie, the church was with- 
out a pastor, but enjoyed the ministrations of the Rev. Wm. S. 
Adamson and James T. Hyde about three years. Rev. Charles 
J. Hill was the next pastor, being installed in September, 1872, 
and dismissed October i, 1875. He was succeeded by the Rev. 
Edward P, Payson, who commenced his labors December i, 
1875, and still continues his pastoral relations with the church. 
Like many others, this church has had its struggles and dis- 
couragements, but has never been more prosperous than at the 
present time. The present number of members is 250. The 
ofificers of the church and society are : Pastor, Rev^ Edward P. 
Payson ; deacons, John Jackson and Wales Terrell ; clerk, V. 
Munger ; treasurer, Charles C. Blair ; prudential committee, 
Robert Coe, Wm. H. Corwin and Dana Bartholomew ; society's 
committee, V. Munger, Josiah H. Whiting and Dana Barthol- 
omew ; clerk and collector, Reuben H. Tucker ; treasurer, 
Charles H. Pine. 

CHRIST CHURCH. 

At the house of Mr. Lorenzo D. Kinney, in Ansonia, a pre- 
liminary meeting was held November 25, 1849, for the laudable 
purpose of forming a new Episcopal parish in this village. The 
Rev. Thomas Guion, then rector of St. James's Church of 
Derby, was called to the chair, and Mr. John Lindley appointed 
secretary. After mutual consultation the meeting adjourned 
to November 27, 1849, to meet at the residence of Samuel 
French. Rev. Mr. Guion was present at this adjourned meet- 
ing, and the parish was organized under the name of Trinity 
Church of Ansonia, by the following persons : Samuel P'rench, 
Charles Cooper, Eleazer Peck, Samuel P. Church, Charles Gale, 
William B. Bristol, Lorenzo Kinney, John Gray, E. B. Gillett, 
H. S. Hill, R. M. Johnson, John Lindley, H. L. Smith, L. A. 
Clinton. Measures were at once adopted to secure a lot for 
the erection of a house of public worship, and on the 28th of 
January, 1850, the following officers were chosen: Senior war- 
den, Samuel French ; junior warden, Eleazer Peck ; vestrymen, 
R. M. Johnson, John Lindley, H. S. Hill, John Gray, Charles 
Gale, H. L. Smith. 

Of the above only three are now connected with the parish, 
54 



426 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

viz.: Lindley, Gale and Smith. Mr. Lindley has been a zealous 
worker in the parish, having been continuously in office, since 
its organization, over thirty years. 

In this connection it is necessary to mention that when the 
members of St. James's Church, the old parish of Mansfield, 
Jewett and others resolved in great harmony and by legal vote 
in 1841 to remove their edifice from Up Town to Birmingham, 
as being more central, a few families in the vicinity of the old 
edifice, who at first acquiesced in the removal, became dissatis- 
fied on seeing the services, bell, organ and records transferred 
to the new edifice at Birmingham, withdrew from the old 
church and established regular services in the village school- 
house Up Town, and at the next diocesan convention applied 
for admission as a new parish under the name of St. James's of 
Derby. A request so much at variance with good order was 
denied and the applicants were recommended to petition for 
admission as a new parish, and the next year, 1844, were ad- 
mitted as such under the name of Christ Church, as appears by 
the following vote of the convention : " Voted that the parish 
in Derby organized on the first day of June, 1843, under the 
name of St. James's Parish be and the same is hereby admitted 
as a new parish into the union of this convention by the name 
of Christ Church, Derby." Thus was this new parish instituted 
and recognized as such according to the usages of the Episco- 
pal Church, and when this had taken place the officers of St. 
James's Church conveyed by deed the grounds and old edifice 
in good faith to this new parish, and the old church was then 
re-opened with Rev. N. S. Richardson as its first rector. He 
was followed by the Rev. Mr. Putnam in his rectorship, who 
labored with pious zeal and good spirits until this church united 
with the new parish of Trinity at Ansonia, the latter surrender- 
ing their first ecclesiastical name and adopting that of Christ 
Church.. Thus these infant parishes were wisely merged into 
one. The Rev. Henry Olmstead was the first rector of Trinity, 
and for a short time religious services were maintained in two 
localities within the limits of the parish, at Up Town and An- 
sonia. Messrs. Olmstead and Putnam being a sort of co-rectors, 
resigned at the same time, and were succeeded by the Rev. Mr. 
Stryker, under whom all parochial interests were then consol- 



RECTORS OF CHRIST CHURCH. 42/ 

idated. Mr. Olmstead remained rector of Trinity le.ss than a 
year and is now rector of Trinity Churcli at Branford, and has 
received the degree of D. D. Mr. Putnam has long since 
deceased. 

The Rev. P. Mansfield Stryker, now deceased, may be con- 
sidered the second rector of Christ Church at Ansonia, remain- 
ing one year, and among the results of his labors were three 
marriages, six baptisms, five confirmations by Bishop Brownell, 
and eight burials. 

The third rector was the Rev. D. F. Lumsden, who remained 
over one year. He was deposed from the ministry a few years 
ago by Bishop Coxe of Western New York. 

The fourth rector was the Rev. Samuel G. Appleton, whose 
labors extended from Easter 1854 to Easter 1856. Mr. Apple- 
ton died of apoplexy at Morrisania, N. Y., in 1874. 

The fifth rector, the Rev. John Milton Peck, was in charge 
of the parish ten months. He is now and has been for a num- 
ber of years rector of Christ Church at Danville, Penn. 

The sixth rector, the Rev. Louis French, remained six years. 
Mr. French, since leaving Ansonia, in 1863, has been rector of 
St. Luke's Church at Darien, Conn. 

The seventh rector, the Rev. Julius H. Ward, remained as 
such from January, 1864, to August, 1865, and is now located 
in Boston, engaged in church work. 

The eighth rector was the Rev. Charles H. W. Stocking, 
during whose service of three years and a half there were 
eighty-one baptisms. He is now rector of Grace Church, De- 
troit, Mich., and has received the degree of D. D. 

The ninth. Rev. J. E. Pratt, was rector from October, 1869, 
to June, 1872. Mr. Pratt, since leaving, has been rector of 
Trinity Church at Syracuse, N. Y. 

The tenth, the Rev. Samuel R. Fuller, assumed the rector- 
ship in July, 1872, and resigned November, 1874. He is now 
rector of Christ Church at Corning, N. Y. 

The eleventh rector, the Rev. S. B. Duffield, came to this 
parish in December, 1875, and left March, 1878. Mr. Duffield 
is now in charge of St Peter's Church at Monroe, Conn. 

After the resignation of Mr. Fuller a vacancy for thirteen 
months occurred, during which the Rev. Sheldon Davis was in 



428 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

charge of the parish, he being largely instrumental in gathering 
the class for confirmation at the beginning of Mr. Duffield's 
labors. 

During the rectorship of Mr. Ward the church edifice was 
enlarged at an expense of about ^2,000. In 1875 it was re- 
built at a cost of $12,000, and adorned with costly and appro- 
priate memorial windows to the embassadors of the church in 
Derby, viz.: the pious Mansfield and the devout Jewett. The 
present officers of the church are : rector, Rev. H. T. Widde- 
mer ; wardens, John Lindley and E. W. Webster ; vestrymen, 
F. Farrell, J. B. Gardner, H. J. Smith, F, E. Colburn, N. S. 
Johnson, Chester A. Hawley, Robert Peck, R. R. Wood, H. A. 
Shipman ; Alton Farrell, parish clerk and treasurer. 

During the rectorship of Mr. Widdemer since April 20, 1878, 
there have been one hundred and thirty baptisms, one hundred 
and sixteen confirmations. 

Rev. Mr. Widdemer was born in Philadelphia, July 2, 1848 ; 
was prepared for college by his father, the Rev. E. S. Widde- 
mer, now rector of the Church of Reconciliation in New York 
city ; was graduated in 1867 at St. Stephen's College, N. Y., at 
the head of his class, and pursued his theological course at the 
Berkeley Divinity School at Middletown, from which he gradu- 
ated in 1870. He was ordained in Albany, N. Y., July 12, 
1870, by Bishop Doane, and advanced to the priesthood July 6, 
1872 : was a short time rector of St. Ann's Church at Amster- 
dam, N. Y., and in January, 1875, removed to New York city 
and became associate rector of the Church of St. John the 
Baptist. Severing his connection there he was called to the 
rectorship of Christ Church at Ansonia in April, 1878. 

This church is now substantially out of debt, and, dating its 
organization in 1849, only thirty-one years ago, few parishes in 
the diocese within that period can show a more rapid or pros- 
perous growth. 

The reflection is pleasing that the good seed sown by the 
early ministers of the church in Derby and their successors has 
taken deep root and is still producing much fruit. 



CATHOLIC CHURCH. 429 



CHURCH OF THE ASSUMPTION. 



The Catholic parish of Ansonia was organized in 1866, and 
the present church edifice built in 1867. The Rev. P. J. 
O'Dwyer was the first pastor, and his zealous efforts were 
largely instrumental in building the church. Father O'Dwyer 
was born in Ireland and received his ecclesiastical education at 
"All Hollers College," Dublin. Prior to his pastorate in An- 
sonia he was a very acceptable and efficient priest of St. Mary's 
Church, Birmingham, for five years. On his transfer to Nor- 
walk, where he recently died, he was succeeded by the present 
pastor, the Rev. H. ¥. Brady, who was born in Ireland, and 
came to this country in his youth, about thirty-seven years ago. 
He received his rudimental ecclesiastical education at the Col- 
lege of St. Charles Bonemeo, Philadelphia, where he passed 
through a course of the classics, metaphysics and ethics. Af- 
terwards he spent eight years in the University of St. Mary's 
of Illinois, being both student and professor of de//es lettres. 
Not being a subject of that diocese, which then included the 
whole of that state, he returned from the West and was ac- 
cepted by the Archbishop of New York, Dr. Hughes, and ap- 
pointed pastor successively of St. Joseph's and St. Ann's. In 
1 86 1 he resigned charge of the latter, went to Europe and at- 
tended lectures in Paris for three years. At the end of that 
time he was offered the degree of D. D., but respectfully de- 
clined the honor, saying that he had no ambition to add to his 
name a tail which so many wagged with so little credit, a 
degree that was originally granted only to men of talent, great 
worth and industry. 

Returning from P^urope he attached himself to the diocese 
of Hartford, then comprising the states of Connecticut and 
Rhode Island. He was appointed pastor of St. Patrick's 
Church, Rhode Island, for a short time, and was then trans- 
ferred to Naugatuck, Conn., where he remained from 1866 to 
1876, when he was transferred to his present parish at Ansonia. 
His congregation is flourishing, and numbers about 3,000 souls ; 
the largest Christian organization in the town. A commodi- 
ous parsonage has been built within a year. 



430 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Scholarly, and gentlemanly in his manners, Father Brady has 
won the respect and confidence of the community in which he 
resides. 

THE BAPTIST CHURCH. 

This church was organized June 22, 1874, under the state 
Baptist convention. Dr. Turnbull then being its secretary. 
Only thirty-nine members joined the church on its organiza- 
tion. The Bible school was instituted by Dr. Turnbull and 
others with thirty-four scholars. Mr. Sharon Y. Beach of Sey- 
mour was very efificient in the office of superintendent, and la- 
bored very acceptably until his resignation in 1879. Religious 
meetings were held at first in the rooms of the Opera House, 
under the auspices of the "Christian Association," having reg- 
ular preaching every Sunday by Dr. Turnbull, Rev. E. M. 
Jerome and others, until a hall was secured in the Hotchkiss 
Block. Measures were soon taken to build an edifice, which 
was completed in April, 1877, at a cost of about $15,000, and 
occupied ; the services of the Rev Mr. Jerome being secured 
as pastor. The membership of the church at this time being 
seventy-five. On April i, 1879, ^^'- Jerome resigned his pas- 
torate and the church was without a settled minister until Feb- 
ruary I, 1880, when the Rev. F. B. Dickinson of Boston was 
secured. The present membership numbers 107. 

The Sunday or Bible school of this church was well and most 
successfully managed by the unremitting efforts of its super- 
intendent, Mr. Beach, as stated, and when he resigned Doct. 
B. F. Leach was appointed, and accepted the position, and 
is successfully conducting this department of the church 
work. 

The present officers of this church are : Rev. F. B. Dickin- 
son, pastor ; Henry C. Cook, clerk ; Sharon Y. Beach, William 
Spencer and H. C. Cook, deacons ; Doct. F. B. Leach, superin- 
tendent ; E. N. Barnett, assistant ; A. H. Baldwin, secretary ; 
and H. C. Cook, treasurer. 

The Sunday-school numbers 120. This is the only Baptist 
society in the town of Derby ; is free from debt, under good 
management, and is increasing steadily in its usefulness and 
work. 



THE BANKS OF ANSONIA. 43 1 



METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 



This church was organized in 185 i, Rev. David Osborn being 
the first pastor while preaching and residing at Seymour. Rev. 
John L. Peck was pastor in 1852 ; Rev. E. S. Hibbardin 1853 ; 
Rev. John Pegg in 1854 and 5 ; Rev. J. J. Wooley in 1856 and 
7 ; Rev. Wm. Porteus a part of 1858, and Rev. Wm. Tracy the 
remainder; Rev. Silosloerthome in 1859; Rev. Wm. Howard 
in i860 and 61 ; Rev. A. B. Pulling in 1862 and 3 ; Rev. C. 
F. Mallory in 1864 and 5; Rev. Wm. H. Waddell in 1866 and 
7 ; Rev. C. S. Wing in 1868, 69 and 70; Rev. George P. Mains 
in 1 87 1 and 2; Rev. S. H. Smith in 1873 and 4; Rev. Mr. 
Lindsay in 1875 and 6 ; Rev. J. M. Carroll in 1877 ; Rev. I. K. 
Smith in 1878 ; Rev. R. H. Loomis in 1879 ^^^ ^o. 

The place of worship at first was Colburn's Hall on Main 
street. The present edifice, a neat and commodious church, 
erected in 1865, located on Main street near the Farrell foun- 
dry, is capable of seating about 600 persons. The membership 
numbers 180, and the Sunday-school 232. 

This church has struggled through many discouragements, 
but is now in a healthy and prosperous condition. 

THE SAVINGS RANK OF ANSONIA. 

This institution was incorporated in 1862; the original cor- 
porators under the charter being : 

George P. Cowles, Thomas Wallace, jun., 

John Lindley, William B. Bristol, 

J. H. Bartholomew, David W. Plumb, 

J. M. Colburn, Sylvester Barbour, 

Abraham Hubbell, Jonah C. Piatt, 

Thomas Whitney, Richard M. Johnson, 

Egbert Bartlett, Eli Hotchkiss, 

Nathan S. Johnson, Eleazer Peck, 

Albert Hotchkiss, Willet Bradley. 

With the exception of four all are still living. The secretary 
and treasurer, Mr. Bartlett, is the only officer or person who 
receives any compensation for services. The institution is 
prosperous ; the amount of deposits constantly increasing, and 
were on the ist of March, 1880, $367,865.31. The present 
officers are : j^resident, William B. Bristol ; vice-president. 



432 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Thomas Wallace ; directors, Abraham Hubbell, Robert Peck, 
Jonah C. Piatt, Dana Bartholomew, John Lindley, Henry J. 
Smith, Charles L. Hill and James Swan ; secretary and treas- 
urer, Egbert Bartlett ; auditors, Alton Farrell and Lockwood 
Hotchkiss. 

ANSONIA NATIONAL BANK. 

The residents of Ansonia, early in the year 1861, bought the 
stock of the " Bank of North America," then located at Sey- 
mour, which had been reduced to a low standing by losses and 
other calamities, and removed it to Ansonia, and changed the 
name in July, 1861, to that of Ansonia Bank with a capital 
stock of ^100,000, which was afterwards increased to $200,000. 
In 1865 the name was changed to the National Bank of Ansonia 
and is in a prosperous state of success. 

The present officers are : Thomas Wallace, president ; George 
P. Cowles, vice-president ; Charles H. Pine, cashier. The direc- 
tors are : Thomas Wallace, George P. Cowles, J. M. Colburn, 
Wm. B. Bristol, J. H. Bartholomew, Charles L. Hill, Alton 
Farrell. 

DERBY PAPER BOX COMPANY. 

Under this name Mr. R. R. Colburn at his old Lead factory 
on Main street is manufacturing paper boxes, employing several 
workmen. 

Henry B. Whiting is the maker of fish poles, which has 
become an established, lucrative business. 

the BOROUGH. 

Ansonia was chartered as a borough by the Legislature at 
its May session in 1864, and in 1871 the charter was amended 
giving full powers and privileges ordinarily granted to boroughs. 
The organization was effected at Bradley's Hotel August i, 
1864, with the following officers: David W. Plumb, warden; 
A. J. Hine, clerk; Wm. B. Bristol, treasurer; D. F. Hoadley, 
bailiff. The burgesses are : Wm. B. Bristol, J. H. Bartholo- 
mew, Robert Hoadley, Wm. Wallace, John Lindley, M. P. 
Wilson. 

The limits of the borough are quite extended and take in 



ANSONIA BOROUGH. 



433 



larger territory than that of Birmingham. The following gentle- 
men have discharged the duties of wardens since 1865 : 



Wm. B. Bristol, 4 years. 
Egbert Bartlett, 2 years. 
Robert Peck, i year, 
Michael Walsh, i year, 
Charles F. Williams, i year. 



Henry B. Whiting, i year, 
D. F. Hoadley, 2 years, 
John B. Quillinan, i year, 
H. A. Shipman, i year. 



The present ofificers are : Henry A. Shipman, warden; Mor- 
ris Drew, H. C. Spencer, S. B. Bronson, Alfred Barnett, Henry 
B. Whiting, Patrick B. Fraher, burgesses ; Charles H. Pine, 
treasurer ; R. N. Tucker, clerk ; D. J. Hayes, bailiff. 

The borough is well supplied with water from a distance with 
sufficient fall to extinguish fires. It was procured at great 
expense by the Ansonia Water Company, whose officers are : 
president, Thomas Wallace ; secretary and treasurer, Dana 
Bartholomew ; directors, J. H. Bartholomew, Thomas Wallace, 
Geo. P. Cowles, Wm. R. Slade, Robert Hoadley, A. Hubbell, 
E. Bartlett, D. Bartholomew, Wm. Wallace. 

Ansonia is well protected from fire, having a good supply of 
water. In 1871 the Eagle Hose Company No. 6 was organ- 
ized with twenty-nine charter members, with the following- 
officers : F. H. demons, foreman ; E. A. Wadhams, assistant ; 
Wm. Powe, 2d assistant, and John H. Hall, secretary and treas- 
urer. 

The borough in 1879 removed and enlarged their house, 
which now stands opposite the Farrell foundry on Main street, 
and the members of the company at their own expense have 
furnished their spacious apartments with elegant furniture and 
a library, papers and periodicals, which make their head-quarters 
attractive for daily evening meetings. A hook and ladder com- 
pany is connected and the name has been changed to Eagle 
Hose and Ladder company No. 6. They number 60 members, 
many of whom are among the first young men of the place. 
The present officers are : Wm. Powe, foreman ; W. O. Wallace, 
first assistant ; W. S. Hurd, second assistant ; Thomas Hurd, 
treasurer ; Fred M. Drew, secretary. 

This company constitutes the entire fire department of the 
borough, and being efficient on every emergency is the pride and 
boast of the place. In harmony with the active and energetic 
55 



434 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

fire company of West Ansonia, Ira Newcomb, foreman, and the 
Fountain Hose, both fitted with necessary apparatus, this part 
of the town is as well protected from fire as most places within 
city limits. 

BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS, 

George Washington Lodge No. 82, F. and A. M., was 
organized under a dispensation granted by the Grand Master 
of Connecticut, dated November 25, 1856. Its charter was 
granted by the General Lodge of Connecticut at its annual 
communication in May, 1857, and bears date of May 18, 1857. 

The first officers were : 

Joseph A. Bunnell, W. M., John Cowell, S. D., 

John Wallace, S. W., T. B. Smith, J. D., 

Joseph S. Riggs, J. W., Rev. J. J. Woolley, Chaplain, 

Samuel A. Cotter, Treasurer, H. Skinner, Tyler, 

Thomas Wallace, jun.. Secretary, 

The present officers are : 

A. F. Hoadley, W. M., E. P. Dodge, S. U., 

C. T. Beardsley. S. W., Philip E. Newsom, J. D., 

Frank Middlebrook, J. W., Edwin Ells, Chaplain, 

George A. Tomlinson, Treasurer, Levi B. Boutwell, Tyler, 
R. H. Tucker, Secretary, 

The lodge room from the start until 1876 was in the building 
where Randall's store is. The present lodge room over John- 
son & Hotchkiss's store was opened in 1876. 

Mount Vernon Chapter, No. 35, R. A. M., was organized 
under a dispensation granted by Grand High Priest Charles W. 
Stearns, dated January, 1872. Its charter was granted by the 
Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the state of Connecticut at its 
annual convocation in May, 1872, and instituted by Grand High 
Priest W. W. Lee on the 25th of June, 1872. 

First officers : 
J. N. Whiting, H. P., James Pemberton, P. S., 

J. E. Remer, K., D, F. Hoadley, C. of H., 

John Lindley S., John Cowell, R. A. C, 

N. Sperry, Treasurer, N. Skinner, Tyler. 

George O. Scheller, Secretary, ' 

J. H. Whiting was H. P. from the organization until April, 
1874, and D. F. Hoadley has held that office ever since. 



BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES. 



435 



The meetings of this society are held in the rooms of the 
George Washington Lodge. 



Present officers : 

I). F. Hoadley, H. P., 

F. G. IJassett, K., 

W. W. Joy, S., 

A. T. Hoadley, Treasurer, 

J. H. Whiting, Secretary, 



P. B. Mackey, P. S., 
J. G. Redshaw, C. of H. 
R. N. Tucker, R. A. C, 
L. B. Boutwell, Tyler. 



Knights of Pythias, No. 24, was instituted December 9, 
1870, with eleven charter members. Robert Peck was the pre- 
siding officer. In January, 1872, the lodge contained seventy 
members in good standing, and after eight years of varied suc- 
cess, with many disbursements for the sick, it now stands as the 
banner lodge of the state, and numbers 114 members; has a 
cash fund of over ^1,500, besides $700 in furniture and library. 

Garnet Temple of Honor, No. 24, T. O. H. and T., was 
instituted December 15, 1877. Met in rooms of I. O. O. F. in 
Hotchkiss block until 1879, when they removed to the room 
over Judd Brothers' market. 

Charter members : 



Benj. Hutchinson, W. C. T.. 
Henry Jeynes, sen., W. V. T., 
Alex. Veitch, W. R., 
Joseph Closson, Treasurer, 

Charles Vandercook, 

S. S. Wilcox, 

Samuel B. Bronson, 

n. T. Saiiford, 

James Parker, 

Walter Baldwin, 

George A. Hoyt, 

The following have been W. C. T 

Benjamin Hutchinson, 
Henry Jeynes, sen., 
Frank A. Snell, 



- First Officers. 



Thomas Law, 
Joseph McBrien, 
Henry Jeynes, jun., 
George Thompson, 
Thomas Davidson, 
R. H. Tucker, 
William T. Mercer. 



Henry Jeynes, jun., 
Robert Allen. 



The present officers are : 
Robert Allen, W. C. T., F. A. Snell, W. R., 

John A. Lewis, W. V. T., John Ballantyne, Treasurer. 

Whole number of members, 52. 

Ruby Social T. of H. and T., No. 13. This is the female 
branch of the preceding; instituted April 8, 1879. Meet with 
Garnet Temple of Honor. Membership, total, 55. 



436 HISTORY OF DERBY. , 

First officers : 

Elizabeth Jeynes, S. P. T., Lottie L. Smith, S. R. 

Henry Jeynes, sen., B. P. T., 

Veteran Soldiers and Sailors' Association of Ansonia 
hold regular meetings the third Monday in each month. It is 
benevolent in its object and has especial care for the graves of 
deceased soldiers. Its officers are : John Jackson, president ; 
Charles H. Pine, secretary and treasurer ; Julius A. Bristol, W. 
R. Mott, Charles Stowell, executive committee. It numbers 
60 members. 

Ancient Order of Hibernians is of long standing and be- 
nevolent in its object. Present officers : John M. O'Brian, pres- 
ident ; John Cahill, vice-president ; Mike Cahill, secretary; Peter 
Larkins, treasurer. It numbers about 45 members. 

Father Mathew T. A. and B. Society is benevolent in 
its character and numbers 30 members. Its officers are : John 
Cahill, president ; John R. Hayes, vice-president ; Hugh Graff- 
ney, secretary ; John O'Brian, treasurer. 

St. Vincent de Paul Society is benevolent in character, 
and has for its president, John Lane ; secretary and treasurer, 
Peter McAuliff. 

There are other societies of this kind, such as the Young 
Men's Total Abstinence society, the Friendly Sons of St. Pat- 
rick, the Wallace Sick Benefit society, Herman Lodge, No. 400, 
and perhaps others. 

west ansonia. 

In close proximity to Ansonia proper, separated only by the 
Naugatuck, is situated this flourishing part of the town. Ele- 
vated and facing the east, while overlooking for a long distance 
the valley, it is one of the most beautiful and desirable locations 
in Derby. Adorned with many fine residences and away from 
the noisy hum of machinery, its population is already vieing in 
improvements with other parts of the town. It contains no 
factories ; only two stores, two meat markets, a school-house, 
225 dwelling houses, and a population of 1,000. 

The place is blessed with good water from a distant lake, 
supplied by a running stream ; its main streets are lighted ; 
many of the sidewalks are paved — some flagged ; a well organized 



I 



DERBY NARROWS. 437 

fire company, the Fountain Hose with engine house and good 
apparatus for the extinguishment of fire, — all these combined 
with pleasant scenery give promise of future growth and pros- 
perity. Within the limits of the village is located the spacious 
grounds of the " Evergreen Cemetery " in which the citizens 
take a just pride. About six years ago an appropriate and im- 
posing Soldiers' Monument was erected in it and dedicated with 
appropriate ceremonies, to the memory of Derby's heroic dead. 
It will stand a credit to the patriotic, good people of Ansonia 
who caused its erection. 

DERBY NARROWS. 

Few landmarks remain as reminders of the prosperity of this 
place before its commercial downfall. The old Leman Stone 
castle, the tavern and some old dwellings with their surround- 
ings may be pleasant for the oldest inhabitants to contemplate, 
but ship building is gone, the once lively trade with foreign 
ports no longer continues, for the cut of railroads against the 
navigation of the Ousatonic has brought its blessing and advan- 
tages and imbued this ancient part of the town with the spirit 
of modern improvements. Costly mansions now stand on 
grounds almost venerated one hundred years ago. The popu- 
lation is increasing annually from Up Town to Turkey Hill. The 
streets are lighted with gas, sidewalks flagged and the people 
are keeping pace with other sections of the town. 

The Derby post-office, in name replete with migration— now 
here, now there — finally in Birmingham and changed to the 
name of Birmingham post-office, has resulted in giving a new 
one to the Narrows under the old name of the Derby post-office. 
But little manufacturing has ever been done in this place. The 
tannery established by Isaac J. Gilbert fifty or more years 
ago is still continued, although less extensively, by his son, 
Abijah H. Gilbert. 

The sash and blind factory of David Bradley & Son on Two- 
Mile brook at Turkey Hill, is one of the oldest establishments 
of the kind in New Haven county. It furnished the sash and 
blinds to the first buildings erected in Birmingham, and still 
continues its work, the products having always been considered 
of a superior quality. 



438 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Agur Gilbert & Sons, makers of planes and other wooden 
articles are located at Turkey Hill on the same brook, and must 
be classed among the manufacturers of the town. At the old 
Hitchcock Oil mill DeWit C. Lockwood for several years has 
turned out a great variety of Yankee articles in wood, turning 
in this line having been first started at Birmingham. 

The Derby Building and Lumber Company being a prominent 
establishment at the Narrows its history is here given. It 
manufactures sash, blinds, doors, and deals largely in lumber, 
timber and shingles. It was first started at Birmingham in 
1836 by Willis and Lewis Hotchkiss, brothers, on the property 
now owned by Robert N. Bassett. The firm continued the 
business until 1840 when Willis P. Sperry and Merritt Clarke 
were taken into partnership and the name of Hotchkiss, Clarke 
& Co., adopted. Continuing in business until 1850, the company 
then consolidated with Lindley & Johnson, a firm at Ansonia in 
the same business, thus forming a joint stock company under 
the name of Derby Building and Lumber Company, removing 
their works to Derby Landing. Here was erected a large fac- 
tory for the prosecution of a wholesale trade. In 1868 these 
buildings were entirely destroyed by fire, and the energetic 
managers not discouraged erected a larger factory with 
increased facilities and improved machinery, and in six weeks 
from the date of the fire they were again in full operation in the 
production of merchandise. The facilities of this company for 
doing their work are unsurpassed. 

The capital stock is ^55,000 ; number of hands employed 50 ; 
monthly pay roll about $3,000 ; annual product of goods about 
$150,000. The present officers are: president, Wm. E. Bur- 
lock ; secretary and treasurer, John G. Townsend ; general 
manager, Clark N. Rogers. 

An extensive business carried on at the Narrows is the coal 
trade by Merritt Clarke & Sons of Derby, and Wm. B. Bristol 
of Ansonia. J. W. Whitlock of West Ansonia is also a coal 
dealer. The Clarke Sons alone retail annually 5,000 tons of 
coal, and the whole consumption in the town is estimated at 
35,000 tons yearly. 

The first coal introduced into Derby was in 1807, by Abijah 
Smith, father of the founder of Birmingham. The first cargo 



IS nrst staj 



Logers, 
ness ca 



years h-j •: 



i^' a piuliliilcii ' 

^h' in 1 



-larke 
ss, Clarke 



inghan 





'/-^^^ 



ANTHRACITE COAL. 439 

of anthracite coal offered for sale in this country was by Abijah 
Smith. He left Derby in 1806, and in 1807' mined fifty tons of 
coal in Plymouth, Penn., at the old mine which is now rented 
to the Lehigh and Wilkesbarre Coal Company, known as the 
Smith red-ash coal. In November, 1807, Smith purchased an 
ark for $24, which had been used for the transportation of plas- 
ter, and on the 4th day of that month this ark was floated to 
Plymouth and loaded with fifty tons of anthracite coal and was 
floated down the Susquehanna river. Safely landed at Columbia, 
Penn., the German settlers looked with wonder at what they 
called " black stone," and said Smith must be a crazy man to 
think of selling such stuff as that. In order to demonstrate 
the value of coal as an article for fuel Mr. Smith arranged with 
a landlord of that place, for the use of his fire-place, — procured 
a grate made under his directions by a blacksmith, put it into 
the fire-place, built a fire of wood and put on the coal, but the 
wood burned out leaving the coal only a little ignited. They 
poked it much and worked to make it burn, but not succeeding 
well, left it and went to dinner. When they returned there 
was a splendid fire, and the effort a victorious success. Per- 
sons from Philadelphia, Baltimore and New York beheld with 
wonder and delighted surprise the burning of this "black 
stone." The effort being satisfactory Mr. Smith, joined by his 
brother John Smith in 1808, sent three ark loads of coal to 
Havre de Grace, and there transferred it to a schooner named 
Washington and sent it to New York in care of Price and 
Waterbury, which company sold the coal on commission, dis- 
posing of it by chaldrons, and not by tons. After 1808 Abijah 
and John Smith followed the business of transporting coal in 
arks down the Susquehanna for a number of years, the annual 
average of sales to 1820 being about six ark loads. Nearly all 
the early operators in the coal trade made failures except the 
Smiths. Some of their descendants are still prosecuting it 
successfully." 

In 1820 the annual product of coal for the whole country was 
less than a thousand tons ; now annually thirty-five thousand 
tons are brought to Derby ; and the whole amount mined and 



^History of Plymouth, renn., by H- I'- Wright, 313. 



440 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

consumed in the United States (1879) i^ estimated at 20,000,- 
000 tons. 

In the early process of mining no powder was used, it being 
all done by the slow process of pick and wedge, but after a time 
Mr. Smith thought it could be done with powder-blast, and 
sending to Milford, Conn., obtained the services of John Flan- 
igan, an experienced stone quarrier with powder, and set him 
at the work, which experiment proved a success. This was in 
1 8 18. It should therefore be recorded that John Flanigan was 
the first to apply the powder-blast in the coal mines of Pennsyl- 
vania, an important experiment in the commencement of a 
trade which has become so immense in later years. 

The first load of coal brought to Derby was by Abijah Smith, 
in his coat pocket, as a curiosity, and the credit is due, there- 
fore, to one of Derby's native citizens, for having developed the 
coal trade. 

A STEAMBOAT AGAIN. 

Minnie B., a steamboat recently constructed for the purpose, 
is soon to be put on the river to run from Derby Narrows to 
Bridgeport in connection with the People's Line to New York, 
and also for excursions on the Sound. The owner of the boat, 
Mr. George W. Briggs, has a patent for a newly arranged pro- 
pelling wheel, and this boat is constructed for demonstrating 
the value of the patent, as well as to secure transportation of 
passengers from Derby to New York by water. The wheel is 
so arranged as to enable the boat to draw two or five feet of 
water, although of 40 tons burden. Mr. Briggs was formerly 
of Warwick, Rhode Island. The officers are : commander. Dr. 
B. F. Leach of Birmingham ; pilot, Henry M. Porter of Strat- 
ford ; engineer, G. H. Bartlett of New Haven. 

BURTVILLE. 

This place, containing about thirty dwellings, is a little be- 
low and in close proximity to Derby Narrows, bordering on 
Turkey Hill. 

A Sunday-school mission was started at this place by Mrs. 
D. M. Church, June 17, 1877, in her own house, where it con- 
tinued until a larger place of meeting was needed, when, in 



BURTVILLE MISSION. 44 1 

December, 1877, Mr. George Waterman gave the use of a suit 
of rooms for the mission. 

In March, 1878, a school was regularly organized by the elec- 
tion of Mrs. D. M. Church superintendent ; Dea. David Brad- 
ley, assistant, and Almon Ticknor, treasurer. 

Soon after this Mrs. Church was called away from the place, 
and Dr. B. F. Leach of Birmingham accepted the position of 
superintendent, which he still holds. In April, 1879 the mis- 
sion school was re-organized with the same officers ; the school 
numbering 45. 

At this Mrs. Almon Ticknor donated a site for a chapel, and 
a building committee of the following" persons was appointed : 
Mr. Lewis Young, Dea. David Bradley and Mr. Almon Tick- 
nor. The money was raised by subscription, and the work 
commenced June 8, 1879, and was completed and occupied July 
6, 1879, at a cost of $500. The school now numbers about 70. 
56 




CHAPTER XV. 

THE TOWN OF SEYMOUR. 

PON the petition of Leman Chatfield and others, the 
town of Seymour was organized in the May session of 
the General Assembly in 1850, all its territory having 
been comprised within the original town of Derby. 
The number of inhabitants contained in it, as given in the gen- 
eral census of i860, was 1,749, and in 1870, 2,123, ^ large 
proportion of which reside in the manufacturing village of Sey- 
mour, on the Naugatuck river. In securing this organization 
of a new town the inhabitants met with strong opposition, and 
succeeded in their object only by adopting the name the town 
now bears. 

In 1850 Derby was a strong whig town with a working ma- 
jority of over two hundred, but the northern portion of it was 
strongly democratic. A little before this there was a little 
post-office fight in which Thomas Burlock took an active part 
and succeeded in securing the appointment of John W. Storrs 
as postmaster. At the spring election of 1850 Mr. Burlock 
was the whig nominee for the Legislature, and H. B. Munson 
the democratic nominee, and was elected. The proposition of 
dividing the town entered into the election. Ansonia was then 
a thriving village, and being central in its location was talked 
of as the place to build a new Town Hall. Mr. Munson, as 
representative, saw that the opportunity had come to secure 
the new town, if it was to be done within many years, and suc- 
ceeded in that body in obtaining a favorable report from the 
committee, and his bill passed the Senate before the people of 
Ansonia were really aware of it. Birmingham and Derby Nar- 
rows were rather in favor of the movement for a new town, as 
there had always been a rivalry between the places, but An- 
sonia marshaled all its forces in opposition, and would have 
succeeded had not Mr. Munson made a change of base to save 
his bill in the House and from the veto of the Governor. The 
new town was to be called Humphreys, a historical name in 



NAUGATUCK FALLS. 443 

which all were agreed. Mr. Munson and Gen. Pratt, then a 
member of the House, proposed to drop the name of Hum- 
phreys and adopt that of Seymour. Thomas H. Seymour was 
then Governor, and the town bearing his name it was believed 
he would not veto the bill, which finally passed the House by two 
or three majority ; the Governor gave his signature, and thus 
the town was organized. 

The deed given by the Indians, of the land in the vicinity of 
where the village of Seymour now stands, was dated April 22, 
1678. The tract thus conveyed extended from the Naugatuck 
river, eastward, to Mill river, now in Woodbridge, and from 
Bladen's brook on the north to about where the Henry Wooster 
house stands, a mile and a half below Seymour village, with the 
exception that the Indians reserved " the fishing place at Nau- 
gatuck, and the plain, and the hill next the river at the fishing 
place." This reservation included nearly all the territory now 
occupied by the village of Seymour east of the river, extending 
over the hill into the hollow. 

By this deed' it may be seen that this place at that time was 
known by the name of "Naugatuck." In the report of a com- 
mittee dated two years before the deed just referred to, this 
name is used in the same manner : " Plum meadow and the ad- 
jacent land is by estimation about twenty acres, lying on the 
east side the river that cometh from Naugatuck."' This latter 
record was made in 1676, one year after the organization of the 
town. It is to be observed, also, that the Fishing Place at 
Naugatuck is mentioned, and from it may be obtained the 
meaning of the word Naugatuck. In the Indian language 
Amaug means fishing place ; and suck means tidal water, or a 
pouring out of water. Hence Amaug-siick, or, as the English 
caught the sound from the Indians' rapid pronunciation, Naug- 
tuck, was the fishing place at the Falls ; and hence Naugatuck 
was the name of the locality. P^rom what may be seen of the 
different spellings of the Indian names, it may be concluded 
that, although regarded by some as "far-fetched," this is not a 
tenth as much so as to suppose the place was named from "a 
big tree that stood at Rock Rimmon," a mile distant. Besides, 

^The deed may be seen on page 70 of this book. 
^Ibid page 59. 



444 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

it may be noted here that if there was a big tree designating 
any locality in that region, it was probably two miles further 
from the falls than Rock Rimmon, on what is now called 
"Chestnut Hill," for that hill was originally called "Chestnut 
Tree Hill," as if named from one tree. In the onward march 
of nearly two hundred years, some one hearing the story of a 
big tree, transplanted it by a forgetful memory from that hill to 
Rimmon, and then concluded that since Hick in the Indian 
tongue meant a tree, tuck meant Naugatuck, or the fishing- 
place-at-the-falls. 

The next land purchased in this vicinity, after that in which 
the reservation was made at the Falls, was secured by David 
Wooster, son of the first Edward, in a deed from the Indians 
dated in 1692 : "A certain parcel of land on the north-west side 
of Naugatuck river, in the road that goeth to Rimmon, the 
Long plain, so called, in the bounds of Derby." This descrip- 
tion, of itself, gives no word by which its locality may be known, 
but one month later Mr. Wooster bought another piece adjoin- 
ing the first, by which we learn that the first piece included the 
Long plain at the foot of Castle Rock from the Falls southward, 
taking the whole plain. The second piece bounded eastwardly 
with the ledge of rocks (Castle Rock), southward " with a pur- 
chase of David Wooster," or in other words, his own land, and 
northward with the Little river, and westward with another 
"ledge of rocks." This piece, containing all that part of the 
village of Seymour west of the Naugatuck Falls, and much 
more, was bought " in consideration of a shilling in hand re- 
ceived,"' and was reasonably cheap considering the amount of 
rock it contained. Both of these pieces deeded to David Woos- 
ter were included in the Camp's mortgage purchase of 1702, 
which was " a parcel of land three miles square."* In 1704 the 
town voted " that David Wooster have that land that he bought 
of the Indians on the west side of the Naugatuck river, above the 
Little river, allowing for highways." How far up the Nauga- 
tuck above Seymour this land extended has not been ascer- 
tained. 

In the year 1678, two months before the purchase of the 

^See page 96 of this book. 
^Page 108 of this book. 



ROCK RIMMON. 



445 



tract of land bounded north by Bladen's brook, Col. Ebenezer 
Johnson bought of the Indians, "three small parcels of land, 
bounded on the north-west with Rock Rimmon, and on the east 
with Lebanon, and on the south with a small brook and Nauga- 
tuck river, and on the west with a hill on the west side of 
Naugatuck river so as to take in the little plain." One or more 




ROCK RIMMON. 



of these pieces of land must have laid in the valley west of 
Rock Rimmon, for the town record shows us the following 
grants: "December 30, 1678. The town have granted to 
Ebenezer Johnson the upper plain land against Rock Rimmon, 
and that it shall lie for division land and be so called if Milford 
do not take away the propriety of it f and the town grant the said 

^Having seen, since writing the foregoing chapters, the statement repeated sev- 



446 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Ebenezer liberty to take in another man with him." At the 
same time also the town granted " to Jeremiah Johnson twenty 
acres of land at the lower end of the plain against Rock Rim- 
mon, provided highways be not hindered." At the same time 
they granted to Daniel Collins, John Tibbals and Philip Den- 
man ten acres each. Not quite a month later they granted 
" liberty to Samuel Riggs to take up twenty acres of land at or 
near Rock Rimmon on the west side of the river." In 1682 
the town "granted Abel Gun ten acres, either on Little river 
above Naugatuck Falls, or on the Long plain, west side of Nau- 
gatuck river above the falls, as he shall choose." 

Upon searching for the first settling of persons in this part of 
the town, it was supposed that the first house was erected at 
Pine's Bridge, but the following records indicate otherwise. One 
of the three pieces of land purchased by Ebenezer Johnson which 
is said to be "bounded on the north-west by Rock Rimmon," 
must have been located south-east of that rock, and hence the di- 
vision of it was made in thefollowingform in 1683 : "To Samuel 
Riggs, half that land at Rimmon on the north-west of the said 
Samuel Riggs's cellar, between that and the Rock, and at the 
same time granted Sergeant Johnson the other half north-west of 
said cellar." This fixes the cellar south-east ofRimmon, and this 
was the first beginning for the erection of dwellings anywhere 
in the vicinity of the present village of Seymour. 

In 1700 Maj. Ebenezer Johnson and Ens. Samuel Riggs 
purchased of the Indians a tract of land extending from their 
land in the vicinity of Pine's Bridge southward so as to join that 

eral times as historical, that Milford at first owned the township of Derby, it is 
proper to say that the first land deeded by the Indians to the Milford Company ex- 
tended only so far north as to the mouth of Two-Mile brook, which is about a mile 
below Derby Narrows. Ten years after the organization of the town of Derby, 
Milford purchased one piece of land of the Indians, lying north of the Derby and 
New Haven road, and in 1700, another north of the first, and in 1702, another north of 
the second, extending to the Waterbury line, but each of these joined the township 
of Derby on the east, as may be seen by the reading in the history of " Seymour and 
Vicinity," page 6, second edition, and were never any part of Derby territory. The 
Paugassett Company paid taxes, the first three years that they paid any, direct to the 
New Haven Company, and after that, thirteen years to Milford, and they attended 
and supported the church at Milford, but all the doings of the plantation, with the 
above exceptions, were independent of Milford from first to last, and Milford never 
pretended to own or be in possession of any territory that ever was claimed by 
Paugassett or Derby. 



FIRST SETTLERS. 447 

of David Wooster, on the west side of Naugatuck river, and 
meeting also Tobie's land on the north."" 

When Maj. Ebenezer Johnson and Ens. Samuel Riggs divided 
their land at Pine's l^ridge in 1708, Ensign Riggs accepted that 
which lay west of the Naugatuck river and south of the brook 
that enters that river from the west near the bridge, including 
the "two islands at the mouth of that brook;" and Major John- 
son accepted " the land on the east side of said river and on the 
north side of said brook, with a road six rod wide running up- 
wards by said brook until it come to Tobie Indian's land." It 
was this land, called by Col. Ebenezer Johnson (for he was then 
colonel) "my farm at Rimmon," that he divided equally to his 
sons Timothy and Charles Johnson in 1721. It was also two 
hundred acres of this land west of the river, that Ens. Samuel 
Riggs gave to his son Ebenezer Riggs in "December, 1708, 
with houses and all appurtenances thereunto pertaining," and 
on which this son settled soon after, and where he died in 171 2 
or 13, a young man, thirty-one years of age. It is most proba- 
ble that some of the children of Maj. Ebenezer Johnson settled 
in this vicinity about the same time Ebenezer Riggs 'did. 
They may have settled finst south-east of Rimmon, and so far 
south-east as to be on the Skokorat road where Bennajah John- 
son afterwards resided, he being heir to the property of both 
Jeremiah and Maj. Ebenezer Johnson, for his mother was the 
eldest daughter of the latter, but probably not so far from the 
Rock. 

It is also recorded that in 1684 " Jeremiah Johnson, jun., was 
granted a home lot containing four acres, in the Scraping-hole 
plain," and that John Tibbals was granted a pasture "on both 
sides of Beaver brook below Scraping-hole plain." 

In 1 73 1 the town purchased "all that tract of land known by 
the name of the Indian Hill, in Derby, situate on the east side 
of Naugatuck river, near the place called the Falls ; all that land 
that lieth eastward, northward and southward, except the plain 
that lieth near the Falls up to the foot of the hill." The deed 
of this land was not given by Chuse, but by John Cookson, 
John Howd and other Indians, which is proof that Chuse was 

•"On page 96 of this book the deed says this land was hounded westward with 
Naufratucic river: it siiould read iv/.f/ward. 



448 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

not here, nor in possession of this land at that time, nor was he 
in such relations to the owners of this land as to make it im- 
portant that he should sign the deed, and therefore it may be 
inferred, as is the case in the Indian History of this work, that 
he belonged to a family of the Pootatucks, and that it was some 
years after this that he was elected sachem and became the es- 
tablished governor of the Indians collected at this place. In 
the Historical Collections we are told that " At the time Chuse 
removed here there were but one or two white families in the 
place, who had settled on Indian Hill ; " and it is quite certain 
the whites did not build on the land until after they had pur- 
chased it. And since, as we are informed by the authority just 
referred to, he resided here forty-eight'' years, and was residing 
at Scaticook in 1783,^ he must have settled here in 1738 (or only 
a short time before), the same year that the Indian settlement 
was commenced in Kent. Chuse " erected his wigwam about 
six or eight rods north of where the cotton factory now stands, 
[1836] on the south border of the fiat. It was beautifully situ- 
ated among the white oak trees, and faced the south. He mar- 
ried an Indian woman of the East Haven tribe."'' His wife's 
name was Anna, concerning whom the Rev. Daniel Humphreys 
made the following record: "September 12, 1779, then Ann 
Chuse was admitted to communion with the Church of Christ." 
The Rev. Martin Tullar recorded her name in 1787, "Anna 
Mawheu," and at the same time he recorded Chuse's name 
"Joseph Mawheu," as having been a member of the church up 
to the time of his removal, but when he first joined is not 
known. In the " Indian History " of this work the name as re- 
corded on the town records was followed, which is " Mauwee " 
only, but finding since that time on the church records the 
name " Mawheu," it may be properly concluded that the name 
in full was Mauweeheu. 

In 1780 the town appointed Capt. Bradford Steele and Mr. 
Gideon Johnson a committee with full power " to take care of the 
Indian lands in Derby, and let out the same to the best advan- 
tage for the support of said Indians, and to take care that there 



'Hist. Col. 200. 
^DeForest, 417. 
^Barber's Hist. Col. 199. 



INDIANS LAND. 449 

be no waste made on said land and to render an account of their 
doings to the town." This opens the way for the supposition 
that Chuse had ah-eady removed to Scaticook, but does not make 
it certain. 

John Hovvd appears to have been the successor in office to 
Chuse, as indicated by the signing of deeds, and the following 
record: "Whereas the Assembly held on the 2d of May, 1810, 
authorized Joseph Riggs of Derby to sell certain lands, the 
property of Philip, Moses, Hester, Frank and Mary Seymour, 
Indians ; lands which descended to them from John Howd an 
Indian," therefore the lands were sold by Lewis Prindle and 
Betsey Prindle, agents in place of Joseph Riggs, in behalf of 
these Indians, and two years later some part of this land was 
sold to Col. David Humphreys, and another piece, at the same 
time to Mrs. Phebe Stiles. This John Howd, Indian, should not 
be taken for the prominent white citizen some years before, by 
the same name, and after whom most probably this Indian was 
named. 

At the time the Indian Hill was purchased by the town there 
were probably some families residing on Little river within two 
miles of the Falls on the Naugatuck. In August, 1747, 
'"George Abbott of Derby sold to Stephen Perkins of New 
Haven a saw-mill, grist-mill and dwelling house on Little river, 
above the P^alls." 

In 1760 the town granted " to James Pritchard the liberty 
of the stream of the Little river from its mouth up against the 
dwelling of said P'airchild to erect and keep in repair a corn- 
mill or mills." 

For more than sixteen years the water power of the Little 
river was utilized in mills of various kinds, within a short dis- 
tance of the much greater power which might have been secured 
on the Naugatuck, but the effort to use the latter seemed too 
great to be undertaken. On the 4th day of October, 1763, 
Ebenezer Keeney, John Wooster and Joseph Hull, jun., of 
Derby, purchased of the Indians, one acre of land, including 
the P^alls on the Naugatuck river, and one acre and a half for a 
road through the Indians' land to the P^'alls. This deed, which 
was given for only this small portion of the Indians' reservation, 
was signed by Joseph Chuse and John Howd, the chief men of 
57 



450 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

the little tribe. On this land were erected by this company 
two fulling-mills, a clothier's shop and a saw-mill, before 1803 ; 
probably only one fulling-mill was standing there, at first, for 
some years. 

In 1785 John Wooster and Bradford Steele, leased for 999 
years, for fifteen pounds, "a certain spot or privilege at a place 
called Rimmon Falls upon the east side of Naugatuck river, a 
certain plot of ground to erect a blacksmith-shop, or hammers 
to go by water, for the purpose of scythe making or other black- 
smith work, containing thirty feet of land in front, next to the 
flume, . . . together with the privilege of setting up grind- 
stones or other work necessary for said work." 

The next manufacturing enterprise, apparently, was erected 
on Bladen's brook, nearly one mile east of the Falls. Thaddeus 
Hine of Derby sold to Titus Hall Beach of the same town in 
1799, "one certain piece of land lying in said Derby on each 
side of Bladen Brook, so called, containing half an acre on the 
north side of the middle of said Brook." Upon this land Mr. 
Beach erected a fulling-mill, and in 1801 sold it and removed 
to Paterson, N. J. This fulling-mill stood on the site of Mr. 
Sharon Y. Beach's present paper-mill, at what is called Blue 
street. 

Soon after the building of the blacksmith shop and scythe 
manufactory at the Falls, religious services began to be held in 
this community. The first church in the place was organized 
about the time of the following record: "Derby, Nov. 3, 1789. 
This may certify all whom it may concern, that the subscribers 
have joined and paid towards the support of the Gospel as the 
Congregational Society in Derby, near Bladen Brook, and mean 
for the future to support the Gospel there ■}" 

Capt. Timothy Baldwin, Trueman Loveland, 

Asahel Johnson, Ebenezer Warner, 

Gideon Johnson, Leverett Pritchard, 

Capt. Bradford Steele, Levi Tomlinson, 

Elisha Steele, John Coe, 

Isaac Baldwin, Ebenezer Beecher Johnson, 

Turrel Whitmore, Nathan "Wheeler, 

Amos Hine, Bezaleel Peck, 

Bradford Steele, jun., Francis Forque, 

Medad Keeney, Joseph Lines, 



^"History of Seymour, 21. 



FIRST CHURCH. 45 I 

Hezekiah Woodiii, Moses Clark, 

John Adee, Philo Hinman, 

Ashbel Loveland, Thomas Hotchkiss. 

In furthering the work of establishing a church in this place 
a deed of land was given according to the following record, by 
Isaac Johnson : " For and in consideration of Mr. Benjamin 
Beach of North Haven coming and settling in the Gospel minis- 
try in the Congregational or Independent church in the third 
school district in the town of Derby, do give unto the said Ben- 
jamin Beach and to his heirs and assigns forever, one acre of 
land lying a little east of the meeting-house in said district, . . 
. . being bound north on highway, east, south and west on 
my own land. November 25, 1789." The house Mr. Beach 
built on this land is still standing, a little east of the Methodist 
church, and is owned by Mr. Charles Hyde. In 1791 Mr. 
Beach bought an acre and a half of Mr. Johnson, "lying east 
and south" of the first, and in 1799 he bought seventeen acres 
for $333, at a place called " Success Hill," which he sold in 18 10 
to John Swift for $686.06^ when he (Mr. Beach) is said to be of 
Cornwall. Mr. Beach is said to have preached here two years 
before moving his family here, which is very probable since the 
meeting-house was standing when this land was given him ; 
and it is said to have been built for him to preach in, and in 
those days such a work could not be done in much less time 
than two years. The inhabitants were then (1789, soon after 
the Revolutionary war) residing near the church, in the valley 
east of Indian Hill, up Bladen's brook, on Skokarat road, at 
and below Pine's Bridge, on Little river, and a few families on 
the west side and others on the east side of the Naugatuck, a 
little distance below the Falls. Such was the situation in 1789, 
except that the Indians, few in number, were occupying their 
huts on the plain near the fulling-mills. There may have been 
a house or two at this time standing on the land belonging to 
the mill company. For fourteen years after this the enterprise 
of the place was manifest in clearing away the forests and 
improving the mill property in the vicinity, until Col. David 
Humphreys purchased in 1803 the fulling-mills, when everything 
took on the form of new life. Already (in 1794) the Oxford 
turnpike had been constructed above the Falls, and there was 



452 



HISTORY OF DERBY. 



much interest in connecting the Falls Bridge with that turnpike 
and making another turnpike to Derby Landing, and the spirit 
of progress was running high, just as it did forty-five years later, 
when the railroad was built. 

Col. Humphreys brought his merino sheep (an account of 
which may be seen in the biography of him) into the town of 
Derby in 1802, but did not proceed at once to erect the woolen 
mill. He continued the dressing of cloth in the mills in the 
usual manner of that day, but a fulling-mill or carding mill was 
not a spinning and weaving mill of later days ; the spinning and 
weaving were done at the homes of the inhabitants throughout 
the community. The first wool from his sheep was thus spun 
and woven, and then dressed at his mills. Col. Humphreys's 
plans were philanthropic and enterprising to a high degree for 
his time, but he had not the mechanical skill to run a loom or 
set up a spindle for the manufacture of woolen cloths ; all this 
was executed by others. 

When Col. David Humphreys was on his last visit to England, 
he was greatly interested in the manufactures of that country 
and was anxious to introduce them into the United States. At 
this period he became acquainted with Mr. John Winterbotham, 
who was then a manufacturer of woolen cloths in the vicinity of 
Manchester, where he had inherited the business and property 
of an uncle, after he had been educated to the business and 
become master of it in all its branches. Arrangements were 
made by which Mr. Winterbotham was to settle his affairs in 
England and join the manufacturing enterprise commencing, or 
about to commence, by a company under the name of T. Vose 
& Company at Humphreysville, which arrangement .he fulfilled 
and took his place as a junior partner in the firm, and was given 
the entire charge of the manufacturing department. The other 
partners were Colonel Humphreys and Capt. T. Vose, neither 
of whom had any knowledge of the manufacturing business. 

Perhaps no person could have been found more capable of 
filling this arduous position than Mr. Winterbotham. He was in 
the prime of life, vigorous in mind and in body, and of well tried 
executive ability, — a man to meet and conquer difficulties with 
unflinching perseverance. These qualities he devoted entirely 
to the management of the factory, allowing himself no amuse- 



HUMPHREVSVILLE. 453 

ments except two or three days shooting in the season when the 
birds were plentiful, a short bathing season with his family in 
New Haven once a year, and a ride on horseback now and then. 
It was a rare thing if he spent an evening away from home, or 
permitted one to pass without reading aloud to his family. His 
memory was remarkable; he being able to communicate, at any 
time, whatever he desired, from books he had read. In all re- 
spects he was a plain, outspoken man, simple in his habits, 
almost austere in the performance of his duties, and so opposed 
to show and all sorts of pretensions, that he sometimes fell into 
the opposite extreme and was severe in his scorn of both. 

Of Humphreysville and various personages residing there 
while Colonel Humphreys was living, Mrs. Ann S. Stephens, 
daughter of Mr. Winterbotham, thus writes in answer to some 
questions asked by the authors of this work : 

"Two nephews of Colonel Humphreys represented him in 
the manufacturing business, and may have had considerable 
interest therein. The younger, William Humphreys — a fine 
young man as I first remember him — was the head of the count- 
ing-house, and, I think, cashier. The other, John, must have 
been a lawyer, for he was known as Judge Humphreys, and 
lived in one of the best houses in the neighborhood, a square 
white building that stands now on Falls hill, where the road that 
leads to Bungy crosses the highway. Judge Humphre)-s and 
his wife, an elegant, handsome lady, were great favorites with 
the Colonel, and were generally looked up to in the neighbor- 
hood as superior persons. He was one of the finest looking 
and most dignified men that I remember. Indeed, the whole 
Humphreys family were remarkable for great personal beauty, 
both in that and the next generation. Two of Judge John's 
daughters, Mrs. Canfield and Mrs. Pease, were beautiful and 
elegant women. A son of Mrs. Pease has not only retained the 
family grace of comeliness, but is now one of the first musical 
geniuses of the country. 

" Mrs. Mills, an aged widow lady, when I remember her, was 
a sister to Colonel Humphreys and lived in a brown house be- 
tween Judge Humphreys's dwelling and the church which was 
then, and is now one of the most conspicuous objects on the 
hills. She married in her old age Chipman Swift, Esq., father 



454 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

of the Rev. Zephaniah Swift of Derby, and I remember seeing 
her at the Colonel's rooms during the wedding festivities in her 
bridal dress, a silver-gray pongee silk, trimmed to the knees 
with narrow rows of black velvet ribbon, while her soft, gray 
hair was surmounted by a lace cap brightened with pink ribbons. 

'• My own first recollections of Humphreysville, or indeed of 
anything in life, was a low-roofed two-story, or story and a half 
house in Shrub Oak, about a mile from the factory flats, on the 
western side of the Naugatuck. This house had a large garden 
at the back, in which were currant bushes and some peach trees, 
a front door-yard, shaded by maple trees, in which were lilac 
bushes and cinnamon roses. This, so far as I know, was the 
first residence of my parents in this country. It is, I suppose, 
now standing almost directly opposite a large, wooden residence 
built by Walter French. From our house, perhaps a quarter of 
a mile up the road, two other dwellings were in sight, a white 
house, whose occupants I do not recollect, and a red farm house, 
lifted from the road by a rise of ground and backed by a fine old 
orchard. This was called the Pritchard farm, and was owned 
by a family of that name with which our household became very 
intimate. On the other side of the way was a stream that 
emptied into the Naugatuck a mile below. Just opposite the 
farm, it gathered into a water-power of sufficient volume to drive 
a rude saw-mill which gave its lively music to the whole neigh- 
borhood. Turning back, half way below this dam and the 
French mansion, stood a red school-house close to the road. 
In front was a young apple-tree, and the back windows looked 
into a small pasture lot in which a tall pear tree stood, a per- 
petual temptation ; for the scholars could hear the ripe fruit 
rustle through the leaves and fall upon the grass where they were 
forbidden even to search for it. In this red school-house I 
learned the alphabet, at so tender an age that it all seems like 
a dream. Abby Punderson, a maiden lady, taught me from 
Webster's spelling book, bound in wood covered with bright 
blue paper. 

"To me this stately old maid had reached the pinnacle of 
human dignity when she sat in her high backed, splint bottom 
chair, holding that spelling-book by the top and pointing out the 
letters with a pair of bright, sharp pointed scissors, fastened to 



HUMPHREYSVILLE. 455 

her side by a steel chain. The very rattle of her thimble against 
the wooden cover had an august sound to me 

" This decorous spinster not only taught me the alphabet, but 
she put the first tiny thimble on my finger and guided my ear- 
liest attempts at an over-and-over seam. I can even now hear 
the click of the knitting-needles and see that ball of yarn roll in 
her lap, when I was seized with a wikl ambition to knit with two 
needles and went up to that high-backed chair for my first les- 
sons For these branches of useful knowledge I have thanked 
Abby Punderson a thousand times with a degree of pride and 
gratitude that I have failed as yet to bestow on my writing- 
master. 

" Doctor Stoddard who lived at that time on the west side of 
the Naugatuck, sent his children to this school and was perhaps 
the first intimate friend my father made in this country. He 
was the principal if not the only physician in the place, and the 
medical attendant of our family all the time we lived in Hum- 
phreysville. I hold his kind attention to me during an attack 
of typhoid fever in grateful remembrance to this day. 

"• Indeed Doctor Stoddard was an extraordinary man, cele- 
brated for his professional skill through the whole country, over 
which his ride often extended both as a practicing and consult- 
ing physician. He was a man of wonderful humor and caustic 
wit, social, eccentric and kind. The poor of that neighborhood 
had good reason to bless the sight of him when he tied his well- 
trained horse to their gate posts and entered their dwellings 
with saddle-bags on his arm, filled with medicines for their re- 
lief; for, to those that were unable to pay for his care, the good 
Doctor was always cheerful and promptly kind. His daughter 
Hannah, now the wife of Doctor Johnson, was the first school 
and playmate I ever had. In that red school-house we two tiny 
children formed a friendship that has lasted pleasantly through 
all our after life. Her brother Jonathan was also one of my first 
playmates, and I have a sad, dim remembrance of a sweet little 
girl named Theresa, whose funeral was among the first mournful 
scenes that rests upon my mind. 

" In this school-house my first friendships were made, and 
after this fashion my education began. But I could hardly have 
advanced beyond words of two syllables when our family re- 



456 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

moved from Shrub Oak to a low-roofed dwelling on the factory 
property. This house fronted on the factory, from which it was 
separated by an open green. A clump of fine oaks stood half 
way between the two buildings, and a garden ran back to the 
banks of the river. 

" On the left of this house, as you stood facing the factory 
was a long range of buildings erected as boarding-houses for the 
operatives, and beyond that, lifted into prominence by an abrupt 
rise of ground, stood the counting-house, crowned by a cupola 
which gave it the look of an academy, 

" Besides these buildings, there was a paper-mill run by the 
same water-power that supplied the factory, and opposite to 
that, a dwelling in which the superintendent lived. 

Halfway between the fiats and the bridge was a never failing 
spring which formed a pond and had some fine trees growing 
on the hill-side behind it. This was called " the Spring Pond," 
and many of the houses were supplied with water from it. 
Above this pond on a rise of the road that crossed Bladen's 
brook, then a bright, wild stream, running through beautifully 
wooded banks, where we searched for berries and young winter- 
greens, stood a white basement house, to which William Hum- 
phreys brought his bride, a fair, pleasant lady, who was very 
popular among the people. All these buildings lay low down 
in the valley of the Naugatuck above the bridge and I believe 
were a part of the factory property. From " The Falls " to 
Castle Rock the bottom land was covered with the finest grove 
of white pines I ever saw. Here and there a grand old oak, a 
hemlock, a whitewood or tulip tree enriched the solemn mo- 
notony of the pines. The highway ran down the sand banks 
across the bridge through these woods and up " Falls Hill " near 
the Episcopal church where another group of dwellings appeared. 
This was the aspect of Humphreysville when I first remember 
it. 

" Among its inhabitants the first person who presents him- 
self to my mind is the man who gave his name to the place. 
Col. David Humphreys was then a grandly handsome man, 
who kept up in his appearance and habits all the traditions that 
have come down to us from the Revolution. I remember him, 
at first dimly, in a blue coat with large gold — or what appeared 



IIUMPHREYSXILLE. 457 

to be gold — buttons, a buff vest and laced ruffles around his 
wrists and in his bosom. His complexion was soft and bloom- 
ing like that of a child, and his gray hair, swept back from the 
forehead, was gathered in a cue behind and tied with a black or 
red ribbon. His white and plump hands I recollect well, for 
wherever he met me they were sure to ruffle up my curls, and 
sometimes my temper, which was frequently tranquilized with 
some light silver coin ranging anywhere from a " four pence 
half penny " to a half dollar. 

" Whenever this old gentlemen visited Humphreysville, he 
occupied a suit of rooms in the boarding-house building. These 
apartments were superintended by a housekeeper with whom I 
was a petted favorite. They contained pictures, books and many 
beautiful objects calculated to charm the fancy of a child, all of 
which I was permitted to examine and admire to my heart's content. 

"Colonel Piumphreys took great interest in the discipline and 
education of the apprentice boys attached to the factory. Sev- 
enty-three of these boys were indentured, I have been told, at 
the same time from the New York almshouse, and others from 
the neighboring villages. For these he established evening and 
Sunday-schools, with competent teachers ; and indulged his 
military tastes by uniforming them at no light expense as a 
militia company, drilling them himself. Of course so many 
lads, gathered from the lower classes of a great city, must have 
numbered some bad ones. Thefts and other small vices were 
sometimes discovered, and at such times the offender was given 
his choice to be rendered up to the legal authorities, or tried and 
punished by a court organized on the premises. Almost inva- 
riably, they elected the latter, where they expected, and usually 
received a milder sentence than the severe laws of that period 
would have given. 

" Sometimes the Colonel brought very distinguished com- 
patriots to visit the mills of which he was said to be very proud. 
I remember him dashing up the road one day in an open carriage, 
drawn by four horses, with Stephen Van Rensselaer, the Albany 
patroon at his side. They spent some time walking over the 
premises — took refreshments at the Colonel's apartments and 
drove back to a cottage that he owned in Hotchkiss Town on 
the New Haven road. 



458 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

" Indeed the old soldier usually came in state when he visited 
his native town, and his presence there was always followed by 
more or less commotion. 

"One day, coming along the river road, near the bridge, he 
checked his carriage to learn the meaning of a crowd that had 
collected on the bank. A child had just been taken from the 
water insensible and apparently dead. The old man gave a few 
hasty directions, snatched the reins from his coachman, dashed 
across the bridge and up Falls hill with the dangerous reckless- 
ness of a man who had no thought of his own life, and disap- 
peared. In less time than seemed possible, he dashed back 
with Doctor Stoddard by his side. His prompt action saved 
the child, and endeared both the old soldier and the physician 
more than ever to the people. 

"In his business enterprises Col. Humphreys did not forget 
the literary propensities that had mated him with Trumbull 
and Barlow in Yale College. He wrote a great deal for the 
benefit and amusement of the operatives, and the Christmas 
holidays were frequently celebrated with private theatricals 
where an original play, of which he was the author, would be 
performed by the most talented work people, and he more than 
once took a prominent part in them. 

" As the best people of the neighborhood and other towns 
were invited to form an audience, these plays became a favorite 
amusement. In fact Col. Humphreys omitted" nothing that 
could arouse the ambition or promote intellectual improvement 
among the operatives although he did it after a grand military 
fashion. 

" After our removal from Shrub Oaks the nearest school was 
on the hill back of the sand banks. A new academy had been 
built in that neighborhood, known up to that time as Chusetown, 
after some famous Indian chief; but the good town of Derby 
has always evinced wonderful eagerness in dropping historical 
names, and when that new academy, with a pretentious belfry, 
loomed up on the hill, looking proudly down on the cluster of 
houses at the cross roads, that Indian chief was crowded into 
the background and Chusetown became' School Hill." 

"Among these houses on the cross roads, one of which was 
a country tavern, two or three dwellings were in the progress of 



IIL'MI'IIREYSVILLE. 459 

building, one of which was intended for our future residence. 
They stood on a walled terrace and, in those primitive times, 
were planned with some degree of taste : but when the time 
came that the house by the factory was, by agreement, to be 
vacated, that in Chusetown was hardly half completed. ' Houses 
to let ' were not plentiful in Humphreysville just then, and the 
only dwelling in which we could find temporary shelter was a 
small building on the edge of the pine woods, into which our 
family was crowded for several months. Happy months they 
were for my sister Sarah and myself, for we absolutely lived in 
the pine woods, built our play-houses there, made ourselves 
acquainted with all the birds-nests, learned how to twist white- 
wood leaves into drinking cups, and enjoyed our young lives so 
completely that it was an absolute calamity to us when the new 
house was ready and we removed into it. This little house, 
which I am told has sometimes been pointed out as my birth- 
place, was occupied simply as a convenience until a more com- 
modious one was completed. 

"Some time before the death of Colonel Humphreys it was 
arranged that my father should travel extensively through the 
South and West. I have an idea that he went in the interest 
of the firm to extend the market in the principal cities for an 
over stock of goods. In these travels, which were continued 
over six months, I infer that the condition of the slaves in the 
South made a vivid and painful impression on him ; for after his 
return he never arose from family prayers any morning without 
asking God's grace for the negroes. My father had reached 
Philadelphia on his way back from this journey, when he was 
met by the news of Colonel Humphreys's death. The suddenness 
of this event had given a shock of surprise and grief to every 
one in the old soldier's native town. He had seemed in good 
health an hour before his last breath was drawn. He was stay- 
ing at a hotel in New Haven, and, with the usual courtesy that 
distinguished all his actions, handed a lady friend to her carriage, 
stood, hat in hand, until she drove off, when he returned to the 
room from which he had led her, lay down on the sofa and died. 

"Soon after this event, when I was about eight years of age, 
my father left Humphreysville and purchased a place in the 
Berkshire hills. Here his children were placed in school and he 



460 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

had a short season of rest. But a life of semi-activity to a man 
of his temperament soon became irksome and he grew restive 
under it. Hearing that a pleasant old homestead was for sale 
in South Britain, Southbury township, he purchased it and re- 
moved back to Connecticut. Directly after this he bought a 
factory some miles below on a tributary of the Ousatonic, and 
went into business again. 

" During some years he prospered in this new undertaking ; 
but prolonged and uncertain legislation in Congress, that kept 
the tariff in an unsettled state, made judicious contracts impos- 
sible ; the year 1829 or 30 found him with heavy payments to 
meet, a falling and uncertam market and an establishment that 
for more than a year had been running at a dead loss. This 
ended in financial ruin. He gave up everything to his creditors, 
gathered his family about him, and, with the exception of his eld- 
est daughter and myself, who were both married in 1831, removed 
to Ohio, then deemed, 'the far west.' Here, at the age of 58 
years, he secured a tract of wild land, and with the aid of his 
young sons, the oldest of whom was but sixteen, cleared a farm 
and built a new home upon it. At the age of eighty-four years 
he died upon this farm, leaving the best inheritance that any 
man can give to his children when he said almost with his last 
words, ' no child of mine has ever given me an hour of pain.' 

" Some of his children were born in Seymour. 

" Mary, the eldest, married Robert B. Mote, a lawyer and 
county judge, who died in Auburn, DeKalb county, Indiana, 
where she is still residing a widow. 

" Sarah, the second daughter, married Samuel Woodcock of 
Ohio, who became quite a land-holder in Savannah, Andrew 
county, Missouri, and died there leaving her a widow. 

" John H. Winterbotham, the fourth child and eldest son, mar- 
ried Mahala Rosecrans, a niece of General Rosecrans ot the 
United States Army. He inherits his father's intellectual ability 
and firmness of purpose, and has for some years been a state 
senator of Indiana. He has grown wealthy by close application 
to business and heads the firm of J. Winterbotham & Sons, 
contractors for the prison labor of Indiana and Illinois. He 
resides in Michigan City, Indiana, and has branch houses in 
Chicago and Joliet, Illinois. 



METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 46 1 

"Robert, the second living son, is a resident of Columbus, 
Ohio ; a man of independent means and out of business. He 
married Charlotta Roberts of Fredericktown, Ohio. 

'• Martha Elizabeth, the fourth daughter, married Fermin Fer- 
rer, a lawyer of Nicaragua, Central America, and resides in New 
York. William W., the youngest son, inherits his father's quali- 
ties of mind and character. He married Elizabeth Miller, the 
daughter of an influential citizen of Pittsburg, Penn., from whom 
they inherited a considerable property in Fort Madison, Iowa, 
where they reside. 

" Ann S., married Edward Stephens of Portland, Me." (See 
Biog.) 

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

As seen in the account of the M. E. Church in Birmingham, '' 
Methodist preaching was introduced in 1791, and the first soci- 
ety formed at the old village of Derby in 1793, with John Coe 
leader of the class. The members of this society who lived in 
Chusetown were first organized into a separate society in 1797, 
but it is probable that their ministers preached here several 
years before this organization. The first members were : Jesse 
Johnson, Isaac Baldwin, Sarah Baldwin and Eunice Baldwin. 
Daniel Rowe of Derby was their first class leader, and the fol- 
lowing names were soon added : George Clark, Lucy Hitchcock, 
Silas Johnson and Oliver Johnson. 

The ministers preached wherever they found open doors ; 
once or more in Mrs. Dayton's tavern, the house now owned 
by William Hull, at the corner of Main and Pearl streets ; also 
in the house of Mr. Stiles, now the residence of Doct. Stoddard. 
Some years later they preached in the ball-room of the Moul- 
throp tavern, on the north-east of Hill and Pearl streets. The 
ministers who were sent to the Middletown circuit, which in- 
cluded this place, were : in 1792, Richard Swain and Aaron 
Hunt; in 1793, Joshua Taylor and Benjamin Plsher ; in 1794, 
Menzies Raynor and Daniel Ostrander ; in 1795, Evan Rogers 
and Joel Ketchum ; in 1796, Joshua Taylor and Lawrence Mc- 
Combs ; in 1797, Michael Coate and Peter Jayne ; in 1798, 
Augustus Jocelyn ; in 1799, Ebenezer Stevens ; in 1800, James 

"Page 360 of this book. This account of the M. E. Church in Seymour is taken 
mostly from Mr. W. C. Sharpe's History of Seymour. 



462 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Coleman and Roger Searle. The Revs. Jacob Brush, George 
Roberts, Jesse Lee, Freeborn Garrettson and Sylvester Hutch- 
inson served as presiding elders. 

For a long time the society continued small and encountered 
much prejudice and some persecution. On one occasion, while 
a meeting was held in the house of Isaac Baldwin, which stood 
on the flat east of H. B. Beecher's auger factory, the persecutors 
went up a ladder and stopped the top of the chimney in the 
time of preaching, so that the smoke drove the people out of 
the house. Squibs of powder were often thrown into the fire in 
time of worship, to the great annoyance of the people. 

The preachers appointed to the circuit from 1801 to 1810 
were: in 1801, Abijah Bachelor and Luman Andrus ; in 1802, 
Abner Wood and James Annis ; in 1803, Abner Wood and 
Nathan Emory; in 1804, Ebenezer Washburn and Nathan Em- 
ory ; in 1805, Ebenezer Washburn and Luman Andrus ; in 1806, 
Luman Andrus and Zalmon Lyon ; in 1807, William Thatcher, 
R. Harris and Oliver Sykes ; in 1808. James M. Smith and 
Phineas Rice; in 1809, Noble W. Thomas and Coles Carpen- 
ter ; in 1 8 10, Oliver Sykes and Jonathan Lyon 

The presiding elders on the district were; Freeborn Garrett- 
son, Daniel Ostrander, William Thatcher and Joseph Crawford. 
Freeborn Garrettson held the first quarterly meeting in this 
place in the old Congregational meeting-house in 1803, and 
Moses Osborn, a zealous local preacher of Southbury, by his 
faithful labors in Derby four or five years, prepared the way for 
a great revival in 1809, when seventy persons were converted 
in the Neck school-house. 

Li 181 1 the preachers were: Zalmon Lyon and Jesse Hunt; 
in 1812, Aaron Hunt and Aj-nold Scholefield. In 1813 Middle- 
town circuit was divided and Stratford was made the head of 
the new circuit, and Ebenezer Washburn and James Coleman 
were the preachers. Stratford, Milford, Derby, Humphreys- 
ville, Nyumphs, Great Hill, Quaker's Farm, George's Hill, 
Bridgewater, Brookfield, Newtown, East Village, Stepney and 
Trumbull were included in the circuit. 

Among the early Methodists on Great Hill were Anson Gil- 
lett and his wife, five sons and two daughters ; Mrs. David 
Tomlinson,. one son and three daughters ; Capt. Isaac Bassett 



METHODIST EPISCOl'A I- CilL'RCH. 463 

and wife, one son and six daughters, and James Tomlinson and 
his wife. 

In 1S14 Nathan Bangs was presiding elder on the Nev/ Ha- 
ven district, and Elijah Woolsey and Henry Ames were the 
preachers o'n this circuit, where the preaching was divided — half 
a day at Humphreysville, half a day at Nyumphs, and once a 
fortnight at Derby Neck, it being a revival year at the Neck and 
Great Hill. The two brothers, Samuel and David Durand, 
and their wives, were added to the church in the little red school- 
house which stood north of where the Great Hill church now 
stands. Samuel was a good singer. In 1815 Elijah Hebard 
and Benoni English were the preachers on this circuit, but Mr. 
English soon located at Humphreysville and went into business. 
This year Walter French, a resident of Humphreysville, re- 
ceived license to exhort, and afterwards to preach, and became 
a useful, successful minister ; having a good memory, a ready 
utterance, and often spoke with great persuasive influence. He 
died in 1865, aged over eighty years. 

When Nathan Bangs was presiding elder in 18 16, he came 
to preach in the Bell school-house, and stopped with Stiles John- 
son on the Skokorat road. After some cautions from his host 
against doctrinal preaching, he went down in the evening and 
preached a free salvation to a crowded house, giving Calvinism 
its portion, as was the custom, and such was the influence of his 
words that at the close, when he inquired : " Who will have this 
salvation ? " the whole congregation stood up, and a revival en- 
sued. In 18 17 the society numbered fifty-six members. On 
October 31, 18 17, the Methodists bought the old Congregational 
meeting-house, and at watch-meeting the succeeding New 
Year's eve, an extensive revival commenced in this house, when 
Jesse and Stiles Johnson, sons of Isaac Johnson, and their 
wives, united with the Methodist society. Jesse was afterwards 
a local preacher, a close student of the Bible, but became insane, 
and after a long confinement died in 1829. Stiles, who died 
October 4, 1818, by his will gave the land on which the church 
stands to the Methodist society, and also $334 in money. The 
old meeting-house was soon after made a two-story building, but 
not painted. , 

In 18 19 the members of the church constituted three classes ; 



464 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

the leaders being Robert Lee, Timothy Hitchcock and Orrin 
Peck, the last class being in Woodbridge. The members of 
Timothy Hitchcock's class were Cynthia Johnson, widow of 
Stiles, Thomas and Lois Gelyard, Jared and Sally B. Bassett, 
(daughter of Stiles Johnson^, Timothy and Urania Hitchcock, 
Anna Davis, widow of Reuben, Bezaleel and Martha Peck, Alva 
Davis and his wife Polly (daughter of Capt. Daniel Holbrook), 
Hepziba Johnson (daughter of Jesse), and Sheldon Hitchcock. 
The circuit preachers from 18 16 to 1820 were : Nathan Emory, 
Arnold Scholefield, Reuben Harris, Ezekiel Canfield, Samuel 
Bushnell, Aaron Pierce, Beardsley Northrop, David Miller and 
Bela Smith. The circuits were large and two preachers were 
appointed yearly to each circuit to alternate at the different ap- 
pointments. 

The quarterly meetings of those times were largely attended ; 
the people going from all parts of the circuit to attend services 
on Saturday and on the Sabbath. The presiding elder was usu- 
ally present, and preached strong doctrinal sermons ; one on 
Saturday, after which was held the quarterly conference, con- 
sisting of all the preachers, exhorters, class leaders and stew- 
ards, and one on the Sabbath after the love-feast service. At 
one of these meetings on Great Hill, in 1820, E. Washburn, 
presiding elder, fifteen persons were converted in one afternoon. 

From 1 82 1 to 1830 the membership of the church was much 
increased. The preachers were : James Coleman, Laban Clark, 
E. Barnett, John Nixon, Eli Denniston, Wm. F. Pease, Julius 
Field, Samuel D. Ferguson, Valentine Buck, John Lucky, Na- 
thaniel Kellogg, Reuben Harris, John Lovejoy and Laban C, 
Cheney. The presiding elders were : Samuel Merwin, Samuel 
Lucky, D. Ostrander and Laban Clark. 

The circuit was divided in 1828, and this part called Hum- 
phreysville and Hamden ; at which time Samuel R. Hickox, a 
local preacher from Southbury, settled in this place and had 
charge of a grist-mill at the Falls, keeping boarders from the 
cotton mill, being a good preacher was of great service to the 
church. In the next year Thomas Ellis, a Welchman and a 
spinner in the cotton mill, was converted and joined the church, 
his wife being already a member. He had tjeen a wild young 
man and a great singer ; it being said that he could sing all 



METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 465 

night without repeating a song ; but in two years after his con- 
version he had forgotten them all. In consequence of his mu- 
sical ability he was of great value to the church. 

In 183 1 Daniel Smith was appointed to this circuit, and was 
assisted by William Bates, a local preacher residing in Hum- 
phreysville. In that year a camp meeting was held in the 
woods west of the present Catholic church in Birmingham, and 
continued eight days. On the Sabbath ten thousand people 
were supposed to be there, and the result of the meeting was 
reported to be one hundred converts. Rev. Sylvester Smith, 
afterwards long identified with the interests of the church, was 
present during the whole of that meeting. In this year the 
churches in South Britain and Middlebury were built, the foun- 
dation of one at Waterbury laid, and a parsonage commenced 
in Humphreysville. Three hundred dollars' worth of books 
were sold on the circuit, a large amount of missionary money 
raised, and the ministers' salaries paid. In 1832 Sylvester 
Smith, a local preacher from Hotchkisstown, now Westville, 
where he was first licensed in 1850, settled in this village, add- 
ing to the strength of the church, at which time Robert Travis 
was preacher in charge, assisted by JDaniel Smith. The parson- 
age, built by the two brothers. Lane, from Monroe, was finished 
for Mr. Travis. After this the church was an ecclesiastical so- 
ciety under the statute and known as the Methodist society of 
Humphreysville. 

In 1833 Thomas Bainbridge and Chester W. Turner were the 
preachers on this circuit, the former residing in the parsonage, 
the latter being a single man, who afterwards married the sister 
of the Rev. J. D. Smith of the Episcopal church. The next 
year Humphrey Humphreys and John Crawford were the 
preachers. Josiah Bowen was in charge of the circuit, and in 
the middle of 1836 he removed out of the parsonage into a house 
on Derby Neck, where he remained until his decease not long 
since. On the ist of October, 1836, Rev. Josiah Smith rented 
the parsonage and occupied it four years. David Miller was 
preacher in charge two years, residing on Great Hill, closing his 
term of service in May, 1839; Owen Sykes having been the as- 
sistant preacher several years. Thomas Ellis received license 
to preach in 1833, and did good service on the circuit until 1838, 
59 



466 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

when he joined the conference and became a successful itiner- 
ant. He died in triumph in May, 1873, aged 6S years. 

In 1838-9 the circuit was again divided ; so that Birmingham, 
Waterbury, Middlebury and South Britain sustained each a pas- 
tor, and only Humphrey sville, Great Hill, Pleasant Vale and 
Pine's Bridge remained as the Derby circuit. 

In 1840-41 Thomas Sparks was the preacher in charge, re- 
siding at South Britain, and Ezra Jagger in 1842-3, residing at 
Great Hill. These were assisted by L. Atwater, a student at 
Yale, and by Moses Blydenburgh. 

On Saturday, March 19, 1842, a quarterly meeting commenced 
at Southford, and in the absence of the presiding elder, Carpen- 
ter, Sylvester Smith preached, and the following Sabbath morn- 
ing being veiy pleasant it was impossible for more than half of 
the people to get into the chapel. Mr. Sparks occupied the 
pulpit, and Mr. Smith took his stand in the school-room below 
and preached while half of his congregation were out of doors, 
unable to obtain seats inside. Mr. Sparks came from England, 
and was employed a number of years in the Wolcottville cotton 
factory under the influence of that earnest lay Methodist, Chris- 
topher VVolcott, from which, place he went out as a Methodist 
itinerant, and became quite celebrated as such in the eastern 
part of New York state. In 1844 Moses Blydenburgh was pas- 
tor in charge, residing on Great Hill ; he died in 1848, aged 31 
years, leaving a widow, and one son who is a lawyer in New 
Haven. The next two years George L. Fuller was in charge 
of the circuit, residing at Great Hill, where three of his children 
were buried. 

In the fall of 1846 a subscription was started for a new church 
edifice at Humphreysville, Sylvester Smith leading with the 
sum of six hundred dollars ; but the burning of the paper mill, of 
which he was half owner, embarrassed the work although it did 
not abate his zeal ; for during the year he increased his sub- 
scription to eight hundred dollars. One brother, who did not at 
first pledge himself, gave one hundred dollars ; another changed 
from twenty to one hundred, and a good woman changed her 
subscription from ten to one hundred dollars. 

Charles Stearns, preacher in charge, moved into the parson- 
age in May, 1847, finding the society commencing the new 



mi:thoi)is'J' eimscopal church. 467 

church. The old meeting-house was sold for one hundred dol- 
lars and torn down, after serving its purpose sixty years, and 
the new one built on the same site Jared Bassett, assisted by 
Isaac Bassett, built the stone work ; all the people aided the 
enterprise to the extent of their ability, both in money and la- 
bor. The corner stone was laid on Saturday, June 19, 1847, 
Rev. E. W. Smith of Birmingham making the address ; Sylves- 
ter Smith depositing the case under the stone after announcing 
its contents ; Charles Stearns, the pastor, conducting the ser- 
vices, assisted by Rev. Wm. B. Curtiss of the Congregational 
church. The contractor was Amos Hine of Woodbridge ; the 
architect, Lewis Hotchkiss of Birmingham ; the bell, weighing 
1,150 pounds, was from Meneely's foundry in Troy; and the 
church was dedicated on Thursday, January 18, 1848, by Bishop 
E. S. Janes. All the elm trees near the church were set within 
a year after the dedication. 

Ir May, 1849, was in charge of what in the next year was set 
off from Derby as the town of Seymour, and remained two 
years with success. David Osborn was the next pastor of Sey- 
mour and Ansonia, it being a prosperous year in both places. 
His successor for two years was Rufus K. Raynolds, an ener- 
getic, useful man ; Great Hill becoming a separate charge in 
his second year. 

William T. Hill was pastor in 1855-6 for the two churches, 
Seymour and Great Hill, being prosperous years. Thomas 
Stevenson was pastor in 1857-8 ; L. P. Perry, in 1859-60 ; Al- 
bert Booth, in 1861 ; George L. Taylor, in 1862, this being his 
first itinerant work. He was a faithful pastor and minister; a 
fearless defender of the " stars and stripes,'' and in those 
troublous times spoke boldly for the Union. 

In the summer of 1864, under the pastorate of A. B. Pulling, 
two festivals were held, by which ;$8oo were secured, which 
freed the church from debt. Sylvester Smith was appointed 
pastor in 1866; Joseph Pullman in 1867-8, both eminently suc- 
cessful ; Bennett T. Abbott in 1869-70 ; Joseph Smith in 187 1-3, 
and proved himself an able minister, he being the first pastor 
who remained in Seymour three consecutive years. In former 
years he resided in Waterbury as a loc^l preacher, and did much 
good service here and in Wolcott, Conn. E. H. P^-isbie and 



468 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

James Wiswell, local preachers in New Haven, also rendered 
good service. Sylvester Smith, a local preacher, during his 
forty years residence here, was a most active laborer and liberal 
giver in the church. 

During the energetic labors of William R. Webster as pastor, 
in 1874, a large and commodious parsonage was erected, at a 
total cost of $2,630 ; Lugrand Sharpe, Warren French and W. 
C. Sharpe being the building committee; the old parsonage 
bringing $2,000. 

In 1875 E. H. Dutcher was the pastor; in 1876, Charles A. 
Tibbals, who soon after united with the Episcopal Church. At 
this time the church was beautified with an elegant black wal- 
nut pulpit presented by H. B. Beacher, Esq., which was first 
occupied February 4, 1877, by Aaron Pierce of East Village, 
who was pastor of the church in 1848, and his venerable ap- 
pearance in his eighty-ninth year constituted an occasion long 
to be remembered. 

In the spring of 1877 J. Vinton became the pastor, and the 
year was one of success ; in which Arthur J. Smith, uniting 
with the church and feeling called to the ministry, left his 
employment at the office of the Seymour Record, and entered the 
Collegiate Institute at Hackettstown, N. J., preparatory to en- 
tering college. 

Seymour and Great Hill are still connected under the same 
preacher. 

THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

George Kirtland came to Seymour in 1825, and in 1826 or 7, 
started a Sunday-school with five children, the number increas- 
ing to twenty-seven the first year. He continued the school six 
or seven years, when it was discontinued. The superintendents 
since the re-organization of the school have been : 

184 1-2, Samuel R. Hickox. 1859, Wancn French. 

1843-8, Lugrand Sharp. 1S60-1, William N. Storrs. 

1852, John Adams. 1862-5, Henry W. Benedict. 

1853, Frederick Durand."^ 1S66-7, William N. Storrs. 

1854, William A. Hughes. 1868, Sheldon Miles. 

1855, William Mallory. - 1869, William C. Sharpe. 
1856-7, Albert W. Lounsbury. 1870-1, William N. Storrs. 

1858, William Mallory. _ 1872, William W. Dibble. 



EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 469 

1S73, Samuel Butler. 1S77, Henry C. Rogers. 

1874, Charles N. Blauchard. 1S78, Samuel Butler. 

1S75, Samuel Butler. "879, George E. Stockwcll. 
1876, fklward N. IJotsford. 

TRINITY CHURCH. 

A meeting was held according to proper notice at the house 
of Doct. Samuel Sanford, on the 20th of I'^ebruary, 1797, and an 
Episcopal Ecclesiastical Society was formed. The notice dated 
February 12, 1797, was served on thirty-nine persons, who were: 
Reuben Lurn, James Manville, Nathan MaiTsfield, William 
Tucker, Benjamin Hawley, Russell Tomlinson, Martin Beebe, 
Enos G. Nettleton, Ephraim Wooster, Nathaniel Holbrook, 
^Jeremiah Gillett, Josiah Nettleton, Philo Holbrook, Edward 
Hayes, Nathan Stiles, Wilson Hurd, William Church, Abel 
Church, John Griffin, Daniel Davis, Bowers Washband, Alex- 
ander Johnson, Timothy Johnson, Joseph Johnson, Charles 
French, Israel Bostwick, Moses Riggs and John White. These 
were professedly Episcopalians. The meeting was organized 
by the appointment of Benjamin Davis, moderator, and Samuel 
Sanford, clerk ; and Joel Chatfield, Israel French and Jonathan 
Miles, society committee. As there had been a union of the 
parish of Great Hill with this new society, the united organiza- 
tion was called Union Church. 

At this first meeting a committee was appointed consisting of 
Benjamin Davis, Edward Hayes, Nathaniel Johnson and John 
White, to furnish materials for the building of the church. A 
site was purchased of Leverett Pritchard for $60, on w^hich it 
now stands, the deed being dated March 23, 1797. Early in 
the spring the corner-stone was laid by the Rev. Edward Blakes- 
lee, then an assistant to the Rev. Dr. Mansfield of Derby, and 
during the summer the building was raised, and before winter 
entirely enclosed. 

The inside finishing was delayed, and temporary seats made 
of slabs. 

Of this church Dr. Mansfield of Derby was the first pastor, 
and his services as rector continued until about 1802, he preach- 
ing here one-third of the time, and receiving proportionate sup- 
port from this society ; and the parish continued to render him 
support until his death in 1820. 



470 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

In 1802 the Union Bank was established with a capital of 
^2,000, paid by fifty-seven persons, for the purpose of support- 
ing the ministry, but it proved a troublesome enterprise, and 
soon after 181 1, the contributions were returned to the original 
owners. Various ministers supplied the church with services 
portions of the time some twenty years, among whom were 
Revs. Solomon Blakeslee, Calvin White, Ammi Rogers, Ambrose 
Todd, James Thompson, Aaron Humphreys, Chauncey Prindle. 
In 1 81 7 the church was completed inside, and was consecrated 
September 2d of that year by the Right Rev. John Henry 
Hobart, D. D., Bishop of the Diocese of New York. 

A record-book is still preserved, the inscription to which 
reads : " Parish Records of Union Church, Humphreysville. 
Stephen Jewett, rector, 1822. On the next page he wrote : 
"December, 1821. Union Church, Humphreysville, I began to 
officiate statedly in this parish. On Easter week, 1822, I was 
regularly called and engaged for one-third of the time at a salary 
of J^SOO per annum, and my wood. Easter week, 1824, began to 
officiate one-half of my time at Humphreysville at the same 
salary. 1827 burying-ground fenced and church painted. 1828 
bell purchased, cost, $6.17; ground in front of the church 
leveled." The salary mentioned ($500) must have been for 
the two parishes, Derby and Humphreysville. The bell cost 
^256.19, and the $6.17, was the cost of freight or something of 
that kind. In this book Mr. Jewett continued a careful record 
of baptisms, marriages and burials in Union Parish until 1834, 
when it ceased. If such a record had been kept by all the min- 
isters of the parishes in old Derby, and preserved, a full gen- 
ealogy of the families of the town could be given, which cannot 
now be done. 

After the resignation of the Rev. Stephen Jewett in 1832, the 
Rev. Charles W. Bradlew was rector one year, followed by the 
Rev. John D. Smith, eleven years, who officiated in this church 
every Sunday the first five years, and the next two divided his 
time between this church and St. Peter's of Oxford, after which 
he confined his labors to this parish. Following the resignation 
of Rev. Mr. Smith in 1845, the Rev. John Purvis became rec- 
tor, and continued thus two years ; at which time the commu- 
nicants of the parish numbered about one hundred. The Rev, 



EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 471 

Abel Nichols officiated one year following Mr. Purvis, and after 
him the Rev. William F. Walker accepted the charge of the 
parish and continued until 185 1, when he removed to New 
York. From 1851 the Rev. Charles G. Acly officiated two 
years, and effected the canceling of the debt of $850 ; then the 
Rev. O. Evans Shannon became the rector, and in 1856 the 
name of the church was changed from Union to Trinity. 

From this time efibrts were made for extensive repairs on 
the church, which resulted in holding the last services in the 
old church July 5, 1857, and the consecration of one all new ex- 
cept the frame, by Right Rev. Bishop Williams, on the nth of 
May, 1858. Some debt remained, which, as usual, cost a great 
struggle, but was finally canceled. 

Rev. Mr. Shannon resigned the rectorship June i, 1866, 
having done a great and good work. A little before his resigna- 
tion the parish purchased a house for a rectory at a cost of 
^2,500. 

The next rector was the Rev. George Seabury, who com- 
menced his services in January, 1867, and continued them until 
April 21, 1875 ; a successful term of labor of over eight years. 

The present statistics of the parish are nearly as follows : 
families, 135 ; baptized members of the church, 410; communi- 
cants, 157. 

On the 27th day of June, 1875, the steeple of the church was 
the third time struck by lightning, the damage amounting to 
about ;^5o. 

Of the sixty-three persons who contributed to defray the ex- 
penses of finishing the church in 18 16, not one is now living. 

During the first twenty-five years from the organization of 
the parish eight clergymen were employed for a specific length 
of time, and in the next fifty-three years, nine, four of whom had 
charge of the parish over forty-three years. On the 25th of 
September, 1875, the Rev. Edwin J. K. Lessel became rector 
of the parish. ^^ 



^^History of Seymour, pp. 25-29. 



472 



HISTORY OF DERBY. 



HUMPHREYSVILLE, IN DERBY, IN 1 836. 

Mr. John W. Barber wrote thus of the place at the time he 
made the drawing :^^ 

" The accompanying cut shows the appearance of Humphreys- 
villa as it is entered upon New Haven road. The Huraphreys- 
ville Manufacturing Company was organized in 1810. The 
village is situated in a small valley of the Naugatuck, four and 
a half miles from its junction with the Ousatonic river at Derby 




HUMI HRE\S\ILLE, IN DrRb\, IN lbj6 

Landing. It is surrounded with lofty hills excepting the nar- 
row valley through which the Naugatuck passes. The heights 
south of the village on the western side of the river are lofty, 
rocky and precipitous. The building seen in the central part of 
the engraving is the Humphreysville Cotton Manufactory ; it is 
four stories in height and about one hundred feet long. On the left 
of the print, on elevated ground, is the Episcopal Church ; there 
are two other houses of worship in the place, one for Congrega- 
tionalists and one for Methodists ; the last two are situated on 
the heights a few rods south-east from the the centre of the vil- 
lage. Directly underneath the Episcopal Church is seen in the 
engraving a part of the Naugatuck river with the falls. At this 
place a ledge of rocks, about twenty feet in height, crosses the 

l^Historical Collections, 201. 



CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 473 

river and forms a perfect dam about two-thirds the distance ; the 
remaining third is closed by an artificial dam. This place was 
formerly known by the name of Riminon Falls. There are 50 
or 60 dwelling houses in the vicinity of the factories and three 
or four mercantile stores. Most of the dwelling houses are 
south of the cotton factory ; only a few of them appear in the 
engraving. A small but beautiful grove of pines is situated at 
the southern extremity of the village, through which the build- 
ings, which are mostly painted white, appear uncommionly beau- 
tiful as the village is approached from the south upon the river 
roads." 

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.''' 

A council met on the 12th day of March, 1817, for the purpose 
of " organizing a church of Christ " in Seymour, " if it should 
seem to be best." They appointed the Rev. Zephaniah Swift, 
moderator, and the Rev. Nathaniel W. Taylor, scribe. The 
council consisted of the Rev. Nathaniel W. Taylor of the Centre 
Church, New Haven, the Rev. Samuel Merwin of the North 
Church, New Haven, the Rev. Bennett Tyler of South Britain, 
the Rev. Bela Kellogg of Franklin, Mass., and the Rev. Zeph- 
aniah Swift of Derby. Nine persons presented themselves be- 
fore the council, producing letters of good standing from, other 
churches, asking to be organized into a church ; they were : 
Joel Beebe and his wife, Bradford Steele and his wife, Ira Smith 
and his wife, Lewis Holbrook, Hannah P. Johnson and Sally 
Wheeler. The decision of the body was that " the above named 
persons be and are hereby organized into a church in this vil- 
lage." This action shows that it was a new organization and 
not the revival of an old one, which fact throws great doubt upon 
the supposition that there had been a church previously organ- 
ized at this place. A society had been established about 
twenty-eight years before, but a society is not a church among 
the Congregational people. The labors of the Rev. Benjamin 
Beach had continued in this place from r/S/ to 1805, and from 
that time to 18 12 the worshipers at this place attended other 
churches to some extent until the settlement of Rev. Zephaniah 

"This account of this church is taken mostly from a sermon delivered by Rev. S. 
C. Leonard, July 9, 1876, as a historical discourse. See History of Seymour, by 
W. C. Sharpe. 
60 



474 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Swift at Derby, in 1813, when he began to supply their pulpit a 
portion of the time ; and, as the result of his labors, they were 
encouraged, brought together in the purpose to sustain the 
preaching of the gospel and organized into a church as just 
stated. The old meeting-house was still standing, and was fitted 
and used for worship. Of it Mrs. Sarah Jones, daughter of 
Bradford Steele of Erie, Penn., wrote some twenty-four years ago : 
" I well remember when it was done off (what doing off there 
was!). It was divided into pews. It was neither lathed nor 
plastered, and but poorly clapboarded. Many times have I 
brushed the snow off the seats before sitting down. Its exterior 
resembled a barn more than a church. Still it was beloved, 
and probably had as true worshipers in it as those of modern 
style." 

During the vacancy of the pulpit of this church a new ele- 
ment had been introduced into the place, and Humphreysville, 
as it was then called, through the establishment of the Woolen 
Factory, had become an enterprising, growing, lively commu- 
nity ; from which state of grace it has never really fallen. 

Eighteen days after the church was organized, that is, on the 
30th of March, 1817, the Rev. Mr. Swift being present, eighteen 
members were added to the church, and one of them, Mrs. 
Daniel White, was still living in 1876, and in her eighty-sixth 
year. Two months after the organization, the Rev. Bela Kel- 
logg received other members, and a few months later still others 
were added, and thus quietly but steadily the number increased 
until at the end of the second year it numbered thirty-four 
members. 

On the 22d of September, 18 18, the old meeting-house was 
sold to the Methodist Church, and in due time, as it could, the 
new church built a meeting-house overlooking the river, on the 
eastern bank where the Congregational burying-ground is still 
to be seen. The church held its services in the Bell school- 
house while building their new house of worship. The steeple 
to complete this edifice was built in 1829. 

To this church the Rev. Zephaniah Swift ministered some 
years ; giving one-fourth of his time by consent of the Derby 
church, some of the years, and receiving one-fourth of his salary 
from this congregation. This church owes much to him, a man 



CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 475 

of Stately dignity of bearing, but with a warm heart within him, 
good, true and faithful ; a man who made so powerful an impres- 
sion on at least one who came under his influence, as to lead 
him to say that it would be joy enough for him, if he should ever 
reach heaven, to meet Zephaniah Swift there. 

The Rev. Bela Kellogg was not the pastor of this church, but 
ministered to it for a time, not long after its beginning. 

The Rev. Ephraim G. Swift was pastor from 1825 to 1827. 
He died in August, 1858. 

On the nth day of May, 1828, the Rev. Amos Pettingil re- 
ceived to membership in the church several individuals, among 
whom were Isaac Sperry and his wife, Albert Carrington, Ad- 
aline and Emeline Sperry and Olive Merriman. 

The name of the Rev. Charles Thomson appears first on the 
records under date of July 20, 1828, and he was installed pastor 
of tlie church in April 1830. He came from Dundaff, Penn., and 
labored about five years and was dismissed. He died in March, 

1855- 

The Rev. RoUin S. Stone preached for this church from 
June, 1833, to September, 1834, changing pulpits with Rev. Z. 
Swift half the time. Following him the Rev. John E. Bray 
ministered to the church about seven years and a half, from 
September, 1834, to April, 1842. 

On the 23d of June, 1843, the Rev. William B. Curtiss was 
called to be the pastor, and he continued his effective work six 
years, until October, 1849. During this period the present 
church of this denomination was built, being located in the val- 
ley below the Falls, and Mr. Curtiss occupied its pulpit about two 
years. 

Four years and nine days after this house was dedicated, on 
the 29th of April, 185 i, it was opened for the first installation 
ever held in it. On that day the Rev. E. B. Chamberlin was 
constituted pastor of the church and society ; the installation 
sermon being preached by the Rev. Fosdick Harrison of Beth- 
any. He was dismissed on account of ill health, May 20, 1852. 

The Rev. J. L. Willard commenced his ministry here, Sep- 
tember I, 1852, and continued until May i, 1855, and was soon 
after settled at Westville, Conn., where he remains an efficient 
and successful minister. 



4/6 HISTORY OF DERBY* 

About this time the village suffered the loss of a heavy man- 
ufacturing industry which necessitated the removal of about 
thirty families, connected with this congregation, from the place, 
and this resulted in great discouragement to those who re- 
mained. In the midst of this despondency a young man, a 
graduate of Amherst College, on passing through the place, was 
induced to engage in the work of supplying the pulpit. This 
young man was Henry D. Northrop, and an unusual revival was 
the result of his labors. He labored from August, 1857, nearly 
through the year 1858. 

The ministry here of the Rev. E. C. Baldwin was of a year in 
length, to May, i860, and that of the Rev. Sylvester Hine, fol- 
lowing, of about the same length. 

The Rev. J. L. Mills, now professor in Marietta College, Ohio, 
preached here two years ; the Rev. George A. Dickerman, one 
year ; and the Rev. A. J. Quick, nearly two years and a half. 

On the 22d of May, 1S68, Allen Clark was ordained in this 
church as an evangelist, and he ministered to it about one 
year with much success, the church being largely increased in 
its membership. Mr. H. P. Collin followed Mr. Clark, being 
also ordained as an evangelist, and his labors were accompanied 
with a goodly number of additions to the church. Rev. J. W. 
Fitch supplied the pulpit about one year, closing in the spring 
of 1872, and he was followed by the Rev. William J. Thomson, 
whose labors continued nearly two years, closing October, 1874. 

The ministry of the Rev. S. C. Leonard commenced on the 
15th of November, 1874, and continued until the summer of 
1879, when he removed to supply the pulpit of the Congrega- 
tional Church at Naugatuck, five miles up the river. His labors 
were quite successful, and his labors and life highly commended 
in the community. His historical sermon, as given in the 
"History of Seymour," is very pleasant reading, and a valuable 
contribution to the memory of a faithful, toiling people of the 
past and present age. 

It is said that the first deacon of the earliest church in this 
place was Timothy Baldwin of Derby ; if so then there must 
have been a church organization which he was to serve as dea- 
con, although no records have been seen or heard of confirming 
the supposition. When the church was organized in 18 17 the 



CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 477 

two chosen to this service were Bradford Steele and Nehemiah 
Botsford, and they continued to serve in that office until nearly 
the close of life. Deacon Steele, in September, 1840, a little 
more than a year before his death, asked to be released from 
further official duties, because of his age and infirmities, which 
was granted. Deacon Botsford made a similar request a little 
before, which had been granted. 

In 1776 Bradford Steele was a boy of not quite fifteen years 
of age, and hence was not quite sixteen when he enlisted in 
the army which represented the cause of freedom. Terrible 
scenes he passed through, for the memory of one certain day 
lived with great vividness to the end of his life. It was the 22d 
day of August, 1777, when he was taken prisoner and treated 
with a cruelty which was merciless, his very appearance becom- 
ing so changed by what he endured in a short time, that his 
father, when he met him, did not know him. He died in peace, 
December 23, 1841, at the age of 80. 

The church seldom has a firmer friend than Deacon Kinney, 
some time since deceased. It was from a gift made by him 
that the society now possesses its convenient parsonage. 

The names ascertained of those who have served as deacons 
are as follows: Capt. Timothy Baldwin, appointed in 1789; 
Bradford Steele and Nehemiah Botsford, in 1817; Sheldon 
Kinney and Alfred Hull, 1840 ; Andrew W. De Forest, 1844; 
William Kinney, Miles Culver and J. L. Spencer, 1853 ; VV. M. 
Tuttle, 1858; Charles Bradley (date not known); David John- 
son and Levi Lounsbury, 1865 ; Joshua Kendall, 1868. 

The Sunday-school in connection with this church can be 
traced as far back as the year 1828. The names of those who 
have served as superintendents, as far as ascertained are : Joel 
White, George F. De Forest, Andrew De Forest, Sharon Y. 
Beach, W. M. Tuttle, P. B. Buckingham, George E. Lester, 
Robert C. Bell, Theodore S. Ladd, Andrew Y. Beach and 
James Swan. 

In less than two months after the church was organized, at a 
meeting when its first deacons were chosen (May 9, 18 17), a 
librarian for the village church library was appointed, and an- 
other committee was appointed to select books. 

This church has raised up for service in the great field of 



478 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Christian labor, one minister and one missionary. The minis- 
ter is the Rev. Ira Smith ; and the missionary, the Rev. H. A. 
De Fon st of the class of 1832, Yale, who went to Syria, re- 
turned w^ith the seeds of fatal disease, and soon ended his work 
on earth. 

The Rev. Robert C. Bell, now the efficient pastor of the Con- 
gregational Church at Darien in this state, was for a time a 
member of this church, and comes here to the family home. 

BUSINESS ENTERPRISES IN HUMPHREYSVILLE. 

In May, 1822, the Humphreysville Manufacturing Company 
was re-organized with $50,000 capital, and the General Hum- 
phreys mill property purchased by it; John H. De Forest be- 
ing president, and J. Fisher Teaming, secretary. 

Among the persons induced by General Humphreys to come 
to America was Thomas Gilyard, son of Edmund and Nancy 
Gilyard, born in Leeds, England, March 20, 1786, who came to 
New York in the " Commerce,'' in the summer of 1807, having 
had a very fine passage of forty-five days. He immediately 
commenced work for General Humphreys's Company and con- 
tinued until March 28, 1810, in the manufacture of cloths, when 
he learned and engaged in the making of stockings, a new de- 
partment in the mills. Mr. Gilyard was an active man in the 
Methodist Church, and his descendants still reside in the com- 
munity. While General Humphreys was organizing his company 
of young operatives in the factory, and drilling them in soldierly 
tactics for their entertainment and elevation. Lady Humphreys, 
wife of the General, made an elegant silk flag, beautifully em- 
broidered by herself, for the company, and which is still pre- 
served, with its inscription, as follows : 

"Humphreysville, yam Nova Progenes, Perseveraiido Pacta 
Semper Servanda, MDCCCXT 

This shows that the enterprise had attained to good working 
order and numbers at that date, 18 10, and from that time until 
1 8 14 the village was lively and prosperous, a variety of manu- 
facturing enterprises being conducted in the village and its 
vicinity on Little river and Bladen's brook. After the date men- 
tioned the influx of foreign goods almost put an end to American 
manufacturing, and Humphreysville suffered with all other 



BUSINESS ENTERPRISES. 479 

places, but upon the organization of the new company in 1822, 
it took a fresh start and made slow but steady progress until 
1837, when political times severely affected the whole country, 
or a crisis in the country affected politics. The new company 
rebuilt the dam, widened the water-course to the mill, and con- 
structed the machinery into a cotton mill, by which name it 
was known many years. There was then one store in the val- 
ley and one on the hill near the Episcopal Church. Mr. De 
Forest lived at first in the Roth house, on the west side of Main 
street, opposite Pearl, until he built the house now occupied by 
Raymond French, Esq., in which he resided until his death. 

The shop in the iork of the road near the M. E. Church was 
built in 1825 by Newel Johnson ; Isaac Kinney and Jesse Smith 
owning a portion of the building, which was used as a carpenter 
and cabinet shop. 

In 182S Samuel R. Hickox, a local preacher from Southbury, 
settled in the place and took charge of the grist-mill near the 
Falls. About this time Judson English came from Hotchkiss- 
town, now Westville, and bought the tannery on the prem- 
ises now owned by Arthur Rider, previously run by Mr. Benham ; 
the bark-mill being further south on the brook just below the 
railroad crossing. About ten years later Mr. English sold this, 
property to George Kirtland and removed to Great Hill. 

In 1830 Leverett Pritchard was living on the knoll opposite 
the saw-mill still standing near the upper end of Maple street ; 
having previous to this resided in the house in the rear of Doct. 
J. Kendall's. 

Chester Jones, a paper-maker, built the north " Kirtland 
house" and kept a store in it. He afterward removed I0 Ohio, 
returning in a year or two, and was for several years superin- 
tendent of the Humphreysville Manufacturing Company's paper 
mill, residing in the house close by it. His wife was the daugh- 
ter of Dea. Bradford Steele. He afterwards removed to Erie, 
Penn., where he died. Ezekiel Gilbert, having kept store for a 
time at Squantuck, came to Humphreysville about this time 
and kept the tavern on Broad street nearly two years, when he 
built the store now occupied by H. W. Randall. 

Such were the beginnings of the enterprises in the village of 
Humphreysville, a place that is now alive with machinery and 



480 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

manufacturing ability and appliances, and is capable of becom- 
ing much greater than it now is by the development of its 
water-powers. 

One hundred years of manufacturing enterprises have made 
great changes in the place, but not as many as have been made 
in Birmingham and Ansonia in fifty years. 

THE COTTON MILL. 

The Humphreysville Manufacturing Company, organized in 
1 8 10, produced first woolen cloths, then cotton goods, and in 
183 1 commenced making paper, first with four employes, but 
increased the number within a month to sixteen. In 1843 this 
paper-mill passed into the hands of Hodge & Company ; the 
firm consisting of G. L. Hodge, S. Y. Beach and Samuel Ro- 
selle ; and in 1845 William Buffum purchased the cotton mill 
and continued its proprietor a few months. In 1850 Sharon Y. 
Beach bought the claims of the other two proprietors in the 
paper-mill and removed it to Blue street, where it still re- 
mains. 

Great have been the changes between that day and the present. 
The whole territory is filled with buildings and immense manu- 
.facturing establishments, a full account of which may be found 
in Mr. Wm. C. Sharpe's " History of Seymour and Vicinity," a 
book which is of great value because of the many facts collected 
and recorded in it. Every family in the town should carefully 
preserve a copy of it. 

In 1851 the capital stock of the Humphreysville Manufactur- 
ing Company was estimated at ^300,000, and the estimate ap- 
proved by a committee of the Legislature. In 1859 the stock 
was reduced to ^150,000 by the distribution of property to the 
stockholders. 

The Eagle Manufacturing Company was organized June 27, 
1850, with a stock of ^50,000, for the manufacture of silk goods, 
wool and cotton ; George Rice being the first president. In 
1852 the stock was increased to $100,000 ; George F. De For- 
est, president. In 1855 George P. Shelton was president and 
Harrison Tomlinson, secretary. 

In 1852 George P. Shelton, Raymond French, Philo Hol- 
brook, Henry S. Mygatt, Sheldon Kinney, George F. De For- 



KIMMDN r'ALLS. 



481 



est, Harrison Tonilinson, John W. Dwight, John Clark and 
Sylvester Smith were incorporated under the title of the Sey- 
mour Savings Bank. 

The Union Mercantile Company was established in i<S52 
with a capital of $4,000. B. VV. Smith was the first president, 
and John J. Rider the second. The store was in the build- 




lAI.LS OF I'lIK N.VrCAl ICK AT SEYMOUR, 1857. 

ing on the north side of Broad street at the west end of the 
Naugatuck bridge. 

The American Car Company was organized in the spring of 
1852 with a stock of $150,000, which amount was increased be- 
fore the end of the year to $200,000. Five large shops, for the 
building of railroad cars, were erected, and a large business 
transacted until the business was removed West. President, 
J. H. Lyman : directors, Timothy Dwight, J. VV. Uwight, Ray- 
mond I^Vench and others. 
61 



482 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

The Upson Manufacturing Company was organized in 1852 
by Hiram Upson, Horace A. Bradford and Lucius Tuttle, for 
the manufacture of augers, bits and the Hke instruments. The 
business was conducted where the Douglass Manufacturing 
'Company's lower shop now stands at the mouth of Little river. 
The shop was built in 1837, by Timothy D wight, son of Presi- 
dent L wight, and by his heirs sold to H. A. Bradford, and by 
him to Charles Douglass in 1859. 

The Humphreysville Copper Company was organized in 1847 
with a capital stock of $40,000 ; J. W. Dwight, president ; Ray- 
mond French, Harrison Tomlinson, George Rice, Sheldon Kin- 
ney, directors. In 1852 the capital was increased to $200,000, 
the buildings greatly enlarged and the business increased. In 
addition to their works in Seymour they established a mill and 
wharf in East Haven. In 1854 the stock was increased to 
$390,000, but soon after the liabilities became great and compli- 
cations ensued. In 1855 a nevv company was organized, the 
stock being placed at $750,000 with liberty to increase to $1,- 
000,000. The persons named in the act of incorporation were : 
John W. Dwight, William Cornwall, George F. De Forest, 
Henry Bronson, Charles Durand, Sheldon Kinney, Samuel K. 
Satterlee, Geo. R. A. Ricketts, Henchman S. Soule. 

The New Haven Copper Company was organized November 
21, 1855, with a capital of $400,000; John W. Dwight, presi- 
dent ; Geo. R. A. Ricketts, secretary. After various changes . 
the company was re-organized in 1872, the stock being owned by 
Lazarus Lissberger, president, Samuel Holmes, Thomas James, 
Franklin Farrell, and under this management it is one of the 
heaviest and most reliable industries of the town. 

MILLS OF JAMES SWAN. 

He is successor to the Douglass Manufacturing Company, es- 
tablished in 1856 ; manufacturer of augers, auger bits, gimlets, 
hollow augers, expanding bits, patent auger handles, boring ma- 
chines, chisels, gauges, drawing-knives, screw-drivers, reamers, 
etc. 

In addition to the foregoing, the following are some of the 
present business enterprises of Seymour : 

Humphreysville Manufacturing Company, manufacturers of 



BUSINESS ENTERPRISES. 



48; 



augers, auger bits, etc. Proprietors, George H. Robinson, Da- 
vid R. Cook, Norman Sperry, Marcus Sperry. 

H. B. Beecher, successor to French, Swift & Co., established 
in 1847 ; manufacturer of augers, auger bits, hollow augers, etc, 

The Fowler Nail Company, manufacturers of vulcan horse- 
shoe nails. Carlos French, president ; Lewis H. Bristol, sec- 
retary. 

United States Pin Company; Henry L. Hotchkiss, president; 
Lewis Bristol, secretary ; Carlos P^rench, treasurer. 

Henry P. and E. Day, manufacturers of rubber pen-holders, 
propelling pencils, surgical appliances, etc, 




Carlos P^rench, manufacturer of car springs. 

W. W. Smith, manufacturer of manilla paper. 

Raymond P^-ench, manufacturer of plain and steel-plated o.x- 
shoes. 

Austin G. Day, manufacturer of sub-marine telegraph cable. 

Garrett and Beach, manufacturers of German gimlet bits, cast 
steel reamers and screw-driver bits. Lewis L. Garrett and 
Samuel Beach. 

The Seymour Record^ a weekly newspaper, published every 
Thursday, at the Seymour Printing Office. William C. Sharpe, 
editor and publisher, and author of the "Plistory of Seymour 
and Vicinity," a work from which has been taken a large part 



484 HISTORY OF DERP.y. 

of the account here given of the business enterprises of the 
place. 

SOCIETIES IN SEYMOUR. 

Morning Star Lodge, No. 47, of Fvec and Accepted Ma- 
sons, has reached the age of seventy-six years. It was contin- 
ued under a charter from the M. W. Stephen Titus Hosmer, 
Esq., Grand Master for Connecticut, bearing date October 18, 
1804. The petitioners to whom the charter was granted were 
Adam Lum, Veren Dike, Silas Sperry, George W. Thomas, 
Benjamin Candee, Lew^is Wakelee, E. C. Candee, Joel Fitch, 
Arnold Loveland, William Hurd, William Bronson, Daniel 
Candee, Abel Wheeler, Samuel Riggs, William Morris, Levi Can- 
dee, Nathan Davis, Charles Monson, Jessie Scott, Moses Candee, 
" Brethren of the Honorable Society of Masons residing in the 
town of Oxford." 

Abel Wheeler is named in the charter as first master, Levi 
Candee as senior warden and William Morris as junior warden. 

The lodge met in Masonic Hall, Oxford, until 1844, when 
owing: to decreased numbers from removals and other causes, 
the sessions were suspended. It was reorganized May 14, 185 i, 
with George B. Glendining as master, David J. McEwen senior 
warden, and Alfred French junior warden, and removed to 
Seymour. E. G. Storer was then grand secretary. Since then 
the lodge has prospered, its total membership having amounted 
to about 375. 

Mechanic's Lodge, No. 73, I. O. O. F., was instituted May 
27, 1 851; the charter members being Horace A. Bradford, 
Martin Kelly, Daniel J. Putnam, Julius Bassett, John Hilton, 
H. P. Davis, John Scott, Charles Newton, John L. Hartson, 
W. W. White, John Davis, J. A. Stevens, W. J. Merrick. 

Humphrey Lodge, No. 26, Knights of Pythias, was insti- 
tuted February 8, 1871, the charter members being S. H. Can- 
field, W. G. Mitchell, George Rogers, F. M. Lum, C. W. James, 
W. N. Storrs, S. C. Tucker, Charles French, M. R. Castle, F. 
H. Beecher, V. H. McEwen, George Smith, D. C. Castle. 

Ui'SON Post, No. 40, Grand Army of the Republic, was or- 
ganized in 1873. William S. Cooper, post commander; Joseph 
Ineson, adjutant. It was reorganized February 16, 1876. 



SOCIETIES. 485 

The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick is composed of mem- 
bers of Irish birth and their descendants without regard to re- 
ligion or politics. It was organized at Strapp's Hall, Novem- 
ber 2, 1872, by the following named persons: William Hayes, 
Dennis O'Callaghan, Matthias Bunyan, Francis McMorrow, 
Charles McCarthy, Michael Regan, Patrick Mahoney, Daniel 
Mahoney, William Mahoney, Jeremiah Driscol, John Coleman, 
John Bradley, Timothy O'Brien, Peter Sullivan, Edward Strapp, 
William Colbert. 




CHAPTER XVI. 

THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. 

ERBY bore a conspicuous and large proportioned part 
in the war of the Rebellion in 1861 to 1865, as she did 
also in the Revolution eighty-five years before. 'At the 
first call, after the old flag had been dishonored at 
Fort Sumter, four men from Derby volunteered, and were ac- 
cepted on the 22d of April, 1861, and joined the first Connecticut 
regiment, and fifteen days from that time seventy-eight others 
led by Ledyard Colburn, major, and Charles L. Russell, adjutant, 
were accepted in company D of the second Connecticut regi- 
ment. From that time onward to the close of the great conflict, 
Derby was fully, and honorably represented on the entire field, 
from the honorable position of colonel, through all grades and 
departments of the service ; having sent forward, according 
to the offlcial report of the Adjutant General of the State, 542 
soldiers. 

The following are the minutes made on tlie town records in 
regard to the aid rendered by the town in support of the nation 
in the great struggle : 

" October. i86r. 

'■ Whereas : The money appropriated by the State of Connecticut for 
the support of the families of volunteer soldiers payable from the State 
Treasury into the town treasury is payable once in three months ; 
and whereas many families have not sufficient means wherewith to 
support themselves in the interval of payments, and whereas some 
families are unable to subsist on the sums appropriated by the State 
for their support, therefore, 

'• Resolved : That the treasurer of the town be and hereby is author- 
ized to advance and pay to such families from the treasury of the town 
of Derby, from time to time, such sums as shall be directed by the 
selectmen ; said sums being reimbursed from the money received from 
the State, so far as the same shall be adequate to each family. 

"On motion passed. 

" July 22, 1862. Resolved : That the town of Derby will pay to each 
non-commissioned officer and private, who has or shall enlist and be 



THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. 487 

accepted by the enlisting committee herein named, within the next 
twenty days into a military company now forming in the town of Derby, 
the sum of one hundred dollars, to be paid to such volunteer when he 
shall have been mustered into the service of the United States. 

'■''Resolved: That the sum of eleven thousand dollars or so much 
thereof as shall be necessary, be and hereby is appropriated lor the 
payment of the bounty provided in the foregoing resolution, and the 
necessary expenses of recruiting a company, and that the selectmen be 
and they hereby are authorized to draw their order on the treasurer in 
favor of Mr. Wm. B. Wooster, Thomas "Wallace, jun., and Charles B. 
Ailing, recruiting committee, for so much of said appropriation as shall 
be necessary to pay said bounties and the necessary expenses incurred 
in recruiting such company. 

" At a meeting held Saturday, August 30, 1862, Resolved : That the 
town of Derby will pay to such non-commissioned officer anc' private, 
inhabitants of the town of Derby, who shall enlist in the companj' now 
forming under John Jackson, before the first day of September next, 
1862, and who shall be accepted by and be mustered into the service 
of the United States, the same amount as was voted by this town, to 
be paid volunteers on the 22d day of July, 1S62, it being the sum of 
one hundred dollars. 

" Whereas : The quota of the town of Derby for volunteers for three 
years is not yet full, and whereas the State bounty of fifty dollars has 
ceased, and the advance bounty from the United States has also ceased, 
therefore, 

" Resolved : That the selectmen be and they hereby are authorized to 
pay to each volunteer, not exceeding in number fifteen, who shall 
enlist as volunteers from Derby before the third day of September next, 
for three years or during the war. the sum of two hundred dollars, to 
be paid when the same shall be mustered into the service of the United 
States. 

" On motion passed. 

" October, 1862, on motion it was voted that all men that have been 
or may hereafter be drafted and serve the United States government 
for the term of nine months, be paid ten dollars per month, or at that 
rate while in the service. 

'' Voted : That the commissioned officers of Capt. Jackson's and Chaf- 
fee's companies be paid a bounty of $100 each. 

" August 15, 1864, Resolved : That there be and is hereby appropri- 
ated from the treasury of the town of Derby, for the purpose of filling 
the quota of said town under the last call of the President of the United 
States for 500,000 men, a sum not exceeding the sum of $300, to each 



488 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

person who shall volunteer into the military or naval service of the 
United States for the term of one or more years, or who has furnished, 
or shall furnish, an acceptable substitute for the same term and service, 
or who being drafted shall serve in person under said call, provided 
such volunteers, substitutes and drafted men shall go to make up the 
quota of Derby." 

Two monuments have been erected to the memory of 
deceased soldiers ; one of granite, not yet surmounted by a 
statue, although otherwise very appropriate, in Birmingham 
public green ; the other, also of granite surmounted by a very 
appropriate statue of a soldier, placed at the entrance of the 
Ansonia cemetery. 

The annual celebration on Decoration Day, by processions, 
addresses and poems, is continued with much spirit and honor- 
able patriotism as a memorial of the deceased soldiers. From 
the many very eloquent and appropriate things said on such 
occasions space allows but one selection, taken from the record 
of the celebration at Birmingham in 1879, — ^ poem by J. W. 
Storrs, Esq.: 

RETROSPECTION. 

Men forge sometimes great destinies through fire's evil passion, 
As evermore the dripping sword hath led the worjd's progression ; 
The wrong, although a stubborn plant, may blossom with salvation, 
As from the strife to rivet chains came great emancipation. 

Men differ little, after all, in nature's ills or graces : 

Our neighbor's deeds were doubtless ours, had fortune changed our places. 

Then while we speak with charity to-day, — for future action, 

'Twere well, perhaps, that we indulge a moment's retrospection. 

Some eighteen years ago and more, old Sumter's gun was booming. 
And up against the Southern sky, an hideous shape was looming ! 
Grim, half defined — men knew it not; — some thought it mere illusion; 
"While others saw within its depths but darkness and confusion. 

Along the street men stood aghast at what might be impending, 
Or, nerving bravely, grasped the sword, their firm defiance sending 
To whatsoe'er the ill might be, which threatened thus unkindly ; — 
As, when the thunderbolt's affright, a serpent hisses blindly. 

Dark grew the cloud ; in muttered tone was heard the sullen thunder ; 
The lightning's flash, with burning shaft, rent many a heart asunder, 
While here and there, in craven fear, poor timid souls were quaking. 
And on their knees, at any price, for peace were loudly shrieking. 



THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. 489 

And then rang out the stirring shout an hundred Men are wanted I 
The musket sprang to ready hands, as if it were enchanted. 
" Who dares the breach come follow me ; " the gallant Russell shouted : 
And fife and snare upon the air gave proof at once, undoubted. 

That in the veins of sixty-one, old seventy-six was flowing ; 
That in New England's gallant sons, her ancient fires were glowing. 
They turned their oxen loose afield, — like Putnam lion-hearted : 
Threw down the sledge, shut up the shop and for the war they started. 

Strange enough that armed procession, winding through each village street I 
Stranger still, the Sabbath drum-beat, giving time to eager feet! 
Stopping not to question duty — hearing, they obeyed command ! 
Quite enough for them, that danger threatened their beloved land. 

So they left, that solemn morning, and along the smiling vale. 
Came an hundred ringing voices homeward floating on the gale. 
Slow, the months of weary waiting dragged their bloody lengths along ; 
Years were added ; still defiant, stood the cohorts of the wrong. 

One by one, came back our heroes, glory clad, but in a pall 1 
One by one they left their ashes where palmetto shadows fall. 
Over them no flowers are wreathing — save by nature's loving grace ! 
Over them no storied marble marketh out their resting place ! 

Nay; but on the field of battle, or within the prison hell. 

Bleach their bones beneath the sunlight — spurned by plowmen — where they fell. 

In the fearful dungeons lying, tortured by inhuman crew, 

Marching, fighting, starving, dying 1 this it cost to wear the blue ! 

Grudge we then the jialtry pittance that upbuilds the grateful stone ? 
Leaving to the generations duties that should be our own ? 
We that sat around our hearthstones, sheltered by the solid wall 
Which these heroes raised between us and the dreaded cannon ball ? 

We that signed those " testimonials .-' "^ — even through those burning years. 
Coining yet the while our thousands that the nation sat in tears .'' 
Debtors of the living, truly : — " thrice the debtors of the dead ! " 
Shall we grudge fit recognition for the sacrifice they made ? 

Then I turn me to the children ; boy, I would commune with thee : 
Know you that the grasses cover men who died for you and me ; — 
Men who gave what untold treasure could not balance, could not buy : — 
Cherished life, to them, and precious — that the nation should not die I 

I would urge you, nay, would charge you, as the father's place you fill, 

To forget not the upraising of some typal form to tell 

To the freemen of the ages, the great story — ever new. 

How was crushed the fiend, disunion, by the men that wore the blue. 



lA published pamphlet, addressed to the soldiers. 
62 



490 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

I would charge you, oh my children, as returns this tender day, 
That you range through all the bowers, for the sweetest gems of May ; 
That in garlands you may wreathe them, in their robes of every hue. 
And with loving hands outspread them o'er the men that wore the blue. 

Go you out among the woodlands, and along the fringing shores 
Of the brooklets in the meadows, and bring in the rustic flowers, — 
Tender-eyed and meek and lowly, fitting emblems of the true. 
To o'erthatch the narrow dwelling of the men that wore the blue. 

You may find the sons of fortune, or the places where they lie, 
By the loudly worded marble that is pointing to the sky ; 
But unnoted in the corners, where the tangled grasses grow, 
You shall find the lowly couches of the men that wore the blue. 

But they lie not there unheeded, though the busy world go by, 
For they sleep beneath the radiance of the great all-seeing eye ; 
And though men refuse them honor, on the records of the true 
Will be found the names forever of the men that wore the blue. 

And I ask you, oh my children, that you guard the sacred boon. 
Which the present to the future, as a birthright, handeth down ; 
So that this, our Union temple, upon pillars strong and true, 
Shall remain for aye, the glory of the men that wore the blue. 

The most eloquent description of the men in the service dur- 
ing the war is the record made by the soldiers themselves, and 
reported at the Adjutant General's office for the state of Con- 
necticut, which is as follows : 

First Regiment Infantry, C. V. 
Behrens, Herrrfian, private, April 22, 1861. Honorably discharged July 31, 1S61. 
Kleinerx, John, private, April 22, 1861. Honorably discharged July 31, 1861. 
Levy, Marks M., private, April 22, 1861. Honorably discharged July 31, 1861. 
Leoffler, Emil, private, April 22, 1861. Honorably discharged July 31, 1861. 

Second Regiment Infantry, C. V. 

Ledyard Colburn, major. May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged August 7, 1861. 

Charles L. Russell, adjutant. May 16, 1861. Honorably discharged August 7, 1S61. 

George D. Russell, captain company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged Au- 
gust 7, 1 86 1. 

Sanford E. Chaffee, first lieutenant company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably dis- 
charged August 7, 1861. 

Azre Lamoureux, second lieutenant company U, May 7, 1S61. Honorably dis- 
charged August 7, 1861. 

James Foly, sergeant company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged Aug. 7, 1861. 

Austin P. Kirkham, sergeant company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged Au- 
gust 7, i86i. 

Joseph Bailey, sergeant company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged Aug. 7,1861. 

John Cornell, sergeant company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged Aug. 7, 1861 



THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. 49 1 

Frank Hawkins, corporal company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged August 
7, 1861. 

Carles E. Hawks, corporal company D, May 7, 1S61. Prisoner of war June 19, 1S61. 

Guilford M. Kirkham, corporal company D, May 7, 1S61. Honorably discharged 
August 7, 1861. 

Elton W. Ware, corporal company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged August 
7, iS6r. 

Anson Chaffee, musician company D, May 7, 1S61. Honorably discharged August 
7, 1S61. 

Isaac J. Kirkham, musician company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged Au- 
gust 7, 1861. 

Archer, Martin, private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged August 
7, 1861. 

Bailey, Barnabut M., private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorablv discharged Au- 
gust 7, i86r. 

Baker, Charles E , private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged August 
7, 1S61. 

Beach, Julius G., private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged August 
7, 1861. 

Beach, Edwin C, private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged August 
7, 1861. 

Blood, John M, private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged August 
7, 1S61. 

Bodge, George E., private company I), May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged Au- 
gust 7, 1S61. 

Bray, Morris, private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged August 7, 
1861. 

Butterworth, George, private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged Au- 
gust 7, 1861. 

Burlock, I')avid, private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged August 7, 
1861. 

Bundy, George B., private company D, May 7, 1861. Discharged, furnished substitute. 

Chaffee, James W., private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorablv discharged Au- 
gust 7, 1861. 

Church, PYank, private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged August 
7, 1S61. 

Chatfield, George A , private company D, May 7, 1S61. Honorably discharged 
August 7, 1861. 

Cornett, Frederick, private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged Au- 
gust 7, 1861. 
Cohen, Henry, private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged August 

7, 1861. 
Cowap, William H., private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged Au- 
gust 7, i86i. 
Coger, William, private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged August 

7, 1861. 
Dyer, Edward B., private company D., May 7, 1S61. Honorably discharged August 

7, 1861. 
Dyer, Charles B., private company D, May 7, 1861. Discharged, disability, |uly 11, 
1861. 



492 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Eddy, John C, private company D, May 7, 1S61. Honorably discharged Aug. 7, 1861. 

Engles, James S., private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged August 
7, 1861. 

French, Richard B., private company D, June 7, 1861. Honorably discharged Au- 
gust 7, 1861. 

Gardner, Thomas, private company D, May 7, 1S61. Honorably discharged Au- 
gust 7, 1861. 

Gahagan, Joseph, private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged August 
7, 1861. 

Gilbert, Horace, private company D, May 7, 1S61. Honorably discharged August 
7, 1861. 

Griffin, Harrison, private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged August 
7, 1861. 

Griffiths, David N., private company D., May 7, 1S61. Honorably discharged Au- 
gust 7, 1861. 

Green, Shepard, private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged August 
7, 1861. 

Guilfoil, William, private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged August 
7, 1861. 

Hays, Minot, private company D, May 7, 1861. Discharged, disability, July 6, 1861. 

Herman, Max, private company D, May 7, 1861. Discharged, disability, July 6, 1861. 

Hickerson, Francis, private company D, May 7, 1S61. Honorably discharged Au- 
gust 7, 1861. 

Inman, George, private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged August 
7, 1861. 

Johnson, Jerome, private compaay D, May 7, 1861. Discharged, disability, June 
26, 1861. 

Johnson, Frank, private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged August 
7, 1861. 

Kirk, Samuel, private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged Aug. 7, 1861. 

Lindley, Benjamin, private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged Au- 
gust 7, 1861. 

Lindley, David, private company D, May 7, 1861. Discharged, disability, July 
II, 1861. 

Lody, Edward, private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged August 
7, 1861. 

McCarty, John, private company D, fune 7, 1861. Honorably discharged August 
7, 1861. 

McKenzie, George, private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged Au- 
gust 7, 1861. 

McNalley, Thomas, private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged Au- 
gust 7, 1861. 

Miller, John W., private company D, May 7, 1S61. Honorably discharged August 
7, 1861. 

Miller, James W., private company D, May 7, 1S61. Honorably discharged August 
7, 1861. 

Milliken, Charles D., private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged Au- 
gust 7, 1861. 

Moore, Charles, private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged August 
7, 1861. 



THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. 493 

Nettleton, Joseph F., private company D, May 7, 1S61. Discharged, disability, 
July 4, 1861. 

Payton, John, private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged Aug. 7, 1861. 

Pullon, Pizarro, private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged August 
7; 1S61. 

Robertson, David, private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged Au- 
gust 7, 1S61. 

Robertson, John, private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged August 
7, 1861. 

Schyer, William, private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged August 
■7,1861. 

Sherman, George W., private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged 
August 7, 1861. 

Smith, Seymour M., private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged Au- 
gust 7, 1861. 

Smith, Ira B., private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged Aug. 7, 186 1. 

Squires, Frank, private company D, May 7, 1861 Honorably discharged August 
7, 1861. 

Stonck, William, j^rivate company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged August 
7, 1861. 

Tomlinson, Mark, private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged August 
7, 1S61. 

Tyther, William H., private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged Au- 
gust 7, 1861. 

Tyler, Joseph, private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged Aug. 7,1861. 

Whitney, Thomas B., private company D, May^, 1861. Honorably discharged Au- 
gust 7, 1861. 
. Wilbur, Warren, private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged August 
7, 1861. 

Wolfshon, Saul, private company D, May 7, 1861. Honorably discharged August 
7, 1861 

Whipple, James B., private company D, May 7, 1S61. Honorably discharged Au- 
gust 7, 1861. 

First Squadron of Cavalry, C V. 

Frederick Cronert, corporal company B, August 22, 1861. Re-enlisted veteran 
February 20. 1864. 

Bently, Samuel A., private company B, August 10. 1861. Discharged, disabled, June 
30, 1863, Washington, D. C. 

First Regiment Cavalry, C. V. 
Downes, John H., private company A, November 16, 1863. Mustered out June rg, 

1S65, Hartford, Conn. 
Richardson, Daniel L., private company A, April 7, 1864 Wounded and missing 

June 29, 1864, Ream's Station, Va. 
Van Dun, Charles, private company A, December 15, 1864. Deserted June 14, 1865. 
Williams, Peter T., private company A, Dec. 15, 1864. Deserted June 17, 1865. 
Eldridge, Colburn, second lieutenant company B, November 26, 1861. Promoted 

captain, died May 12, 1864, New Haven. Conn. 
James W. Chaffee, sergeant company B, November 2, 1861. Discharged, disabil- 

it)-, October 7, 1862. 



494 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

John H. Bristol, corporal company B, November 2, 1861. Promoted first lieuten- 
ant, mustered out August 2, 1S65, Washington. 

Barlock, David, private company B, November 25, 1861. Discharged July 12, 1S62. 

Delaney, Thomas, private company B, November 2, 1861. Discharged, disability, 
March 28, 1862. 

Dyer, Edward B., private company B, November i8, 1861. Promoted second lieu- 
tenant ; discharged March 6, 1865. 

Dyer, James C, private company B, November 2, i86r. Re-enlisted veteran Jan- 
uary I, 1864 ; mustered out August 2, 1865. 

Green, Shepard, private company B, November 14, 1861. Re-enlisted veteran 
January i, 1864 ; mustered out August 2, 1865. 

Lindley, Benjamin F., private company B, November 25, 1861. Re-enlisted veteran 
February 29, 1864; mustered out August 2, 1865. 

Monroe, Franklin H., private company B, Nov. 2, 1861. Discharged, term expired. 

Tomlinson, Perry, private company B, November 2, 1861. Re-enlisted veteran 
January 4, 1S64; mustered out September i, 1865. 

Wilber, Warren, private company B, November 14, 1861. Discharged November 
14, 1864, term e.xpired. 

Rolfe, Leander H., private company B, November 16, 1863. Mustered out August 
2, 1865, Washington, D. C. 

Sherman, Charles L., private company B, November 20, 1863. Mustered out Au- 
gust 2, 1865, Washington, D. C. 

Miller, Samuel, private company B, November i8, 1S63. Discharged, disability, 
April 26, 1865. 

Munson, Charles S., private company C, November 18, 1863. Killed June 5, 1864, 
Savage Station. * 

Farnum, John L., private company D, November 2, 1863. Discharged November 
2, 1864, term expired. 

Perry, George H., private company D, November 2, 1863. Re-enlisted veteran 
January 4, 1864 ; discharged, disability, June 22, 1865. 

Bristol, George L., private company D, January 20, 1864. Mustered out August 2, 
1865, Washington, D. C. 

Lindley, David, private company E, January 13, 1864. Mustered out August 2, 
1865, Washington, D. C. 

Chidsey, William PL, private company F., July 6, 1863. Deserted Feb. 3, 1864. 

Canfield, Benjamin T., private company I, December 7, 1863. Died January 13, 
1865, Salisbury, N. C. 

McGeary, Patrick, private company I, December 15, 1S64. Deserted Feb. 20, 1865. 

Wheeler, John, private company M, January 25, 1864. Died September 19, 1864, 
Andersonville, Ga. 

Hotchkiss, Robert G., private company M, May 14, 1864. Not taken on the rolls. 

First Light Battery, C. V. 
Gridley, Edwin, private, Nov. 20, 1S61. Discharged Nov. 19, 1864, term expired. 

Third Ijidependent Battery, C. V. 

Thomas S. Gilbert, captain, October 27, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1865, Rich- 
mond, Va. 

Henry Middlebrook, first lieutenant, October 27, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 
1865, Richmond, Va. 



THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. 495 

William C. Beecher, second lieutenant, November 2, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 
1S65, Richmond, Va. 

Joseph L. Barrett, corporal, September i, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1S65, Rich- 
mond, Va. 

Alonzo Beecher, corporal, September r, 1864. Died Nov. 25, 1S64, City Point, Va. 

Charles Riggs, corporal, Sept. 2, 1S64. Mustered out June 23, 1865, Richmond, Va. 

Joseph Bailey, corporal, Sept. 2, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1865, Richmond, Va. 

Thomas R. Dobbyn, corporal, October 15, 1864. Transferred to first Connecticut 
artillery June 22, 1865. 

Michael McKone, corporal, September i, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1865, Rich- 
mond, Va. 

Eugene Woodward, artificer, October 13, 1864. Transferred to first Connecticut 
artillery June 22, 1865. 

Bristol, Forest N., private, September i, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1865, Rich- 
mond, Va. 

Baldwin, Joshua, private, September 2, 1S64. Mustered out June 23, 1865, Rich- 
mond, Va. 

Baldwin, Elihu, private, Sept. 3, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1S65, Richmond, Va. 

Botsford, George, private, Sept. 6, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1865, Richmond, Va. 

Clark, David, private, Sept. i, 1S64. Mustered out June 23, 1865, Richmond, Va. 

Condon, John, private, Sept. 2, 1S64. Mustered out June 23, 1865, Richmond, Va. 

Childs, John, private, Sept. 5, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1865, Richmond, Va. 

Crane, Stephen, private, Sept. 5, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1865, Richmond, Va. 
=1" Clemens, Frank, H. private, September 5, 1S64. Mustered out June 23, 1865, Rich- 
mond, Va. 

Coleman, Thomas, private, September 6, 1864. • Mustered out June 23, 1865, Rich- 
mond, Va. 

Carey, John, private, Sept. 7, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1865, Richmond, Va. 

Galloway, William, private, September 6, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1865, Rich- 
mond, Va. 

Griffith, Charles H., private, September;, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1865, Rich- 
mond, Va. 

Gaggan, Dennis, private, Sept. 7, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1S65, Richmond, Va. 

Hayes, Patrick, private, Sept. i, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1865, Richmond, Va. 

Holohan, Patrick, private, September i, 1864. Deserted November 8, 1864. 

Hayes, Daniel, private, Sept. i, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1865, Richmond, Va. 

Hughs, Samuel, private, Sept. 5, 1864. Mus'ered out June 23, 1865, Richmond, Va. 

Hine, Dwight, private, Sept. 5, 1864. Mustered out June 2^, 1865, Richmond, Va. 

Homan, Archibald, private, September 6, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1865, Rich- 
mond, Va. 

Hayes, William P., private, October 26, 1S64. Transferred to first Connecticut 
artillery June 22, 1865. 

Johnson, Joseph, private, Sept. 5, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1865, Richmond, Va. 

Johnson, WMlliam W., private, October 25, 1864. Transferred to first Connecticut 
artillery June 22, 1865. 

Johnson, Kneeland, private, October 25, 1864. Transferred to first Connecticut 
artillery, June 22, 1865. 

McLaughlin, John, private, October 26, 1864. Deserted November 17, 1864. 

O'Connell, Thomas, private, September i, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1865, Rich- 
mond, Va. 



496 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Ould, James F., private, Sept. 5, 1864. Discharged Jan. 26, 1865, New Haven, Conn. 

Reynolds, John Y., private, September 2, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1864, Rich- 
mond, Va. 

Smith, Arthur E., private, September i, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1864, Rich- 
mond, Va. 

Shortal], John, private, Sept. 1, 1S64. Mustered- out June 23, 1864, Richmond, Va. 

Tracy, Thomas, private, Sept. 2, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1864, Richmond, Va. 

Ward, Charles T., private, October 15, 1864. Transferred to first Connecticut 
artillery June 22, 1865. 

First Regiment Heavy Artillery C. V. 
Leach, Edwin, musician, July 22, 1861. Mustered out July 17, 1862. 
Griffin, James H., private company A. January 4, 1S64. Mustered out September 

25, 1865, Washington, D. C. 
Scott, John, private company A, December 19, 1863. Deserted August i, 1865. 
Elisha S. Kellogg, captain company B, May 22, 1861. Pomoted major, lieutenant 

colonel, 19th Connecticut volunteers, August 11, 1862. 
Thomas S. Gilbert, first lieutenant company B, May 22, 1861. Promoted captain 

company A, resigned November i, 1862. 
George Ager, second lieutenant company B, May 22, 1861. Promoted lieutenant 

.colonel, mustered out September 25, 1865. 
William H. Brock, sergeant company B, May 22, 1861. Discharged May 21, 1864, 

term expired. 
Alexander Milligan, sergeant company B, May 22, 1861. Discharged May 21, 1864, 

term expired. 
Albert Karl, sergeant company B, May 22, 1861. Deserted December 6, 1861. 
Stephen Baldwin, sergeant company B, May 22, 1861. Promoted first lieutenant 

company G, resigned May 6, 1862. 
Peter Brooks, sergeant company B, May 22, i86r. Discharged May 21, 1864, term 

expired. 
George Stenernagel, corporal company B, May 22, 1861. Discharged disabled, 

December 31, 1862, Fort Richardson, Va. 
fohn M. Brown, corporal company B, May 22, 1861. Discharged May 21, 1864, 

term expired. 
William Beecher, corporal company B, May 22, 1861. Discharged, disability, 

August 14, 1862. 
David J. Gilbert, corporal company B, May 22,1861. Discharged May 21, 1864, 

term expired. 
Frank D. Bangs, corporal company B, May 22, 1861. Promoted captain, mustered 

out September 25, 1865, Washington, D. C. 
Charles D. Ailing, corporal company B, May 22, 1861. Discharged, disability, 

August 14, 1862. 
William Pride, corporal company B, May 22, 1861. Appointed brevet major, 

mustered out September 25, 1865. 
John E. Remer, corporal company B, May 22, 1861. Discharged May 21, 1864, 

term expired. 
Theodore Beeman, wagoner company B, May 22, 1861. Died December 7, 1862, 

Fort Ward, Va. 
Ailing, Edward, private company B, May 22, i86l. Discharged May 21, 1864, 

term expired 



THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. 497 

Billings, Henry, private company 15, May 22, i86r. Deserted September 7, 1861. 
Baldwin, Frank, private company B, May 22, 1861. Discharged May 21, 1864, 

term expired. 
Curtiss, Augustine B., private company B, JSLiy 22, 1S61. Discharged, disability, 

September 22, 1861, Darnestown, Md. 
Coleby, Thomas R., private company B, May 22, 1S61. Discharged May 21, 1S64, 

term expired. 
Corcoran, Dennis, private company B, May 22, 1S61. Discharged May 21, 1S64, 

time expired. 
Collins, John, private company B, May 22, 1861. Discharged May 21, 1864, term 

expired. 
Childs, Evlyn L., private company B, May 22, 1861. Discharged May 21, 1864, 

term expired. 
Clark, Lewis F., private company B, May 22, 1861. Discharged May 21, 1864, 

term expired. 
Doolittle, William H., private company B, May 22, 1861. Re-enlisted veteran, 

December 30, 1863, mustered out September 25, 1865. 
Doane, Henry C, private company B, May 22, 1861. Discharged May 21, 1864, 

term expired. 
Donahue, James, private company B, May 22, 1S61. Discharged May 21, 1S64, 

term expired. 
Dean, Charles C, private company B, May 22, 1S64. Discharged May 21, 1864, 

term expired. 
Fairchild, Marcus F., private company B, May 22, 1S64. Discharged May 21, 1864, 

term expired. 
Gardiner, Dwighf, private company B, May 22, 1861. Died May 20, 1S62, ^'ork- 

town, Va. 
Gahaghan, Dennis, private company B, May 22, iS6r. Discharged May 21, 1864, 

term expired. 
Hurd, William W., private company B, May 22, 1861. Discharged May 21, 1S64, 

term expired. 
Jones, Alexander, private company B, May 22, 1861. Discharged May 2r, 1S64, 

term expired. 
Kinney, James B., private company 15, May22, 1861. Discharged May 21, 1S64, 

term expired. 
Light, George W., private Company B, May 22, 1861. Discharged May 21, 1864, 

term expired. 
Larkin, Matthew, private company B, May 22, 1S61. Deserted August 28, 1862. 
Lesure, Alonzo, private company B, May 22, 1861. Discharged May 21, 1864, term 

expired. 
Maher, William, private company B, May 22, 1861. Discharged, disability, Novem- 
ber, 30, 1S61, Williamsport, Md. 
McGovern, Peter, private company B, May 22, 1861. Discharged May 21, 1864, 

term expired. 
McKenzie, James, private company B, May 22, 1861. Discharged May 21, 1864, 

term expired. 
Morris, John, private company 15, May 22, 1864. Discharged May 21, 1864, term 

expired. 
Magill, James, private company B, May 22, 1864. Discharged May 21, 1864, term 

expired. 

63 



498 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Moneghan, Frank, private company B, May 22, 1861. Discharged May 21, 1864, 

term expired. 
Merman, Thomas, private company B, May 22, 1S61. Discharged May 21, 1864, 

term expired. 
Miller, John, private company B, May 22, 1S61. Discharged May 21, 1S64, term 

expired. 
Morse, Nathan T., private company B, May 22, 1S61. Discharged May 21, 1864, 

term expired. 
Morand, Patrick, private company B, May 22, 1861. Died August 20, 1862, Phila- 
delphia, Penn. 
Peck, Edward W., private company B, May 22, 1S61. Discharged May 21, 1864, 

term expired. 
Pennefeather, John, private company B, May 22, 1S61. Discharged May 21, 1864, 

term expired. 
Richardson, Charles J., private company B, May 22, 1861. Discharged May 21^ 

1864, term expired. 

Riggs, Charles, private company B, May 22, 1861. Discharged May 21, 1864, term 

expired. 
Sheldon, Francis, private company B, May 22, 1861. Discharged, disability, Sep- 
tember 22, 1861, Darnestown, Md. 
Street, Charles, private company B, May 22, 1S61. Discharged, disability, October 

14, 1861, Darnestown, Md. 
Spencer, Hiram P., private company B, May 22, 1861. Discharged May 21, 1864, 

term expired. 
Stoddard, William A., private company B, May 22, 1861. Discharged May 21, 1864, 

term expired. 
Spencer, Henry, private company B, May 22, 1861. Discharged May 21, 1S64, term 

expired. 
Schully, Michael, private company B, May 22, 1861. Re-enlisted veteran, January 

I, 1864, deserted July 26, 1865. 
Shorttell, Cullum, private company B, May 22, 1861. Discharged May 21, 1S64, 

term expired. 
Sharp, David W., private company B, May 22, 1861. Re-enlisted veteran, January 

I, 1864, mustered out September 25, 1865. 
Sheldon, Sperry M., private company B, February 28, 1862. Re-enlisted veteran, 

March 15, 1864, mustered out September 25, 1865. 
Traver, Theodore W., private company B, May 22, 1861. Deserted August 10, 

1861. 
Thompson, James A., private company B, May 22, 1861. Discharged May 21, 1864, 

term expired. 
Tiffany, Luke, private company B, May 22, 1861. Re-enlisted veteran December 

28, 1863, mustered out September 25, 1865. 
Clancy, Patrick, private company B, March 14, 1862. Discharged March 13, 1865, 

term expired. 
Fitzsimmons, James, private company B, March 14, 1S62. Discharged March 13, 

1865, term expired. 

Foley, Edward, private company B, March 14, 1862. Discharged March 13, 1S65, 

term expired. 
Griffin, Walter, private company B, March 14, 1862. Discharged March 13, 1S65, 

term expired. 



THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. 499 

Miller, John W., private company B, March 14, 1S62. Promoted second lieutenant, 
mustered out September 25, 1865. 

Miller, Alexander, private company 15, March 14, 1862. Discharged March 13, 1865, 
term expired. 

Nettleton, Charles P., private company 1!, May 31, 1862. Discharged March 30, 
1865, term expired. 

Baker, Robert S., private company B, February 18, 1864. Mustered out February 
25, 1865, Washington, D. C. 

Hays, William P., private company B., October 26, 1864. Transferred from third 
Connecticut battery, discharged, disability August 7, 1865, Fort Lyon. 

Johnson, Kneeland, private company B, October 26, 1864. Transferred from third 
Connecticut battery, mustered out September 25, 1865, Washington, D. C. 

Johnson, William W., private company B, October 26, 1864. Transferred from 
third Connecticut battery, mustered out September 25, 1865, Washington, 
D.C. 

Woodward, Eugene, private company B, October 13, 1864. Transferred from third 
Connecticut battery, mustered out September 25, 1865, Washington, D. C. 

Truesdale, Lucius B., private company D, November 27, 1863. Killed in action 
September 12, 1864, Petersburg. 

Quinn, John, private company D, April 11, 1862. Discharged April 11, 1865, term 
expired. 

Butterworth, George, private company F, March i, 1862. Re-enlisted veteran 
March i, 1864 ; mustered out September 25, 1865, Washington, D. C. 

Blake, Harvey E., private company G, March 22, 1863. Mustered out September 
25, 1865, Washington, D. C. 

Fitzsinimons, Christopher, private company H, November 21, 1S63. Mustered 
out September 25, 1865, Washington, D. C. 

Steele, Mason A., private company H, Nov. 28, 1863. Deserted August 2, 1865. 

Fitzsimmons, Joseph, private company I, December i, 1864. Died August 16, 1864, 
regimental hospital. 

Gilbert, Henry W., private company I, November 27, 1863. Mustered out Septem- 
ber 25, 1865, Washington, D. C. 

Goodall, George W., private company I, December 14, 1863. Mustered out Sep- 
tember 25, 1865, Washington, D. C. 

Gilbert, Zachariah L., private company I, December 22, 1863. Mustered out Sep- 
tember 25, 1S65, Washington, D. C. 

Huntley, James F., private company I, December 17, 1863. Died August 8, 1864, 
regimental hospital. 

Johnson, Charles, private company I, November 27, 1863. Mustered out September 
25, 1865, Washington, D. C. 

Jackson, Franklin D., private company I, December 21, 1861. Mustered out Sep 
tember 25, 1865, Washington, D. C. 

Knocks, William, private company I, November 27, 1863. Mustered out Septem- 
ber 25, 1865, Washington, D. C. 

Casey, Timothy, private company K, December iS, 1863. Mustered out September 
25, 1865, Washington, D. C. 

McClusky, Arthur, private company K, November 30, 1863. Mustered out Sep- 
tember 25, 1865, Washington, 1). C. 

Murphy, Richard, private company K, December 3, 1863. Mustered out September 
25, 1865, Washington, 1). C. 



500 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Montague, Thomas, private company K, February lo, 1864. Mustered out Septem- 
ber 25, 1865, Washington, D. C. 

O'SuUivan, Timothy, private company K, December 16, 1863. Mustered out Sep- 
tember 25, 1865, Washington, D. C. 

Dobbyn, Thomas R., private company L, October 15, 1864. Transferred from 
third Connecticut battery, mustered out September 25, 1865, Washington, D. C. 

Smith, Benjamin, private company L, December 3, 1863. Died October 10, 1864, 
Broadway Landing, Va. 

Griffin, Harrison, private company M, February 21, 1862. Re-enlisted veteran Feb- 
ruary 5, 1S64, deserted July 29, 1S65. 

Newey, Arthur B., private company M, July 7, 1862. Deserted July 31, 1S63. 

Reiley, Edward, private company M, April 9, 1862. Deserted July 7, 1863. 

Second Regiment Hca7'y Artillery, C. V. 
Elisha S. Kellogg, lieutenant colonel, August 11, 1862. Promoted colonel, killed 

Cold Harbor, Va., June i, 1864. 
Beach, Erwin C, private company D, December 8, 1863. Deserted Sept. 19, 1S64. 
Kirkham, Gilford M., private company F, Jan. 25, 1864. Mustered out August 18, 

1865, Washington, D. C. 
Little, Patrick, private company M, January 25, 1864. Mustered out August 18, 

1865, Washington, D. C. 
Riley, Bernard, private company M, January 21, 1S64. Mustered out August 18, 

1865, Washington, D. C. 

Fifth Regiment Infantry, C. V. 

Andrews, John M., private company A, July 25, 1863. Deserted October 5, 1863. 

Cooper, James, private company A, July 25, 1863. Mustered out July 19, 1865, 
Alexandria, Va. 

Caughlin, Thomas, private company A, July 23, 1863. Mustered out July 19, 1865, 
Alexandria, Va. 

Clark, Frank, private company A, July 25, 1863. Mustered out July 19, 1865, 
Alexandria, Va. 

Hutchinson, William, private company A, July 25, 1863. Deserted June 23, 1865. 

Smith, John, private company A, July 25, 1863. Mustered out July 19, 1865, Alex- 
andria, Va. 

Bassett, William F., private company B, July 22, 1863. Deserted. 

Mullar, Hendrick, private company B, July 25, 1863. Deserted September i, 1863, 

Riley, Michael, private company B, July 25, 1863. Wounded July 20, 1864, mus- 
tered out July 19, 1865. 

Scott, William, private company B, July 25, 1S63. Mustered out June 19, 1865, 
Hartford, Conn. 

Thomas, Edmond, private company B. Deserted May 12, 1864. 

Carr, Thomas, private company C, July 22, 1861. Deserted January 5, 1863. 

McDermott, James, private company C, July 22, 1861. Discharged November 3, 
1863, New Haven, Conn. 

Morrison, James, private company C, July 22, 1861. Died. 

Noyes, D. Pardee, corporal company D, July 22, 1861. Discharged July 21, 1864, 
term expired. 

Wilcox, John, private company 1), July 25, 1863. Killed May 15, 1S64, Resaca, Ga. 

Werner, Frederick, private company D, July 25, 1863. Deserted Sept. 3, 1863. 



THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. 5OI 

Johnson, William, private company E, July 22, i86j. Mustered out May 21, 1S64. 

Quinn, John M., private company K, July 22, 1863. Deserted July 25, 1864. 

Koerner, Louis, private company F, July 25, 1S63. Mustered out July 3, 1865, An- 
napolis, Md. 

Williams, Charles, private company G, July 25, 1863. Deserted October 2, 1S63. 

McDonald, Patrick, private company G, July 22, 1863. Re-enlisted veteran Decem- 
ber 21, 1863, mustered out July 19, 1865. 

Crawford, William, private company I, July 25, 1863. Mustered out July 19, i86t;, 
Alexandria, Va. 

Sixt/i Jyi'gi/nciit Infantry, C. I\ 

Henry, Greatorex, musician, September 13, i86r. Mustered out September i, 1S62. 

McBrine, James, private company B. January 28, 1862. Wounded July 18, 1S63, 
transferred V. R. C, January 5, 1865. 

Wangroth, Francis, private company H, September 9, 1861. Discharged Septem- 
ber II, 1864, term expired. 

Dimon, Frederick ]]., private company I, September 5, 1861. Discharged Septem- 
ber II, 1864, term expired. 

Spencer, Edward, private company I, September 2, 1S64. Deserted April 10, 1S65. 

Sci'Ciith Regiment Infantry, C. V. 

Williams, John, private company A, November 28, 1S64. Deserted June 24, 1S65. 

English, Joseph, private company D, September 5, 1861. Wounded October 22, 
1862; discharged September 12, 1864, term expired. 

Felch, Frederick A., private company D, September 5, 1861. Re-enlisted veteran ; 
killed at Drury's Bluff, May 16, 1864. 

Roberts, John, private company D, September 5, 1861. Wounded October 22, 1862 ; 
discharged, disability, February 4, 1863. 

Cohen, Henry, private company E, September 7, i86i. Wounded, re-enlisted vet- 
eran December 22, 1863, mustered out July 20, 1865. 

Henry B. Lee, sergeant company F, September 9, 1861. Re-enlisted veteran, pro- 
moted second lieutenant company F, killed August 16, 1864. 

Charles E. Barker, sergeant company F, September 9, 1861. Promoted first lieu- 
tenant company E, killed August 14, 1864. 

Julius G. Beach, corporal company F, September 9, 1861. Re-enlisted December 
22, 1863, promoted second lieutenant, mustered out July 20, 1865. 

Cornish, Oscar W., private company F, September 9, 1861. Discharged Septem- 
ber 12, 1864, term expired. 

Davis, Benjamin, private company F, September g, 1861. Re-enlisted veteran 
January 2, 1864, mustered out July 20, 1865. 

Kinney, Andrew H., private company F, September 9, 1861. Re-enlisted veteran 
December 22, 1863, promoted first lieutenant, mustered out July 20, 1865. 

Davis, Chester, private company F, September 9, 1861. Re-enlisted veteran, de- 
serted May 12, 1864. 

Smith, George H., private company F, September 9, 1861. Re-enlisted veteran 
December 22, 1863, wounded, mustered out July 20, 1865. 

Smith, Matthew, private company F, September 9, 1861. Wounded February 20, 
1864, discharged September 8, 1864, term expired. 

Wolfsohn, Saul, private company V, September 9, 1861. Transferred to veteran 
reserve corps May 15, 1864. 



502 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Woodruff, Oscar L., private company F, September 9, 1861. Re-enlisted veteran 
January 2, 1864, mustered out July 20, 1865. 

Aggett, Rufus, private company I, September 13, 1861. Re-enlisted veteran, De- 
cember 23, 1863, mustered out July 19, 1865. 

Kane, John, private company I, November 29, 1864. Mustered out July 20, 1865, 
Goldsboro, N. C. 

Smith, Richard, private company K., December i, 1864. Mustered out July 20, 1865, 
Goldsboro, N. C. 

Eighth Regiment Infant)-}', C. V. 

Ward, Bennett, private company D, July 25, 1863. Mustered out June 8, 1865, 
Petersburg, Va. 

N'iiith Regiment Infantry, C. V. 

Joseph Gahagan, sergeant company A, September 27, 1861. Died August 8, 1862, 

New Orleans, La. 
Dunn, John, private company A, October 4, 1861. Discharged November 27, 1862. 
Larkins, Patrick, private company A, September 17, 1861. Died August 21, 1862, 

New Orleans, La. 
Thomas Haley, sergeant company E, September 27, 1861. Promoted captain, 

mustered out October 26, 1864. 
Michael Dolan, corporal company E, September 27, 1861. Re-enlisted veteran, 

February 28, 1864, mustered out August 3, 1865. 
Crowley, John, private company E, September 27, 1861. Died September 30, 1862, 

at Carrollton, La. 
Dolan, James, private company E, October 12, 1861. Wounded, re-enlisted veteran, 

January 6, 1864, mustered out August 3, 1865. 
Healey, John, private company E, October 30, 1861. Re-enlisted veteran, January 

6, 1864, mustered out August 3, 1865. 
Hefferan, Edward, private company E, September 27, 1S61. Discharged, disability 

November 20, 1862. 
Lawler, John, private company E, October 4, 1861. Re-enlisted veteran February 

28, 1864, mustered out August 3, 1865. 
McNally, Jimes, private company E, September 27, 1S61. Re-enlisted veteran 

January 6, 1864, deserted July 16, 1864. 
Ryan, Cornelius, private company E, September 27, 1861. Died September 27, 

1863, at New Orleans, La. 
Ryan, James, private company E, September 27, 1861. Died August 20, 1862, at 

Baton Rouge, La. 
Shea, James, private company E, October 17, 1861. Discharged October 26, 1S64, 

term expired. 
Crowley, Timothy, private company E, November 25, 1861. Re-enlisted veteran 

February 28, 1864, mustered out August 3, 1863. 
Maher, John, private company E, November 25, 1861. Died at New Orleans, La., 

August 14, 1862. 
Naylor, Michael, private company E, November 25, 1861. Re-enlisted veteran 

January 6, 1864; deserted July 16, 1S64. 
Whelan, Bernard, private company E, October 4, 1861. Re-enlisted veteran January 

6, 1864; deserted July 16, 1S64. 
Curtiss, Edward IL, private company F, June 27, 1864. Transferred to company 

C; deserted January i, 1S65. 



THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. 503 

Goodall, William, private company I, October i, 1S61. Re-enlisted veteran February 

28, 1S64; transferred to company D; died March 8, 1865. 
Kilgariff, Martin, private company I, October i, 1S61. Died October 16, 1S62, 

New Orleans, La. 
Brown, William, private company K, June 2, 1S62. Re-enlisted veteran January 6, 

1864; Died May 11, 1S64, New Haven. 
Clark, Frank, private company K, May 26, 1862. Re-enlisted veteran January 6, 

1S64; transferred to company D; mustered out August 3, 1865. 
Cronan, Patrick, private company K, May 24, 1862. Re-enlisted veteran January 6, 

1864; transferred to company D, mustered out August 3, 1865. 
Downey, Michael, private company K, April 8, 1862. Died June 22, 1862, Baton 

Rouge, La. 
Kelley, John, private company K, May 26, 1862. Re-enlisted veteran, January 6, 

1864, transferred to company D, mustered out August 3, 1865. 
McGonigal, Charles, private company K, May 27, 1862. Re-enlistcd veteran, 

January 6, 1864, transferred to company D, mustered out August 3, 1865. 
Reilman, Jacob, private company K, May 29, 1S62. Re-enlisted veteran, January 6, 

1864, transferred to company D, mustered out August 3, 1865. 

Sullivan, John 2d, private company K, June 11,1862. Re-enlisted veteran, January 

6, 1864, deserted March 25, 1864. 
Whistler, John, private company K, March 9, 1863. Re-enlisted veteran, ^anuary 

6, 1864, transferred company D, mustered out August 3, 1S65. 

Tenth Rcginwiit I/tfaittiy, C. V. 
Charles L. Russell, colonel, October 26, iS6i. Killed February 8, 1S62, at Roanoke 

Island, N. C. 
T. Benjamin Canfield, musician, October 26, 1S61. Mustered out August 30, 1862. 
Guilford M. Kirkham, musician, October 9, 1861. Mustered out August 30, 1862. 
James S. Engles, sergeant, September 21, 1861. Promoted captain, mustered out 

October 16, 1864. 
Mark Tomlinson, sergeant, September 21, 1S61. Promoted first lieutenant, dismissed 

September 18, 1863. 
Frank Hawkins, sergeant, September 27, 1S61. Promoted captain, died June 22, 

1865, Richmond, Va. 

Francis G. Hickerson, sergeant, October 2, 1S61. Promoted major, mustered out 

August 25, 1865. 
Daniel W. Boardman, corporal, September 27, 1861. Re-enlisted veteran, wounded, 

promoted captain, mustered out August 25, 1865. 
Isaac J. Kirkham, musician, October 2r, 1861. Discharged, disability, July 5, 

1862. 
Beach, Dan. ¥., private company A, September 27, 1861. Discharged, disability, 

December ig, 1861. 
Beach, Joseph W., private company A, September 27, 1S61. Wounded December 

14, 1862, discharged October 7, 1864, term expired. 
Doolittle, Merritt E., private company A, September 21, 1861. Discharged October 

7, 1864, term expired. 

Durand, David, private company A, September 21, 1861. Wounded May 14, 1S64, 

discharged September 23, 1864, term expired. 
Kellogg, John B., private company A, September 27, 1861. Discharged October 7, 

1864, term expired. 



504 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Kirkham, Leverett G., private company A, October 9, 1861. Discharged, disability, 

December 12, 1862. 
Sparks, William H., private company A, September 21, 1861. Discharged October 

7, 1864, term expired. 
Tyler, Joseph, private company A, September 21, 1861. Re-enlisted veteran, 

January i, 1864, mustered out August 25, 1865. 
Jones, David, private company E, November i, 1864. Deserted November 23, 1864. 
Bartholomew, Pliny, private company H, October 14, 1861. Died February 17, 1862, 

of wounds received February 8, 1862. 
Paschell, John, private company H, December 23, 1864. Deserted March 18, 1865. 
Smith, Lyman, private company H, November 12, 1864. Deserted November 12, 

1864. 
Smith, James, private company H, November 11, 1S61. Mustered out July 15, 1865, 

Fort Monroe, Va. 
Wilcoxson, George, private company K, October 22, iS6r. Discharged October 7, 

1864, term expired. 

Eleventh Regiment Infantry, C. V. 

Charles Wood, musician company C, October 23, 1861. Discharged, disability, 
August 31, 1862. 

Alsteidt, Joseph, private company C, November 25, 1864. Mustered out December 
21,1865, City Point, Va. 

Fitzpatrick, Kearn, private company E, September 19, 1862. Died September 6, 
1864. 

Grimes, Thomas, private company E, February 24, 1S64. Captured May 16, 1864, 
not since heard from. 

Morris T. Bray, second lieutenant company G, November 27, 1861. Promoted cap- 
tain, resigned March 25, 1863. 

Sa.\eberg, Frederick, private company K, November 15, 1864. Deserted September 
15, 1865. 

Tzuelfth Regiment Infantry, C. V. 

Ledyard Colburn, lieutenant colonel, December 31, 1S61. Promoted colonel, re- 
signed June 29, 1864. 

Mitchell, William E., private company C, November 20, 1S61. Drowned P'ebruary 
22, 1863, La Fourche Crossing. 

Cummins, Thomas, private company E, March 10, 1864. Deserted May 22, 1865. 

Hubbard, Stephen, private company I, December 31, 1861. Rc-enlisted veteran, 
January i, 1864, died February 6, 1865- 

Thirteenth Regiment Infantry, C. V. 
Coleman, John, private company H, March 5, 1S62. Discharged, disability, May 23, 

1862. 
Hazen, Edmund, private company If, January 22, 1S62. Discharged, disability. 

May 23, 1862. 
Riggs, Charles S., private company H, November 27, 1861. Discharged January 6, 

1865, term expired. 

Fifteenth Regiment Infantry, C. V. 
Kenneday, Michael, private company H, August 5, 1864. Transferred seventh 
Connecticut volunteers, mustered out July 20, 1865. 



THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. 505 

Morris, John, private company K, August 31, 1864. Transferred to seventli C. V., 
mustered out July 20, 1865, Goldsboro, N. C. 

Tivcnticth Regiment Infantry, C. V. 
William B. Wooster, lieutenant colonel, August 22, 1862. Promoted colonel August 

29, 1862. 
Alvah L. Frisbie, chaplain, August 27, 1S63. Resigned June 9, 1864. 
Mason, Isaac, private company A, July 25, 1S63. Mustered out May 22, 1865, 

Murfreesboro, Tenn. 
Sandford E. Chaffee, captain company B, September 8, 1862. Discharged, disabil- 
ity, November 13, 1S63. 
John H. Doolittle, first lieutenant company B, September 8, 1862. Promoted cap- 
tain, honorably discharged April 4, 1865. 
James Foley, second lieutenant company B, September 8, 1862. Promoted cap- 
tain, mustered out June 13, 1865. 
George W. Sherman, sergeant company B, August 7 , 1862. Promoted second 

lieutenant, wounded, dismissed January 8, 1864. 
Seymour M. Smith, sergeant company B, August 5, 1S62. Killed in action March 

16, 1865, Silver Run, N. C. 
William H. Corwin, sergeant company B, August 6, 1862. Wounded March 19, 

1865, mustered out June 13, 1865. 
Joseph Killingbeck, sergeant company B, August 5, 1862. Wounded May 3, 1863, 

mustered out June 13, 1865. 
James E. Buckley, corporal company B, August 4, 1862. Wounded March 19, 1865, 

mustered out June 13, 1865. 
Lewis V. Hubbard, corporal company B, August 4, 1862. Mustered out June 13, 

1865, Washington, D. C. 
Pizarro S. Pullon, corporal company B, August 5, 1862. Mustered out June 13, 

1865, Washington, D. C. 
Edward Root, corporal company B, August 13, 1862. Wounded, promoted second 

lieutenant, mustered out (as sergeant) June 13, 1865. 
William H. Tyther, corporal company B, August 4, 1862. Discharged, disability, 

August 12, 1863, Washington, D. C. 
Wales Terrell, corporal company B, August 6, 1862. Mustered out June 13, 1865, 

Washington, D. C. 
John E. Royce, corporal company B, August 6, 1862. Promoted captain, mustered 

out June 13, 1865, Washington, D. C. 
Jabez Weaver, corporal company B, August 6, 1862. Transferred veteran reserve 

corps, mustered out July 3, 1865. 
Charles E. Lvon, musician company B, August 4, 1862. Died November 3, 1862, 

London Valley, Va. 
Charles N. Chatfield, wagoner company B, August 6, 1862. Mustered out June 13, 

1865, Washington, D. C. 
Arnold, Edwin, private company B., Aug. 13, 1862. Died Jan. 27, 1863, Derb}-, Conn. 
Arnold, William, private company B, August 6, 1862. Mustered out Juue 13, 1865, 

Washington, D. C. 
Adamson, James, private company B, August 6, 1862. Mustered out June 13, 1865, 

Washington, D. C. 
Bradley, Elwin N., private company B, August 5, 1862. Mustered out June 13, 

1865, Washington, D. C. 
64 



506 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Baker, Scott, private company B, August 6, 1862. Mustered out June 13, 1865, 

Washington, D. C. 
Byington, Charles E., private company B, August 4, 1862. Killed in action March 

19, 1865, Bentonville, N. C. 
Brown, Peleg T., private company B, August 5, 1862. Mustered out June 13, 1865, 

Washington, D. C. 
Brown, Charles H., private company B, August 4, 1862. Wounded July 20, 1864, 

mustered out June 13, 1865. 
Brown, Edward, private company B, August 4, 1862. Mustered out June 13, 1865, 

Washington, I). C. 
Brown, William J., private company B, August 6, 1862. Killed July 20, 1864, 

Peach Tree Creek, Ga. 
Bourchier, Patrick, private company B, August 2, 1862. Discharged, disability, 

April 16, 1863, Stafford Court House, Va. 
Baldwin, William, private company B, August 5, 1862. Wounded July 25, 1864, 

mustered out June 13, 1865. 
Booth, Joseph N., private company B, August 13, 1862. Discharged, disability, 

February 20, 1865, Indianapolis, Ind. 
Botsford, John, private company B, August 4, 1S62. Mustered out June 13, 1S65, 

Washington, D. C. 
Bronson, Harvey R., private company B, August 4, 1S62. Wounded July 3, 1863, 

mustered out June 13, 1865. 
Baldwin, William A., private company B, August 5, 1862. Mustered out June 13, 

1S65, Washington, D. C. 
Beach, John J., private company B, August 4, 1862. Mustered out June 13, 1865, 

\yashington, D. C. 
Curtiss, Franklin A., private company B, August 4, 1862. Mustered out June 13, 

1S65, Washington, D. C. 
Cotter, James P., private company B, August 7, 1862. Transferred veteran reserve 

corps September 17, 1S64, mustered out July 5, 1865. 
Colt, Charles, private company B, August 4, 1862. Mustered out June i, 1865, 

Hartford, Conn. 
Davidson, Nathan, private company B, August 7, 1862. Killed July 20, 1S64, 

Peach Tree Creek, Ga. 
Eggleston, Edward H., private company B, August 5, 1862. Wounded May 3, 1S63, 

transferred to invalid corps March 15, 1864. 
Gillon, Daniel, private company B, August 4, 1862. Transferred to veteran reserve 

corps, discharged, disability , June 11, 1865. 
Gilbert, George L., private company B, August 6, 1862. Mustered out June 13, 

1865, Washington, D. C. 
Hoadley, Joseph, private company B, August 6, 1862. Discharged, disability, Au- 
gust 28, 1S63, Washington, D. C. 
Hawley, Theodore, private company B, August 7, 1S62. Mustered out June 13, 

1S65, Washington, D. C. 
Ineson, Joseph, private company B, August 2, 1862. Wounded July 20, 1864, dis- 
charged, disability, February 20, 1865. 
Johnson, Jerome, private company B, August 4, 1862. Mustered out June 13, 1865, 

Washington, D. C. 
Johnson, Sheldon P., private company B, August 4, 1862. Died of wounds March 

27, 1865, Averysboro, N. C. 



THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. 507 

Keeney, Walter S., private company B, August 4, 1S62. Transferred to invalid corps 
July I, 1863. 

Keeney, Charles L., private company B, August 4, 1S62. Mustered out June 13, 
1S65, Washington, D. C. 

Keeney, James, private company B, August 4, 1862. Mustered out June 13, 1S65, 
Washington, D. C. 

Lewis, Judson, private company B, August 6, 1S62. Died Feljruary 21, 1863, Staf- 
ford Court House, Va. 

Larkin, John, private company B, August 2, 1862. Discharged, disability, Septem- 
ber 26, 1863, Washington, D. C. 

Lindley, Walter P., private company B, August 5, 1862. Killed at Turner's Ford. 
Ga., August 27, 1864. 

Lay, Jesse, private company B, August 6, 1S62. Mustered out June 13, 1S65, Wash- 
ington, D. C. 

Moore, Samuel, private company B, August 4, 1862. Mustered out June 13, 1S65, 
Washington, D. C. 

Maver, Henry, private company B, August 2, 1S62. Died April 10, 1865, Goldsboro, 
N. C. 

Mellor, Samuel, private company B, August 4, 1S62. Mustered out June 13, 1S65, 
Washington, D C. 

Martindale, Robert, private company B, August 5, 1862. Killed July 23, 1S64, At- 
lanta, Ga. 

Meara, Noyes W., private company B, August 4, 1862. Wounded May 3, 1863, 
mustered out June 13, 1865, 

Moulthrop, Evelin E., private company B, August 13, 1862. Died of wounds Au- 
gust 30, 1864. 

Messella, Twain, private company B, August 13, 1862. Mustered out June 13, 1865, 
Washington, D. C. 

North, John L., private company B, August 6, 1862. Mustered out June 13, 1S65, 
Washington, D. C. 

Rowell, David B., private company B., August 4, 1862. Died January 21, 1864, 
wounds received Tracy City, Tenn. 

Rugg, William, private company B, August 4, 1862, Wounded July 20, 1864, dis- 
charged, disability. May 17, 1865. 

Redshaw, Thomas, private company B, August 13, 1862. Killed July 3, 1863, Get- 
tysburg, Penn. 

Rogers, Hiram M., private company B, August 5, 1S62. Wounded March 19, 1865, 
mustered out June 19, 1865. 

Smith, James, private company B, August 6, 1862. Discharged, disability, Feb. 14, 
1863, Washington, D. C. 

Stocking, .Summerfield S., private company B, August 4, 1862. Mustered out June 
13, 1S65, Washington, D. C. 

Stocking, Omer C, private company B, August 4, 1862. Mustered out June 13^ 
1865, Washington, D. C. 

Studley, Enoch P., private comjjany B.August 5, 1862. Mustered out June 13, 1865, 
Washington, D. C. 

Studley, John P., private company B, August 4, 1862. Mustered out June 13, 1865, 
Washington, D. C. 

Sloan, William, private company B, August 6, 1862. Mustered out June 13, 1865, 
Washington, D. C. 



508 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Smith, P'riend H., private company B, August 5, 1862. Wounded March 16, 1865, 
discharged, disability, June 30, 1865. 

Smith, Arthur E., private company B, August 4, 1862. Discharged, disability, De- 
cember 10, 1S62, Harper's Ferry. 

Smith, George, private company B, August 4, 1862. Discharged, disability, April 2, 
1863, Providence, R. I. 

Worthington, Thomas E., private company B, August 2, 1862. Mustered out June 
13, 1865, Washington, D. C. 

Wood, Charles H., private company B, August 6, 1862. Mu-stered out June 13, 
1865, Washington, D. C. 

Whiting, Julius E., private company B, August 4, 1862. Mustered out July 5, 1865, 
Hartford, Conn. 

Warriner, Marcus M., private company B, August 13, 1S62. Mustered out June 13, 
1865, Washington, D. C. 

Walsh, Owen, private company B, August 6, 1862. Mustered out June 13, 1865, 
Washington, D. C. 

Wheelan, Franklin, private company B, August 5, 1862. Discharged, disability, 
October 9, 1863, Washington, D. C. 

Freeman, Simon, private company B, February 27, 1864. Transferred to fifth C.V., 
mustered out July 19, 1865. 

Moore, Jesse, private company B, February 24, 1864. Wounded, transferred to 
fifth C. v., mustered out July 19, 1865. 

Anderson, Thomas, private company C, July 25, 1865. Transferred fifth C. V., 
mustered out July 19, 1865, Alexandria, Va. 

Key, Charles, private company C, January 27, 1865. Transferred fifth C. V., mus- 
tered out July 19, 1865, Alexandria, Va. 

Delancey, Thomas, private company F, August 8, 1862. Deserted September 16, 
1863. 

Hotchkiss, William A., private company F, August 16, 1862. Wounded May 3, 
1863, discharged, disability, December 10, 1863. 

Quirk, Thomas, private company F, August 14, 1862. Mustered out June 13, 1865, 
Washington, D. C. 

Welch, John, private company F, January 5, 1864. Transferred to fifth C. V., mus- 
tered out June 13, 1865. 

Dunn, James, private company G, August 24, 1863. Accidentally killed November 
9, 1863, Stevenson, Ala. 

Ambrose E. Beardsley, second lieutenant company H, August 15, 1862. Promoted 
captain March 5, 1864, mustered out June 13, 1865. 

David N. Griffiths, sergeant company H, August 6, 1862. Promoted second lieu- 
tenant, killed May 3, 1863, Chancellorsville, Va. 

Ailing, Henry G., private company H, Sept. 20, 1862. Mustered out June 13, 1865, 
Washington, D. C. 

Cronan, Patrick, private company H, August 20, 1862. Wounded May 3, 1863, 
mustered out June 13, 1865. 

Duncan, John N., private company H, August 30, 1862. Wounded May 3, 1863, 
mustered out June 13, 1865. 

Foley, John, private company H, August 30, 1862. Killed May 3, 1863, Chancel- 
lorsville, Va. 

Fagan, Lawrence, private company H, August 30, 1862. Wounded May 3, 1863, 
mustered out June 13, 1865. 



THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. 5O9 

Finegan, John, jirivate company H, September i, 1S62. Killed May 3, 1X63, Chan- 
cellorsville, Va. 

Garner, Thomas, j)rivate comjjany li, August 30, 1862. Killed May 3, 1863, Chan- 
cellorsville, Va. 

Hutchinson, Amon, private comj^any II, August 30, 1862. Mustered out June 13, 
1865, Washington, I). C. 

McManus, Terrence, private company H, September i, 1862. Discharged, disabil- 
ity, December 10, 1862. 

Reed, Peter, private company H, September i, 1862. Wounded May 3, 1863, 
mustered out June 13, 1S65. 

Riley, Patrick, private company H, August 30, 1862. Mustered out June 13, 1865, 
Washington, D. C. 

Whymbs, John D., private company II, August 20, 1862. Mustered out June 13, 
1863, Washington, D. C. 

Ezra Sprague, second lieutenant company K, September 8, 1S62. Promoted cap- 
tain, mustered out June 13, 1865, Washington, D. C. 

McCarthy, William, private company K, July 25, 1863. Wounded, transferred to 
fifth C. v., mustered out July 19, 1865 

Helm, Emile, private company K, July 25, 1863. Transferred to fifth C. V., mus- 
tered out July 19, 1865. 

Scott, John, private company K, July 25, 1863. Transferred to fifth C. V., mustered 
out July 19, 1865. 

Henry Young, private company K, July 25, 1863. Wounded, transferred to fifth 
C. v.. mustered out July 19, 1865. 

Twciityihird Rt'i^inic'iit Infantry, C. V. 

John Jackson, quarter-master, August 25, 1862. Resigned February 24, 1S63. 
David T. Johnson, captain company F, August 25, 1862. Honorably discharged 

August 31, 1863. 
Henry Middlebrook, first lieutenant company F, August 25, 1862. Honorably dis- 
charged August 31, 1863. 
H. Martin Jackson, second lieutenant company F, August 25, 1862. Resigned May 

30, 1863. 
Edwin F. Peck, sergeant company F, August 25, 1862. Promoted second lieutenant, 

died June 20, 1S63. 
William H. Bradley, sergeant company F, August 25, 1S62. Honorably discharged 

August 31, 1863. 
Edson L. Bryant, sergeant company F, August 25, 1862. Honorably discharged 

August 31, 1863. 
Frederick L. Smith, sergeant comj)any F, August 25, 1862. Honorably discharged 

August 31, 1863. 
Samuel L. Blair, sergeant company F, August 25, 1S62. Honorably discharged 

August 31, 1863. 
James B. Beach, corporal company F, August 25, rS62. Honorably discharged 

August 31, 1863. 
Abram L. Moulthrop, corporal com])any F, August 27, 1862. Killed June 21, 

1863, Lafourche Crossing, La. 
Andrew M. Sherman, corporal company F, August 27, 1862. Honorably discharged 

August 31, 1S63. 



5IO HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Morrison C. Hall, corporal company F, August 27, 1862. Honorably discharged 
August 31, 1863. 

Martin V. Willoughby, corporal company F.August 27, 1862. Honorably discharged 
August 31, 1863. 

Samuel Ould, corporal company F, August 26, 1S62. Died of wounds July ic, 1863, 
Brasher City, La. 

Stephen A. Cornish, musician company F, November 2, 1862. Honorably discharged 
August 31, 1863. 

Joseph Hammond, musician company F, August 25, 1S62. Honorably discharged 
August 31, 1863. 

George H. Buckingham, wagoner company F, August 27, 1862. Honorably dis- 
charged August 31, 1863. 

Beach, Calvin, private company F, August 26, 1862. Honorably discharged August 
31, 1863. 

Botsford, George, private company F, August 27, 1862. Honorably discharged 
August 31, 1863. 

Baldwin, Mills G., private company F, August 27, 1862. Honorably discharged 
August 31, 1863. 

Brodie, Joseph, private company F, September 10, 1862. Honorably discharged 
August 31, 1863. 

Buckingham, Charles R., private company F, August 26, 1862. Honorably dis- 
charged August 31, 1863. 

Conway, Michael, private company F, August 26, 1862. Honorably discharged 
August 31, 1863. 

Carmody, Edmond, private company F, August 26, 1862. Deserted November 26, 
1862. 

Conners, John, private company F, August 26, 1862. Honorably discharged August 
31, 1863. 

Clark, David J., private company F, August 27, 1862. Honorably discharged 
August 31, 1863. 

Coday, William, private company F, August 26, 1862. Deserted November 16, 1862. 

Cahill, Richard, private company F, August 27, 1862. Honorably discharged August 
31, 1863. 

Cass, John, private company F, November 11, 1862. Deserted November 16, 1862. 

Furgerson, Charles M., private company F, September 10, 1862. Honorably dis- 
charged August 31, 1863. 

Fitzpatrick, Patrick, private company F, August 27, 1862. Honorably discharged 
August 31, 1863. 

Graham, Alexander, private company F, August 25, 1862. Honorably discharged 
August 31, 1863. 

Hawley, William B., private company F, August 25, 1862. Honorably discharged 
August 31, 1863. 

Hughs, Peter, private company F, August 28, 1862. Honorably discharged August 
31, 1863. 

Johnson, Henry, private company F, August 26, 1862. Honorably discharged 
August 31, 1863. 

Johnson, James H., private company F, August 27, 1862. Honorably discharged 
August 31, 1863. 

Johnson, William H., private company F, September 10, 1862. Honorably dis- 
charged August 31, 1S63. 



THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. 5 I I 

Light, Charles, private company F, August 25, 1S62. Died June 20, 1S63, Lafourche, 

La. 
McClusky, Arthur, private company F, August 26, 1S62. Honorably discharged 

August 31, 1863. 
McKeone, Michael, private company F, August 27, 1S62. Honorably discharged 

August 31, 1863. 
Powe, Oliver, private company F, August 25, 1862. Honorably discharged August 

31, 1863. 
Turgeon, Oliver, private company F, August 27, 1S62. Honorably discharged 

August 31, T863. 
Welsh, John, private company F, August 27, 1S62. Honorably discharged August 

31, 1863. 
Whelan, Patrick, private company F, August 25, 1862. Honorably discharged 

August 31, 1863. 
Woodruff, John, private company F, October i, 1S62. Honorably discharged 

August 31, 1863. 

Tweiity-scvoith Regiment Infantry, C. V. 
Tomlinson, Peter, private company H, August 25, 1862. Discharged, disability, 
March 27, 1863. 

T'LOcnty-ninth Rci:;imcnt Infantry, C. V. 
James Drake, corporal company D, December 16, 1863. Mustered out October 24, 

1865. 
Deming, George A., private company K, January 5, 1864. Died July 17, 1864, 

Beaufort, S. C. 



SOLDIERS FURNISHED BY THE TOWN OF OXFORD. 

First Regiment Cavalry, C. V. 
Riggs, Homer, private company D, November 14, 1861. Re-enlisted veteran De- 
cember 17, 1863, wounded, discharged, disability, February 17, 1865. 

Third Independent Light Battery, C. V. 

Ashley, Benjamin, private, September 14, 1864. Deserted October 11, 1S64. 

Baldwin, Mills G., private, September 14, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1865, Rich- 
mond, Va. 

Curtiss, Jasper L., private, September 13, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1865, Rich- 
mond, Va. 

Carmody, Michael, private, September 15, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1S65, Rich- 
mond, Va. 

Carr, Michael, private, September 13, 1864. Deserted October 20, 1S64. 

Foley, Michael, private, September 14, 1864. Deserted November i, 1864. 

Fox, Richard, private, September 14, 1864. Deserted October 11, 1864. 

Gaines, Robert A., private, September 12, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1865, Rich- 
mond, Va. 

Kelley, Charles, private, September 13, 1864. Deserted October 11, 1864. 

Munson, William C, private, September 15, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1865, 
Richmond, Va. 



512 HISTORY 0¥ DERBY. 

Stevens, Edward, private, September 13, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1S65, Rich- 
mond, Va. 
Siiey, Joseph, private, September 15, 1864. Deserted October 20, 1864. 
Weyle, Gilbert, private, September 15, 1864. Deserted October 11, 1864. 

First Regime nt Heaiy Artillery, C. V. 
Ryan, Patrick F., private company B, May 22, 1861. Re-enlisted veteran January i, 

1864, deserted July 26, 1865. 
Carney, Richard M., private company B, Dec. 4, 1864. Deserted Aug. 2, 1865. 
Ross, Robert, private company C, December 7, 1864. Deserted August 17, 1865. 
Baldwin, Bernard S., private company F, February 16, 1864. Died September 15, 

1864, Bermuda Hundred, Va. 
Oothout, John, private company G., December 5, 1864. Deserted August i, 1865. 
Euler, John, private company L, December 17, 1864. Transferred from Third C. 

battery, deserted June 22, 1865. 

Second Regitneiit Hemy Artillery, C. V. 
Arnold, Christopher, private company E, January 2, 1864. Wounded June i, 1864, 

transferred veteran reserve corps May 6, 1865. 
Dougherty, Edmond, private company F, June 5, 1864. Died September 22, 1864, 

Strasburg, Va. 
Butler, Charles H., private company H, January 5, 1S64. Wounded October 19, 

1864, mustered out August 18, 1865, W^ashington, D. C. 
Warner, Theodore F., private company H, January 5, 1864. Mustered out August 

16, 1865, Baltimore, Md. 
Lines, Marshall, private company I, December 30, 1863. Wounded October 19, 

1864, died February 8, 1865, ^ prisoner. 

Cotter, Frederick, private, December i, 1S64. Not taken upon the rolls. 

Sixth Regiment I)ifantrv, C. V. 
Waters, Henry W., private company F, September 7, 1861. Died July 10, 1S62, 

Hilton Head, S. C. 
Knost, John C, private company K, November 15, 1864. Mustered out August 21, 

1865, New Haven, Conn. 

Sears, Henry E., private company K, February 29, 1864. Mustered out August 21, 
1865, Goldsboro, N. C. 

Seventh Regiment Infantry, C. V. 

Bryant, Sylvester, private company B, September 7, 1861. Re-enlisted veteran De- 
cember 22, 1863, died February 28, 1865, Andersonville, Ga. 

Lesure, Swan L., private company C, February 25, 1864. Wounded May 1864, 
killed June 2,1864, Bermuda Hundred, Va. 

Downes, Chauncey S., private company G, September 7, 1861. Died July 4, 1862, 
Beaufort, S. C. 

Hawkins, John, private company G, September 7, 1861. Discharged September 12, 
1864, term expired. 

Tenth Regiment Infantry, C. V. 
Tomlinson, Edmund B., private company A, October 2, 1861. Died November 2, 
1862, Newbern, N. C. 



THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. 513 

Waters, David R., private company A, October 3, 1S61. Discliarged, disability, 

May iS, 1S63. 
Wheeler, Elbert E., private company A, October 2, 1S61. Died March 3, 1S62, 

Fort Monroe, Va. 
Brown, James, private company A, Nov. 22, 1S64. Deserted December 16, 1864. 
Osborn, Harvey T., private company D, October 14, 1861. Discharged, disability, 

August 15, 1S62. 

ElczYiith Regiment /nfaiitry, C. V. 
Le Roy, Emile, private company C, February 25, 1864, Wounded Mav r6, 1864, 

died September, 1S64, Andersonville, Ga. 
Riggs, George S., private company E, November 27, iS6r. Died May 20, 1S62, 

Newbern, N. C. 
Riggs, Mark E., ])rivate company E, November 25, 1861. Discharged, enlisted in 

U. S. A. October 24, 1862. 
Chase, Israel, private company E, February 25. 1864. Deserted Sept. 10, 1S65. 
Fordham, David, private company E, February 25, 1S64. Mustered out December 

21, 1865, City Point, Va. 
Smith, John, ist, private company F, November 19, 1864. Deserted April rg, rS65. 
O'Reilly, Patrick, private company G, December i, 1861. Discharged, disabilitv, 

December 25, 1862. 
Lammest, Henry, private company G, November 25, 1864. Deserted Jan. 22, 1865. 
Randon, August, private company I, November 25, 1864. Deserted Aug. 23, 1864. 
Hartnet, James, private company K, November 26, 1864. Deserted Sept. 15, 1865. 

lliirteeiith Regiment Infantry, C. V. 

Kimberly, Albert A, private company D, December 30, 1861. Died December 6, 
1863, Thebodeaux, La. 

Skiff, Walter, private company D, February i, [862. Re-enlisted veteran, trans- 
ferred to company B, mustered out April 25, 1866. 

Blakeslee, Norman, private company D, December 8, 1863. Died April 26, 1864, 
New Orleans, La. 

Baldwin, Herbert C, private company K, November 27, 1861. Re-enlisted veteran, 
wounded, promoted second lieutenant, mustered out April 25, 1866. 

Downes, George, private company K, November 27, 1861. Died October, 1862, 
New Orleans, La. 

Pushee, Gilman W., private company K, December 30, 1861. Discharged, disabil- 
ity. May 20, 1862. 

Scoville, Bennett, private company K, November 27, 1861. Re-enlisted veteran, 
transferred to company C, deserted July 30, 1865, 

Scoville, Charles, private company K, November 27, 1861. Discharged, disability, 
May 20, 1862. 

Fourteenth Regifnent Infantry, C. V. 

Miller, Alfred, private company D, August 8, 1S63. Died July 20, 1864, ^t Ander- 
sonville, Ga. 

Harwood, Andrew, private company H, August 8, 1863. Discharged, disability, 
March 11, 1865. 

Sanford, George W., private company H, September i, 1863. Transferred to sec- 
ond C. V. heavy artillery May 31, 1865. 

65 



514 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Livingston, George, private company K, August 8, 1863. Transferred to U. S. navy 
April 28, 1864. 

Fifteenth Regiment Infantry, C. V. 
Dachs, Francois, private company A, December 6, 1S64. Transferred to seventh 

C. v., mustered out July 20, 1S65, Goldsboro, N. C. 
Gillett, Leonard, private company E, December 15, 1863 Transferred to seventh 

C. v., mustered out July 20, 1865, Goldsboro, N. C. 
Jennings, Wales R., private company F, September 17, 1864. Mustered out June 

27, 1865, Newbern, N. C. 
Andrews, Elias C., private company H, August 10, 1862. Killed in action March 

8, 1865, Kinston, N. C. 
Downs, Robert, private company H, August 8, 1862. Mustered out June 27, 1865, 

Newbern, N. C. 
Moriarty, Canary, private company I, Dec. 8, 1864. Missing inaction March 8, 1865. 
Martin, John, private company L December 5, 1865. Not taken on the rolls. 
Smith, Oscar, private company I, November 28, 1864 Discharged January 15, 

1865, New Haven, Conn. 

Twentieth Regijnent I)tfantry, C. V. 
Thomas S. Osborn, sergeant company B, August 4, 1862. Discharged, disability, 

September 3, 1863, Annapolis, Md. 
Ailing, Edwin J., private company B, August 7, 1862. Wounded July 20, 1864, 

mustered out June 13, 1865. 
Benham, Joseph H., private company B, August 4, 1862. Transferred to invalid 

corps September i, 1863, mustered out June 28, 1865. 
Dorman, David C, private company B, August 6, 1862. Mustered out June 13, 

1865, Washington, D. C. 
Hubbell, Frederick W , private company B, August 4, 1862. Mustered out June 

13, 1865, Washington, D C. 
McEwen, Wooster B. private company B, August 4, 1862. Mustered out June 13, 

1865, Washington, D. C. 
Osborn, Ray F., private company B, August 4, 1862. Discharged, disability, Feb- 
ruary 17, 1863, Washington, D. C. 
Riggs", George W., private company B, August 4, 1862. Mustered out June 13, 

1865, Washington, D. C. 
Ramsdell, Parker K., private company B, August 2, 1862. Mustered out June 13, 

1865, Washington, D. C 
Stuart, Edwin W., private company B, August 2, 1862. Mustered out June 13, 

1865, Washington, D. C. 
Candee, Charles A., private company F, August 15, 1862. Discharged, disability, 

December 3, 1863, Washington, D. C. 
Downs, Albert W., private company P\ August 14, 1862. Died March 18, 1865, 

Chattanooga, Tenn. 
Piatt, Orlando L., private company F, August 9, 1862. Mustered out June 13. 1S65, 

Washington, D. C. 
Davis, Henry W , private company G, February 25, 1864. Died October i, 1864, 

Jeffersonville, Ind. 
Baldwin, Henry D., private company H, August 14, 1862. Discharged, disability, 

February 10, 1863, Harper's Ferry. 



THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. 515 

Buckingham, Joel, private com])aiiy II, August 25, 1862. Killed May 3, 1863, 
Chancellorsville, \'a. 

Davis, William C, private company II, August 12, 1862. Deserted Sept. 11, 1862. 

Fillins, George \V., jjrivate company H, August 15, 1862. Died April 24, 1863. 

Garvin, Edward, private company M, August 12, 1862. Mustered out fune 13, 1865, 
Washington, I). C 

Killimartin, Thomas, private company II, August 19, 1862. Wounded May 3, 1S63, 
transferred to invalid corps January 15, 1864. 

Lounsbury, George W., private company H, August 18,. 1862. Mustered out [une 
13, 1865, Washington, D. C. 

Meyer, George, private company F, August 9, 1862. Wounded May 3, 1863, mus- 
tered out June 13, 1865. 

McLaughlin, James, private company li, August 12, 1862. Mustered out June 13, 
1865, Washington, D. C. 

Powers, John, private comi)any II, August 5, 1S62. Killed May 3, 1863, Chancel- 
lorsville, Va. 

Smith, Dvvight C, private company H, August 15, 1862. Deserted October 2, 1862. 

Stuart, Horace, private company II, August 9, 1862. Mustered out [une 13, 1865, 
Washington, I). C. 

Sackett, Lucius, private company H, August iS, 1862. Transferred to invalid corps 
January 15, 1864. 

T'cveiity-tJtird Rci;ii)n-nt Infaiitrv, C. V. 
Piatt, George, private company I, September 23, 1862. Honorably discharged Au- 
gust 31, 1863. 

Twi'iity-iiinth A'lXi/Ncn/ /n/aiifrv, C. V. 

Mitchell, William H, private company H, Novem!)er 30, 1863. Mustered out Oc- 
tober 24, 1865. 

Peterson, Arnold, private company 1>, December 3, 1S63. Died August 15, 1865, 
Brownsville, Texas. 

SOLDIERS FURNISHED BY THE TOWN OF SEYMOUR. 

Third Regiment Infantry, C. J'. 

Davis, Henry W., private company C, May 14, 1861. Honorablv discharged August 
12, 1861. 

First Regime nt Cavalry, C. V. 

Hurlburt, Thomas, private company B, November 13, 1861. Re-enlisted veteran 

January i, 1864, mustered out August 2, 1865. 
Wooster, Leslie B., private company 1), November 25, i86t. Discharged, disabilitv, 

June 23, 1862, Washington, I) C. 
Bronson, Rodney O., private company I), November 27, 1863. Mustered out August 

2, 1865, Washington, D. C. 
Lynde, Duane M., private company D, November 28, 1863. Mustered out [une 28, 

1865, Washington, D. C. 
Munson, Byron W., private company G, December 3, 1863. Mustered out August 

2, 1865, Washington, D. C. 
Tryon, Joachim T., private company I, December 31, 1863. Mustered out August 

2, 1865, Washington, D. C. 



5l6 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Munson, Marcus, private company K, December 21, 1863. Died March 11, 1864, 

Baltimore, Md. 
Curtiss, Evart H., private company L, February 10, 1865. Mustered out August 2, 

1865, Washington, D. C. 
McCue, Michael, private, January 3, 1865. Not taken upon the rolls. 
Osborn, Sereno R., private, December 30, 1864. Deserted June 21, 1865. 

First Light Artillery, C. V. 
Holbrook, Andrew, private, December 2, 1S62. Discharged December 2, 1864, term 
expired. 

Third Indepcmiciit Light Battery, C. V. 

Brassil, Matthew, private, Sept. 16, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1865, Richmond, Va. 

Botsford, Edward, private, September 19, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1865, Rich- 
mond, Va. 

Brown, Charles, private, Sept. 19, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1865, Richmond, Va. 

Bulkley, Uwen, private, September 19, 1864. Deserted November i, 1864. 

Baldwin, John, private, -Sept. 24, 1S64. Mustered out June 23, 1865, Richmond, Va. 

Carroll, William, private, Sept. 15, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1865, Richmond, Va. 

Curtiss, William C, private, September 15, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1865, 
Richmond, Va. 

Candee, George B., private, September 23, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1865, Rich- 
mond, Va. 

Cross, Frederick, private, Sept. 24, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1865, Richmond, Va. 

Donahue, Patrick, private, .September 15, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1865, Rich- 
mond, Va. 

Gregory, Hyatt, private, -Sept. 21, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1865, Richmond, Va. 

Hawley, William, private, September 24, 1864. Discharged disability, October 22, 
1864, New Haven, Conn. 

Isles, Charles, private, Sept. 19, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1865, Richmond, Va. 

Judd, Ralph, private, September 22, 1864. Deserted November 17, 1864. 

Jackson, Andrew, private, .September 17, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1865, Rich- 
mond, Va. 

O'Claughessy, David, private, .September 23, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1865, 
Richmond, Va. 

Perry, Martin, private. Sept 24, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1865, Richmond, Va. 

Ryan, Patrick, private. Sept 19, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1865, Richmond, Va. 

Sheldon, Francis, private, September 17, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1865, Rich- 
mond, Va. 

Shehan, Cornelius, private, September 23, 1S64. Mustered out June 23, 1865, Rich- 
mond, Va. 

Tucker, Frederick, private, .September 17, 1864. Mustered out June 23, 1865, Rich- 
mond, Va. 

First Regiment Artillery C. V. 

Bassett, Lorenzo M., private company A, November 23, 1863. Discharged, disability, 

June 17, 1865, New Haven, Conn. 
Watson, David, private company A, September 17, 1864. Deserted July 30, 1865. 
Augustus White, musician company B, May 22, 1861. Re-enlisted veteran, January 

I, 1864, deserted July 26, 1865. 
Clement, Levi, private company B, May 22, 1861. Discharged May 21, 1864, term 

expired. 



THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. 517 

Hayden, Richard E., private company K, May 22, 1861. Discharged May 21, 1864, 

term expired. 
Leigh, Lewis E., private company B, May 22, 1861. Re-enlisted veteran, January 

I, 1864, deserted July 26, 1865. 
Prince, Charles, private company B, May 22, 1861. Discharged Mav 21, 1864, term 

expired. 
Reynolds, John Y., ]5rivate company B, May 22, 1861. Discharged Mav 21, 1864, 

tesm expired. 
Tomlinson, Ransom P., private company B, May 22, 1861. Descried July 28, 1861. 
Cox, Reuben, private company C, December 3, 1863. Deserted August 5, 1865. 
Cass, Nicholas, private company C, December 8, 1863. Mustered out September 

25, 1865, Washing! on, D. C. 
Davis, Charles H., private company C, December 4, 1863. Mustered out September 

25, 1865, Washington, D. C. 
Hanley, John, ))rivate company C, December 8, 1863. Mustered out October 9, 

1865, New Haven, Conn. 
Lyons, Charles B., private company C, December 3, 1863. Mustered out September 

23, 1S65, Washington, D. C. 
Lee, William, private company C, December 3, 1863. Mustered out September 23, 

1865, Washington, D. C. 
McArthur, Albert, private company C, December 3, 1863. Deserted August 6, 1865. 
McCormick, John, private companv E, September 23, 1864. Deserted August 10, 

1865. 
Herman, B. French, corporal company F, May 23, 1861. Discharged, disability, 

November 16, 1861, Fort Richardson, Va. 
Bodge, Andrew, private company F, May 23, 1S61. Wounded, battle Malvern Hill, 

discharged May 22, 1864. 

Fifth Rei^iniciit Iiifaiitrv, C. V. 

Albert Briggs, private company D, July 22, 1861. Discharged, disability, September 
19, 1861, Darnestown, Md. 

Wilson Wyant, captain company E, July 22, 1861. Resigned Januarv 31, 1S63. 

DeGrasse Fowler, second lieutenant com])any \i, July 22, 1861. Resigned Septem- 
ber 23, 1S64. 

Botsford, Edward, ]irivate company E, July 22, 1861. Discharged, disability, Decem- 
ber 17, 1862. 

Hubbard, Calvin A., jjrivate company E, July 22, 1861. Re-enlisted veteran, 
December 21, 1863, wounded, mustered out July 19, 1865. 

Smith, George A., private company \i, July 12, 1861. Discharged July 22, 1864, 
term expired. 

Smith, Anson, private comjiany E, July 22, 1861. Deserted A])ril 24, 1865. 

Thayer, Reulicn W., private company E, July 22, 1861. Re-enlisted veteran, Decem- 
ber 21, 1863, mustered out July 19, 1865. 

J'hol, William, private company E, August 15, 1863. Mustered out July 19, 1865, 
.Alexandria, Va. 

Holeren, James, private company F, July 22. 1861. Re-enlisted veteran, December 
21, 1863. Mustered out July 19, 1865. 

Roberson, Joseph, private company F, August 15, 1863. Died October 19, 1864, 
Atlanta, Ga. 

Tennv>;on, James, i>rivate companv Ci, July 22, 1861. Deserted December 10, 1862. 



5l8 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Sixth Regiment Infantry, C. V. 
Bodge, George E., private company F, September 7, 1861. Killed at Morris Island, 
S. C, July 18, 1863. 

Seventh Regiment I)ifantry, C. V. 
Andrews, John, private company D, November 4, 1864. Mustered out July 20, 1865, 

Goldsboro, N. C. 
Chatfield, Frederick N., private company E, September 7, 1861. Re-enlisted.veteran 

December 22, 1863, mustered out July 20, 1865. 
Chatfield, George A., private company E, September 7, 1861. Re-enlisted veteran, 

December 22, 1863, mustered out July 20, 1865. 
Phelps, Edward D., private company F, September 9, i86i. Re-enlisted veteran, 

December 22, 1863, mustered out July 20, 1865. 
Riggs, John H., private company F, September 9, 1861. Re-enlisted veteran, 

January 2, 1864, mustered out July 20 1865. 

Eighth Regiment Infantry, C. V. 
English, Alton H., private company E, September 25, 1861. Wounded, discharged, 
enlisted United States Army October 25, 1862. 

Ninth Regiment Infantry, C. V. 
Jones, Thomas, private company D, January 1S65. Mustered out August 3, 1865, 

Hilton Head, S. C. 

Tenth Regiment Infantry, C. I '. 
Collins, Abraham, private company A, October 29, 1861. Discharged, disability, 

February 22, 1863. 
French, Hobart, private company A, September 21, 1861. Discharged, disability, 

December 21, 1861. 
Lounsbury, Henry W., private company A, October 2, 1861. Died August 15, 1862, 

Newbern, N. C. 
Thayer, William A., private company A, October 2, 1861. Transferred to signal 

corps September 26, 1863. 
Smith, Henry, private company B, December 7, 1864. Mustered out August 25, 

1865, Richmond, Va. 

Tenth Regiment Infantry, C. V. 
Beers, Henry B., private company K, October 5, 1861. Discharged, disability, 

February 22, 1863. 
French, Harpin R., private company K, October 14, i86i. Discharged October 7, 

1864, term expired. 
Mahony, John, private company K, November 5, 1864. Shot for desertion March 

10, 1865, before Richmond. 

Eleventh Regiment Infantry, C. V. 
William H. Bray, corporal company G, December i, 1861. Discharged, disability, 

November 29, 1862. 
Burns, James W., private company G, December i, 1864. Deserted Feb. 28, 1865. 

Twelfth Regiment Infantry, C. V. 
Bradley, Henry T., private company A, December 19, 1861. Re-enlisted veteran 
January i, 1864, deserted June 20, 1865. 



THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. 519 

Chadwick, Thomas, private company F, November 25, 1861. Re-enlisted veteran 

January i, 1S64, mustered out August 12, 1865. 
Kine, Francis, private company F, January 6, 1865. Forwarded October 20, 1864, 

not taken on the rolls. 
Wilson, William, private company F, January 6, 1865. Mustered out August 2, 

1865. Hilton Head. 

FiftecntJi Rci^imi'iit Infaitiry, C. V. 
Long, James, private company A, June 31, 1865. Transferred to seventh C. V., 

mustered out July 20, 1865, Goldsboro, N. C. 
Brown, William, private company B, March 3, 1864. Transferred to seventh C. V., 

mustered out July 14, 1865, Hartford, Conn. 
Emmons, Berry D., private company I, February 9, 1865. Transferred to seventh 

C. v., mustered out July 20, 1865. 
Higgins, Jeremiah, private company I, September 23, 1864. Mustered out June 27, 

1865, Newbern, N. C. 
Burns, John, private companv I, January 10, 1865. Missing March 8, 1865. 
Corkran, Edward, private company I, January 5, 1864. Missing March 8, 1865, 

Kinston, N. C. 
McGahie, William, private company I, January 5, 1865. Deserted March 7, 1865, 

Kinston, N. C. 

Tioentii't/i Regiment Infantry, C. V. 
Philo B. Buckingham, major, August 29, 1862. Promoted lieutenant colonel, mus- 
tered out June 13, 1865, Washington, I). C. 
Bassett, Noyes E,, private company G, March 7, 1864. Transferred to fifth C. V., 

mustered out July 19, 1865. 
Wilbur W. Smith, first lieutenant company H, August 5, 1862. Promoted captain 

January 28, 1S63, mustered out June 13, 1865. 
George W. Human, sergeant company H, August 6, 1862. Promoted second lieu- 
tenant June 6, 1865, mustered out June 13, 1865. 
George S. Wyant, sergeant company H, August 7, 1862. Died Dec. 15, 1862. 
Samuel A. Beach, sergeant company H, August 8, 1862. Discharged, disability, 

September 9, 1862, Washington, D. C. 
Charles B. Holland, corporal company H, August 5, 1862. Transferred to invalid 

corps, mustered out August 4, 1865. 
Ichabod E. Ailing, corporal company H, August 20, 1862. Mustered out June 13, 

1865, W^ashington, D. C. 
John W. French, musician company H, August 20, 1862. Mustered out June 13, 

1865, Washington, D. C. 
Booth, Henry T., private company H, August 6, 1862. Died January 4, 1863, 

Washington, D. C. 
Botsford, Henry L., private company H, August 5, 1862. Discharged, disability, 

February 21, 1863, Stafford Court House. 
Benham, Bennett, private company H, August 9, 1862. Mustered out June 13, 1865, 

Washington, D. C. 
Bliss, Howard, private company H, August 20, 1862. Mustered out June 13, 1865, 

Washington, D. C. 
Bronson, Royal L., private company H, August 25, 1862. Died May 4, 1863, 

wounds received Chancellorsville, Va. 



520 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Davis, Zerah B., private company H, August 6, 1862. Mustered out June 13, 1865, 
Washington, D. C. 

Davis, Charles E., private company H, August 7, 1862. Wounded May 3, 1863, 
discharged, disability, June 17, 1865. 

French, Charles, private company H, August 5, 1862. Wounded July 20, 1864, 
mustered out June 13, 1865. 

Hendryx, James W., private company H, August 6, 1862. Killed May 3, 1863, 
Chancellorsville, Va. 

Lounsbury, Albert W., private company H, August 9, 1862. Mustered out [une 
13, 1865, Washington, D. C. 

O'Brien, George, private company H, August 20, 1862. Killed May 3, 1863, Chan- 
cellorsville, Va. 

Rose, Henry, private company H, August 8, 1862. Wounded March 19, 1865, 
mustered out June 23, 1865. 

Ryan, John, private company H, August 20, 1862. Wounded May 3, 1S63, dis- 
charged, disability, June 31, 1865. 

Smith, Charles W., private company H, August 20, 1862. Mustered out June 13, 
1865, Washington, D. C. 

Still, Jacob L., private company H, August 20, 1862. Wounded July 3, 1863, trans- 
ferred to invalid corps March 15, 1864. 

White,, James, private company H, August 6, 1862. Killed July 20, 1864, Peach 
Tree Creek, Ga. 

Bassett, Samuel, private company H, August 16, 1862. Transferred to fifth C. V., 
mustered out July 19, 1865. 

Short, Sylvester, private company F, September 8, 1862. Honorably discharged 
August 31, 1863. 

T7ve7ity-seventh Regiment Infantry, C. V. 
Crummey, Dennis, private company I, September 9, 1862. Discharged, disability, 

February 12, 1863. 
Ryan, Patrick, private company I, Oct. 9, 1862. Honorably discharged July 27, 1863. 

Twenty-ninth Regiment Iiifantrv, C. V. 
Becket, Henry, private company E, January 4. 1865. Mustered out October 24, 

1865, Brownsville, Texas. 
Henry Alexander, private company F, February 24, 1864, Mustered out October 

24, 1865, Brownsville, Texas. 
Green, George, private company G, December 28, 1863. Killed October 27, 1864, 

Richmond, Va. 
Green, John H., private company G, Dec. 28, 1863. Mustered out October 24, 1865. 
Chapman, Howard, private company G, January 4, 1865. Mustered out October 

24, 1865, Brownsville, Texas. 
Domingo, Charles, private company H, March 2, 1864. Killed September 3, 1864, 

Petersburg, Va. 
Walker, Aaron, private company H, December 28, 1863. Mustered out Oct. 24, 1865. 

Thirtieth Regiment Infantry, C. V. 
Nichols, William, private company A, Feb. 22, 1864. Mustered out Nov. 7, 1865. 
William Rives, corporal company F; Feb. 22, 1864. Mustered out Nov. 7, 1865. 
De Ville, Robert, private company F, Feb. 22, 1864. Mustered out Nov. 7, 1865. 



BIOGRAPHIES, 



66 




c:zy^ . {Z^L^uu^^G^ 



BIOGRAPHIES 



JOSEPH ARNOLD 

Was born at Hadham, Middlesex county, Conn., September 
i6, 1811. He descended from Joseph Arnold and Daniel 
Brainard, two of the original twenty-eight who settled the 
town of H add am. 

Joseph, the subject of this sketch, was son of Jared and Susan 
(Brainard) Arnold ; received his education at the common and 
high schools of his native town ; made a sea voyage with his 
father when only fourteen years of age ; was placed as clerk in 
a country store when fifteen, and at nineteen opened a dry 
goods store in Middletown in company with the old firm of 
Pease and Hayden. The next year he bought out the other 
partners ; took another partner, and added the clothing business 
under the name of Arnold and Buckingham. Their business 
was highly prosperous until 1838, when the partnership was 
dissolved, Mr. Arnold remaining at the old store and Mr. Buck- 
ingham going to Portland, Me. 

Finding himself threatened with serious pulmonary difficulty, 
in 1844 Mr. Arnold sold his business at Middletown and spent 
the next four winters in the West Indies, the Southern states 
and New York city. 

His health being restored he accepted a position in the 
American PLxchange Bank, New York city, but a few months 
after, being elected cashier of the Meriden Bank at Meriden, 
Conn., he removed to that place in 1849. ^^ 1853 he was 
elected cashier of the Manufacturers' Bank of Birmingham, 
which was reorganized in 1865 as the Birmingham National 
Bank. This office he accepted, and from that day to this has 
retained it with great credit to himself and satisfaction to the 
company and community. 

In 1 84 1 he married an estimable lady, Mary L., daughter of 
the Hon. Noah A. Phelps. She died in 185 i. 

Mr. Arnold may be classed among the self-made men. Be- 



524 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

ing little aided by his primary education, but possessing an 
active, vigorous mind, which he has well stored with useful 
knowledge by reading, he has, by his own exertions, worked 
out thus far his successful career in life. In addition to his 
present responsible position in the bank he has occupied oth- 
ers, such as treasurer of school district, borough and town, and 
for a long time has been president of the Derby Savings Bank, 
the people having never found in him confidence misplaced. In 
his habits he is a model for imitation. Strictly temperate in all 
things, although physically infirm, he has been his own physi- 
cian, discarding generally all drug medication. For twenty-six 
years he has scarcely been absent a day from his post of duty 
in the bank. Independent in his principles, circumspect in his 
daily walk, liberal without ostentation, faithful to his word in 
financial dealings with all persons, he has won for himself a 
most enviable reputation. 

HENRY ATWATER 

Was born in New Haven in 18 19. He received more than an 
ordinary education, and in 1846 came to Birmingham and 
bought one-third of the interest of Abraham and William Haw- 
kins in the spring and axle business. In the following year a 
joint stock company was formed, called the Birmingham Iron 
and Steel Works, and the present extensive buildings were in 
part then erected. Mr. Atwater continued an active and ener- 
getic member of the company until the day of his death, 
January 22, 1862, at the age of forty-three years. For sixteen 
years Mr. Atwater was among the most enterprising manufac- 
turers, and had the merit of being very public spirited. He 
never did things by halves. 

He was warden of the borough two years ; was postmaster 
under President Pierce, Senator of the state in 1850, besides 
filling other offices. Social and of gentlemanly address, having 
considerable public influence, Mr. Atwater was a popular citi- 
zen, and his death was deeply lamented. 

SCOTT R. BAKER, M. D., 

Was born in Derby, October 2, 1834, and obtained his early 
education at the public school ; later he studied medicine with 




qJ/6/1 



^(yutyt 



BIOGRAPHIES. 525 

Doct. Ambrose Beardsley of Birmingham, and, entering the 
medical department at Yale in 1876, he received his degree 
January, 1879, ^^id located at Ansonia where he promises to 
secure a good practice. 

LEWIS BARNES, M. D., 

Was born in Southington, Conn., June 26, 1826. He prepared 
for college at home and was graduated at Yale in 1847; and 
afterwards taught school at Bristol, Conn., and Brooklyn, N. Y. 
He took a course of lectures at the College of Physicians and 
Surgeons, in New York, and received his degree from the 
Buffalo University in 1863. He came to Oxford in 1856, and 
has been in active practice in his profession since that time ; 
has held the office of town treasurer two years, and since 1868 
has been town clerk and registrar ; has been school visitor 
since 1857, and Judge of Probate since 1872. He married 
Caroline Saltonstall of Meriden, Conn., in 1853. 

). H. BARTHOLOMEW 

Was born in Farmington, Conn., April 18, 18 14. The life of 
his father, Jonathan Bartholomew, sometimes called " Uncle 
Jonathan," may be summed up in one line from Gray's Elegy, 
" The short and simple annals of the poor." The subject of 
this sketch had only a limited district school education, and at 
the early age of fifteen he was employed by Isaac Dobson to 
assist in making the double reflecting tin baker, then in great 
demand, little thinking that this was laying the foundation for 
his subsequent successful life. The baker soon went out of 
use, but Mr. Bartholomew had obtained a pretty good practical 
knowledge of the tinner's trade, but being out of business he 
engaged one year as clerk in a store in Plainville. In 1834 he 
married Polly H. Root, the eldest of thirteen children. F"or 
a short time he was employed in various kinds of work until he 
engaged in the making of sheet-iron cow-bells at five cents an 
hour ; the days having fifteen or sixteen hours in those times, 
so that. Old Time coming in to help out the matter, his receipts 
were seventy-five and eighty cents a day. Such was the be- 
ginning not only of one but of many men in Connecticut who 
are now transacting business on the basis of millions a year. 



526 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Mr. Bartholomew next engaged in making brass kettles for 
Mr. Israel Coe of Wolcottville, Conn., and by his steady busi- 
ness habits, after four years' employment, was made superin- 
tendent of all the various manufacturing interests of the Coe 
Company, the most important of which was the making of brass 
kettles by what was called the " battery process." When this 
business began to be profitable a new method of making these 
kettles was introduced into the country and the business was 
engaged in by different companies. At this time Anson G. 
Phelps, then a large stockowner in the Wolcottville Company, 
was induced to start the business on a larger scale, and decided 
on Ansonia as the place of location, and he secured Mr. Bar- 
tholomew as the general agent of his company. Several man- 
ufacturing establishments were built in Ansonia under his 
supervision, viz., the " Battery and Rolling Mills," and the large 
"Brass and Copper Mills." Besides these, from time to time, 
numerous other branches were added, all of which proved suc- 
cessful except the " Battery Kettle " business, which was sup- 
planted by the new process. 

These various branches of industry which have added so 
much to the wealth of Ansonia, as well as to the stockholders, 
are largely under obligation to the efforts of Mr. Bartholomew ; 
and, an idea of the estimate placed upon his services may be 
gained from the fact that a large yearly salary was paid him for 
more than a quarter of a century. 

In 1869 Phelps, Dodge and Company merged all their exten- 
sive manufacturing interests in Ansonia with their real estate 
into one company under the name and firm of the " Ansonia 
Brass and Copper Company and the Ansonia Land and Water 
Power." At the first meeting of the joint companies Mr. Bar- 
tholomew was chosen a director and made general superintend- 
ent, which office he held up to 1876, when he resigned in 
consequence of ill health. His advent into Derby, in 1848, found 
Ansonia almost a barren, sandy plain, with only two factories 
and a very few dwelling houses. Among the first enterprises 
started was a good common school, in which he took an active 
part and was instrumental in doing away with the old rate bill 
system and establishing the method of support by taxing prop- 
erty only, which incensed the mind of Anson G. Phelps, this 



HIOGRAPHIES. 52/ 

being the first school in the town to adopt the method, but the 
excitement soon subsided. 

He took a lively interest in the formation of the Congrega- 
tional Society of Ansonia, and in building both its churches, 
the first having been accidentally burned. He led the church 
choir over twenty years, and was chairman of the society's 
committee about the same length of time. He was a stock- 
holder, director and preside«t of no less than six important 
moneyed institutions of the town, and served, so far as can be 
learned, to the acceptance of the parties interested. 

Mr. Bartholomew was the first to propose the extension of 
the New Haven and Derby railroad, from its junction with the 
Naugatuck road, to Birmingham and Ansonia, and secured its 
completion by most persistent efforts ; the result being a great 
reduction of freights and public convenience. 

He is a man of positive character, and being a republican in 
politics was elected to represent the town in the Legislature of 
1869, receiving votes from both parties. He was a vigorous 
supporter of the war for the Union, contributing liberally of his 
means. 

Thus the poor boy of Farmington became an active, useful 
pioneer in a variety of successful enterprises in the town, and 
his name will long be held in grateful remembrance, especially 
by the people of Ansonia.. His example is worthy of imita- 
tion. 

REV. ARCHIBALD BASSETT 

Was born in Derby, March 21, 1772 ; graduated at Yale Col- 
lege in 1796; ordained pastor of the Congregational Church at 
Winchester, Conn., May 20, 1801, and dismissed August, 1806. 
He was pastor at Wilton, Delaware county, N. Y., from 1807 
to 1 8 10, and resided in that place, preaching in that region and 
helping his brethren in revivals as opportunity afforded, until 
his death, April 29, 1859, aged eighty-seven years. He was 
the son of Benjamin Bassett. 

He married Eliza, daughter of Dea. Job and Eunice (Cowles) 
Curtiss of Torringford, in the town of Torrington, Conn. She 
died January 19, 1868. 



528 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

h ■ 

ROYAL M. BASSETT 

Was born in Derby November 22, 1828. His education was 
obtained in the district school, except one year in the academic 
school of Stiles and French in New Haven and two years at 
Haddam Academy. His father was one of the leading men of 
Derby and a pioneer in the business enterprises of Birming- 
ham ; first a merchant and then a manufacturer. He held many 
official positions with honor, but after the purchase of the Col- 
burns Iron Foundry in 1850, he devoted all his energies to his 
business until the day of his decease, which occurred June 26, 
1864, in his sixtieth year. On the decease of his father. Royal 
M., with his brother Theodore, managed the Iron Foundry with 
much success, giving steady employment to about 125 opera- 
tives for sixteen years, making it a valuable establishment to 
Birmingham. 

Royal M. Bassett has been engaged in various manufacturing 
enterprises, railroads, and real estate operations, during a quar- 
ter of a century, and is a director in three railroad companies 
at the present time and president of the Utah Northern rail- 
road. He has been warden of the borough two years, and an 
active and efficient committee-man of the Birmingham school 
district for eleven years, besides filling several other local posi- 
tions, which places him among the public spirited men of the 
village and town. In all which he has proved himself a thor- 
ough business and upright man. Social, affable and liberal, and 
willing to forward any needed work for the public good, he 
stands among the popular and influential citizens of the town. 
He represented the fifth senatorial district in the Legislature, 
in 1876. 

AMBROSE BEARDSLEY, M. D.' 

Doct. Ambrose Beardsley, whose portrait is the first in this 
book, was born in Monroe, Conn., October 23, r8[i. It is often 
said " the child is father to the man," the which if true, the young 
Ambrose must have been one of those kind of boys who accord- 
ing to the Sunday-school books ought to have " died early," but 
fortunately for mankind did not. His first appearance in pub- 
lic was in the role of a district school teacher, beginning at the 



I. This sketch was written bv him whose initials are at the end of it. 



HIO(iRAPHIES. 529 

age of sixteen years ; continuing four years in his own and 
adjoining towns, during which time he pursued assiduously his 
own studies under the instruction of Doct. Stephen Middle- 
brook of Monroe, and later under Doct. Charles Gorham of 
Redding, and finally graduating with honor at Pittsfield, Mass., 
Medical College in 1834. After a residence of a year and a 
half at Newtown, Conn., Doct. Beardsley came to Birmingham, 
then in its early infancy, where for forty-four years — nearly 
half a century — he has led an honorable, upright, and eminently 
useful Christian life ; often officiating at St James's Episcopal 
Church — of which parish he has been a life-long member — in 
the occasional absence of a pastor, as "lay reader." If Ben 
Adhem's name led all the rest, according to Leigh Hunt, because 
"he loved his fellow men," then surely must the name of this 
kind, self-sacrificing physician be found very near the head of 
the column of Derby's adopted sons. In hundreds of families 
in this and adjoining towns, the name of Ambrose Beardsley is 
cherished almost as a household god ; where his genial face 
and pleasant story, has often done the work of exorcising the 
demon of disease — real or imaginary — for which the harmless 
pill gets all the credit. 

Possessed of a clear ringing voice, great fluency of speech and 
a happy gift of oratory, upon all public occasions Doct. Beardsley 
has been " the speaker of the day " and conspicuously the figure- 
head and leader in all enterprises which had for an object the 
welfare of nation or of individuals. Before the writer is now 
lying an ancient looking document which bears the following 
statement : " The foregoing oration was delivered by A. Beards- 
ley, to the citizens of Derby on occasion of commemorating the 
anniversary of our American Independence, July 4, 1839." As 
a sample of the principles then held by the orator a quotation 
is imjwrtant : "Sacred to the heart of ' every true American 
should be the day we have here assembled to commemo- 
rate. We have met to join in congratulations over an event so 
abundantly propitious to this country, and so marked in its influ- 
ence upon the world that as patriots and loyal citizens we could 
not have met on this occasion with other feelings than those of 
gratitude, and an ardent love and desire to preserve in remem- 
brance the birthday of our National Independence ; coupled 
67 



530 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

with a determination to throw off for a moment our more com- 
mon attachments ; to mingle our hearts more completely in the 
ardor of freedom ; to manifest our zeal for the preservation of 
our dear bought liberties ; and to join in the celebration of the 
day in a way calculated not only to awaken in our minds antici- 
pations of the noblest destiny, but to call up those master 
spirits of the past who offered their all upon the altar of 
Liberty." Farther along we read as follows: "The founders 
of this republic have not set in motion a machine which will 
continue to run uniform without the constant care and vigilance 

of posterity The history of the past speaks to us in 

tones of thunder the fact that one of the strongest and most 
sacred of the obligations imposed upon us by our fathers is 
the maintenance and perpetuity of the bond of the Union. I 
repeat it with emphasis, Union between the states. The Mos- 
lem Turk sleeps soundly in his chains not even seeming to 
dream of their weight. The slave surrenders himself tamely 
to his master, but the hatred of party dissensions and political 
animosities should never lead to a calculation on the value of 
the Union. ' One Europe ' says an eloquent patriot ' is enough 
for the whole world,' and if Americans would not hear the 
shrieks of Liberty, if they would not see this fair Republic 
' rent with civil feuds and drenched in fraternal blood,' let 
them be forever deterred from indulging even a passing thought 
upon the dangerous doctrine of disunion." This be it remem- 
bered was the utterance of our " Fourth of July orator" forty- 
one years ago. In the light of the terrible events of a quarter 
of a century later, it is seen that had the mouth of a prophet of 
the Lord even been commissioned to speak an inspired warning 
it could have hardly been more pertinent and forcible. 

The oration, which is full of the various topics uppermost in 
those comparatively early days of the Republic, closes with the 
following peroration : " Let us, fellow citizens, at all times and 
in all places prove ourselves the undeviating friends of our 
country, by sustaining its wise government, promoting sound 
doctrine, advancing wholesome morality and pure religion." 
But scarcely a quarter of a century had passed when we find 
this watchman on our national walls sending his own first born 
to the field in defense of these very liberties imperiled by intes- 



I5I()(U<AIMIIES. 531 

tine feuds, and liinisclf laborini;' day and night in furnishing 
comforts and necessities for tlic sick and the wounded sokUers 
in the field. In June, 1864, by all odds the largest and most 
successful fair ever held in the town was held on Birmingham 
green under an immense tent, and which resulted in raising 
over $4,000 in aid of the Sanitary Commission, which enter- 
prise was largely indebted for its success to the unflagging 
efforts of Doct. l^eardsley and the several members of his 
family who took part in the enterprise. This much is simple 
justice to say, although a large number of other noble workers 
took part in the labors of the occasion. 

In political life the Doctor was well fitted to do noble work. 
Although never a member of the noble army of Connecticut 
legislators yet many a time the honor was within his easy 
reach had he chosen to avail himself of his opportunity. His 
always extensive professional practice forbade his acceptance 
of the position. In the town, however, he has been a public 
official in some important capacity nearly all the time of his 
residence here. For twenty-five years continuously he was 
town treasurer; eight years he has been warden of Birming- 
ham, and registrar of vital statistics the same length of time, 
besides many other minor offices much of the time. The Doc- 
tor, though now verging well towards three score and ten, is 
vigorous and full of energy ; ever ready at all times to respond 
to the calls of the sick, whether with prospect of remuneration 
or not, it seems to make little difference with him. Little 
indeed has he gathered of the gold that perisheth, but of the 
wealth that cometh from the li\ing of an earnest, friendly, 
humane life, he is the richest man in all the town. It is here 
clearly put on record that these words will be abundantly veri- 
fied when his record shall be closed. 

He married Mary, only daughter of Samuel Bassett, Esq., 
of Humphreysville, April 30, 1837. J. \V. S. 

GKOKOK r.UCIUS liEARDSLEV, l\r. D., 

Was born in Milford, Conn., May 12, 1848, where he attended 
the High Scho(jl some time, lie prepared for college at the 
Hopkins Grammar School in New Haven, entered Yale in 1866, 
and was graduated in 1870. He was graduated at the Bellevue 



532 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Hospital Medical College, New York, in 1873, and received 
his degree of M. D. He came to Birmingham in 1874; has 
been a member of the Board of Education, and is at present 
assistant surgeon of the 2nd regiment Connecticut National 
Guards. He married, M. Louise, daughter of Amos H. Ailing, 
Esq., December 24, 1874. 

REV. BENJAMIN BEACH, 

Son of Benjamin Beach sen. of North Haven, was born April 
15, 1737, and resided at North Haven some years in a house 
his father built in the year Benjamin jun. was born ; his two 
brothers residing one on each side of him, and in the three 
families were at one time seventeen sons. His brother, Elias 
Beach, was a farmer and a licensed preacher, but not ordained. 

Benjamin Beach preached in what is now Seymour, Prospect 
and Milton. Tradition in the family says, he having agreed to 
settle in Seymour waited all winter for snow on which to re- 
move his family, but the snow failed to come that winter and he 
removed in March, 1789, without snow. In November of this 
same year Isaac Johnson deeded to Mr. Beach " one acre of 
land lying a little east of the meeting-house," which was a pres- 
ent to Mr. Beach in consideration of his " settling in the gospel 
ministry in the Congregational or Independent church " in the 
place. On this land Mr. Beach built a house in which he re- 
sided, and which is still standing. In 1791 he bought of Isaac 
Johnson one acre and a half adjoining, and " lying east and 
south of the first." In 1799 he purchased of Amos Hine seven- 
teen acres for ^333 at a place called Success Hill, and on Feb- 
ruary 26, 1 8 10, being then of Cornwall, he sold to John Swift 
eighteen acres of land at Success Hill for $686.06. 

The meeting-house was built for his use and was standing 
when he received the first deed. He preached in Prospect 
several years, closing his labors there in 1797, and probably 
served the two churches at the same time. He is said to have 
removed to Cornwall about 1805, which gives him eighteen 
years of ministerial labor in Seymour. 

He married Mercy Blatchley, who died in 18 12 on her sev- 
enty-fifth birthday, and he died in Cornwall July 12, 18 16, aged 
seventy-nine years. 




//^.^^ 



^^y^S^^-^^ 



BIOGRAPHIES. 533 

Two sermons of Mr. Jieach are preserved, and are in the 
style of the age in which he labored, and compare favorably 
with hundreds of others by different ministers of that day. One 
of these sermons illustrates the old method of giving instruc- 
tion from a text, in a very clear manner. Many have laughed 
at the great number of divisions the older preachers men- 
tioned in their sermons, but those divisions frequently marked 
not a division of the subject treated, but simply the thought 
illustrative of the topic spoken of ; as in this sermon there are 
only three heads, or general propositions, and the advice given ; 
but during the discussion of the topics there are in all eighty 
items numbered with figures. Hence there is secured in such 
a production a great amount of concise and definite statement, 
and when the sermon was delivered, all knew precisely what 
the minister believed, which is not always the case at the pres- 
ent time. The old people who delighted in such preaching are 
frequently supposed to have been dull scholars and poor think- 
ers, but it is quite certain they did know what they believed, 
and why they believed it. 

SHARON YALE BEACH, 

Son of Giles and Mary (Dayton) Beach, was born May 21, 1809, 
in that part of North Haven, Conn., now called Montowese, 
near Pine River Bridge. Giles Beach was the second son of 
the Rev. Benjamin Beach, the first pastor of Chusetown. 

Mary Dayton, the wife of Giles Beach, was the daughter of 
Jonathan Dayton and Mary Yale of North Haven. Jonathan 
Dayton had several children, one of whom married Joel Thorp, 
who removed with his family from North Haven by means of 
1/d.n ox team to New Connecticut (Ohio) and was one of the pi- 
oneers in that section of the country ; his nearest neighbor 
being twelve miles distant This Jonathan Dayton was a cap- 
tain in the Revolution and had four of his sons under him in 
the army, which gave to his command the name of the Dayton 
company. He was also a justice of the peace and a prominent 
man in his community. 

Sharon Y. Beach had only the advantages of a common school 
education, although one of his teachers, Benjamin Eastman, 
grandson of Dr. Benjamin Trumbull, himself a liberally edu- 



534 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

cated man, thinking young Beach ought to have better oppor- 
tunites, offered to furnish them at a higher school ; but the 
spirit of independence declined the friendly offer while the 
kindness of the teacher was always gratefully remembered 

His early life was one of temperance, industry and frugality ; 
laboring on a farm until he was seventeen years of age, when 
he passed through a long siege of illness from which he recov- 
ered very slowly. After this, he at first engaged as a peddler, 
carrying his small stock of goods in a basket and hand trunk, 
and then accepted a place as a clerk in a dry -goods and grocery 
store where he continued until his employer sold his interests 
to another firm. After a few months he was employed by John 
H. De Forest in the cotton factory, then in operation at 
Humphrey sville, for the small sum of $i6 per month for the 
first year, and $i8 per month for the second, with the promise 
of an increase of wages or a more advantageous position at 
the expiration of that time. From this amount of wages he 
paid his board, clothed himself and saved a small sum for 
capital on a future day. 

At the expiration of his engagement the business of the fac- 
tory was so depressed as not to warrant his continuance therein, 
and Mr. De Forest gave him a letter of commendation in which 
he said : " I recommend him to any one in want of his services 
as one competent and faithful, and whose character is entirely 
above reproach." The terms of this confidence exceeded the 
expectations of Mr. Beach, but they gave him an inward cour- 
age which has never been effaced from his mind ; which fact 
illustrates that a little expression of confidence is often of 
more value than money. After six months' employment else- 
where he was again employed by Mr. De Forest in the cotton 
factory, at advanced wages, where he continued nine or ten 
years. 

In the year 1843, he in company with George L. Hodge and 
Samuel Roselle engaged in the manufacture of printing and 
colored paper, in which relation he continued two years, when 
a new company was formed, consisting of Ezekiel Gilbert, 
Samuel Roselle and himself, for the term of five years. This 
company purchased the .old mill standing on what was still 
known at that day as Rimmon Falls, and continued the paper 



BIOCiKAPIUKS. 535 

niakint;" business. At the expiration of that term Mr. Beach 
bought the interests of the other partners and removed the pa- 
per mill to its present location, about three-quarters of a mile 
east of Seymour on Bladen's brook, where he has continued to 
the present time with a good degree of success. 

Mr. Beach has occupied several positions of trust and honor 
in the town, and manifested considerable public spirit in the 
more substantial enterinises and progressive improvements of 
the community and town. He was elected to the office of jus- 
tice of the peace while Seymour belonged to Derby, and after 
its separate organization he was the justice before whom most 
of the cases were tried for several years. Upon the breaking 
out of the war of the Rebellion he was the first to offer a 
bounty to those who would enlist in the army for the defense 
of the Union, and paid to those who enlisted in the twentieth 
regiment, ten dollars each, to the amount of S270, and contin- 
ued in an active part in sustaining the town in all its efforts 
through that struggle. He has been selectman, a member of 
the board of relief, a member and chairman of the board of 
education a number of years. 

He has been a member of a Baptist church about fifty years ; 
has had charge of the Congregational Sunday-school in Sey- 
mour at several different terms, and when the Baptist Bible 
school was started at Ansonia he was elected its superintend- 
ent, whicli position he held about six years. He was one of 
the building committee of the Ansonia Baptist church ; was 
elected its first deacon, and has been a prominent member and 
an active supporter of that church since its organization, there 
being no Baptist church in Seymour. 

In business and principles of morality, he has made life a 
success, and has no reason to reflect severely upon it as it re- 
cedes into the forgetfulness of the past. 

Mr. Beach married first Adaline, daughter of Asa and luniice 
(Johnson) Sperry, of Orange, Conn., and they had eight chil- 
dren, five of whom are still living. The eldest, George W. 
Beach, is the superintendent of the Naugatuck railroad. 
(Which see.) Andrew Y. Beach is agent at Springfield (Mass.) 
of the N. Y., N. H. & H. railroad. Sharon D. Beach has charge 
of his father's paper mill. Theodore B. Beach is the agent of 



536 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

the Naugatuck railroad at Seymour. Emeline E. Beach, the only 
daughter, resides with her father. 

ALFRED BLACKMAN 

Was born in Newtown, Conn., December 28, 1807. His father, 
the late Samuel C. Blackman, was a graduate of Yale College, 
class 1793, and was judge of probate for the district of New- 
town from its organization until disqualified by the state con- 
stitution, which was about fifteen years, and died at the 
advanced age of ninety-one. 

Alfred studied the classics and was fitted for college by his 
father, and graduated at Yale in 1828. He read law in his 
father's office, reciting regularly for two years to the late Gov. 
Henry Dutton, and was admitted to the bar of Fairfield county 
in 1 83 1. The writer of this remembers well listening in that 
same year, with great pleasure, to an eloquent oration delivered 
by him at Monroe, on the occasion of the celebration of the 
Fourth of July. 

In the spring of 1832 he removed to Humphreysville, then a 
flourishing part of Derby, and commenced the practice of his 
profession. At this time Horace M. Shepard, also from New- 
town, was practicing law in that village, where he had been 
settled two or three years, but removed in a few weeks, and 
soon after died. 

Mr. Blackman married on the 3d of June, 1832, Abby Beers, 
of his native town, and had two sons born at Humphreysville, 
both of whom graduated at Yale, the eldest, Samuel C, in the 
class of 1854, and Charles S., in the class of 1857. Three gen- 
erations of this family were present as graduates at a meeting 
of the alumni of this college at one of its commencements. 

Mr. Blackman remained at Humphreysville ten years, en- 
couraged by an increased and flattering practice, until he was 
elected to the state Senate from the fifth district. At the end 
of the session of the Legislature he removed to Waterbury to 
take charge of the probate office of that district, and in conse- 
quence of the sickness and lamented death of Judge Robinson 
S. Merriman he was called to take charge of the probate court 
of New Haven, thus dividing his time between the two dis- 
tricts. This led him to remove his law office to New Haven, 



BIOGRAPHIES. 537 

where he has since resided. In 1855 he was elected as one of 
the representatives from New Haven, his colleague being ex- 
Gov. James E. English. While a member of the Legislature 
he was elected mayor of New Haven and served in that office 
one year, declining a re-nomination, and refusing ever since to 
be a candidate for election to any political office. He was 
elected for one year by the Legislature judge of the county 
court, and on hearing of his appointment immediately sent his 
written declination of the same to the Hon. Origin S. Seymour, 
speaker of the House, who assumed the responsibility of not 
presenting it to that body, and he was persuaded to fill the 
office one year, although he preferred the office of an advocate 
to any position or other employment. But he did consent, un- 
der the appointment of the late Andrew T. Judson, judge of 
the United States district court, to accept the office of clerk of 
that court and of the circuit court of the United States, which 
appointment was continued by the late Judge Charles A. In- 
gersoll and William D. Shipman, and he held these offices from 
1852 to 1867, when Judge Loren P. Waldo was appointed his 
successor, and the office and records were then removed to 
Hartford. 

Since his retirement from the active practice of his profession 
in 1872, in consequence of impaired health, he has been occu-« 
pied most of the time in his private library, in miscellaneous 
reading, and receiving the social calls of his friends and taking 
a daily drive in seasonable weather. His brethren of the New 
Haven county bar have caused his portrait to be painted, of life 
size in oil, and suspended in the superior court room, attached 
to which, in a frame, is a copy of the correspondence which ex- 
plains itself. As it is of appropriate character it is given a 
place in these pages, and is as follows : 

" New Haven, November 9, 1878. 
Hon. Alfred Blackman : 

Dear Sir — Desiring to express in some suitable manner our personal 
regard for you, and in recognition of the distinguished position you 
have held at the bar of this state, and also your services in securing the 
erection of our new court house, we have placed your portrait in the 
superior court room. We trust our election in this respect will be 
agreeable to you and gratifying to your numerous friends. 
68 



538 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Very sincerely your friends and brethren at the bar, 

John S. Beach, George H. Watrous, 

C. R. Ingersoll, D- R- Wright. 

H. B. Harrison, Charles Ives, 

T. E. Doolittle, Francis Wayland, 

J. W. Webster, Arthur D. Osborne, 

Luzon B. Morris, Louis H. Bristol, 

Simeon E. Baldwin, Samuel L. Bronson. 

New Haven, January, 1879. 
To Messrs. John S. Beach, Charles R. Ingersoll. Arthur D. Osborne, 
and others, members of the New Haven county bar : 

Gentlemen — Your esteemed favor informing me of your action in pro- 
curing my portrait to be painted and placed in the superior court room 
was recently received, and impressed my heart with warm and abiding 
gratitude. You may be assured that such an unmerited act of kind- 
ness is agreeable to me and commands my cordial approbation. 

To be associated with the portraits of the learned and acute Bald- 
win, the eloquent and amiable Ingersoll, and the noble hearted and 
generous Foster, in the arena of their forensic exploits, and in the 
building which you are so kind as to say I contributed some service in 
securing its erection, is gratifying to my ardent professional ambition. 
We belong, my friends, to a somewhat belligerent profession : and if, 
after nearly a half century of^ intimate association and conflict with 
my brethren, I have so far succeeded as to be entitled to this ante 
mortem token of your esteem and the generous words you so kindly ex- 
press, you will believe me when I say that I am now and ever shall be. 
with sincere gratitude. 

Your affectionate friend and brother, 

Alfred Blackman.'' 

Fixed in his principles. Judge Blackman seldom entered the 
arena of politics, oftener rejecting than accepting the tender of 
political honors, choosing rather to confine himself to the duties 
of his profession. Affable and gentlemanly in his manners, 
blessed with a classical education, shrewd and clear-sighted in 
his capacities, a ready and pleasing speaker, he has won for 
himself a reputation that enrolls his name among the first mem- 
bers of the New Haven bar. — Since writing the above Mr. 
Blackman has died, having passed away April 28, 1880. 



BKHiRAPHIES. 539 

FREDERICK P. BLODGETT, M. D., 

Was born at Broad Brook, Conn., January 6, 1847. His early 
school days were passed at the public schools, and Ellington 
Academy from which he graduated, and entering Yale Medical 
College in 1868, was graduated at that institution in 1871, 
receiving the degree M. D. He has practiced his profession 
in Ansonia since 1871, with the exception of three years. 
Although a young man. Dr. Blodgett has gained ,a large and 
remunerative practice, of which many an older physician might 
well feel proud. The only public office held during his resi- 
dence in Ansonia is that of registrar of vital statistics which 
position he held two years. 

REV. JOHN BOWERS 

Was a native of England, the son of George Bowers who was in 
Scituate, Mass., in 1637, in Plymouth in 1639, removed to 
Cambridge where his wife was buried March 25, 1644. John 
was graduated at Harvard College in 1649', ^^^ was a school- 
master in Plymouth, perhaps (says Savage) the earliest in the 
business. He came to New Haven in the spring of 1653 to 
teach, which he did some years. We hear of him next in Guil- 
ford, where in 1660, he purchased an estate and supplied the 
pulpit for three or four years until Mr. Joseph Elliot was settled 
in 1664. 

On the removal of Abraham Pierson with other planters 
from Branford in 1667, Mr. Pierson engaged Mr. Bowers to 
supply his place until the end of the year. After this as Rev. 
T. P. Gillettof Branford informs, "Mr. Bowers received an invi- 
tation to settle with the people although no church was organ- 
ized. He remained until February, 1672, and then gave the 
town liberty to provide a minister for themselves, which they 
accepted." In November, 1673, he was preaching regularly in 
Derby and the people made provision to build him a house, in 
which he afterwards resided. In the spring of 167 1, Derby 
granted him twelve acres of land and he had probably preached 
here some at that time, and was here during most of the year 
1673. For his salary during 1674 he agreed to take what the 



^American Quarterly Register viii. 335. 



540 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

people were willing to give, and after that for some years he 
received fifty pounds a year. 

In 1684 he was very sick and made a will which was recorded 
by the town clerk. He probably died on the 14th of June, 1687, 
and yet it is unaccountable how it should occur that the town 
clerk should have recorded the death of a minister without 
writing Mr. to his name as in this case. I do not remember to 
have seen a minister's name written before the Revolution with- 
out the "Mr." attached. 

He married at New Haven, Bridget daughter of Anthony'^ 
Thompson of New Haven, who survived him until May 19, 1720. 

REV. JOHN BRAINARD 

Was born in Hartford, Conn., June 4, 1830, was fitted for col- 
lege at the Hartford Grammar school and Cheshire Academy ; 
was graduated at Trinity College in 185 1, pursued his theologi- 
cal course at the Berkley Divinity school, and was ordained dea- 
con by Bishop Brownell December 18, 1853. 

He was assistant minister at Grace Church at Baltimore for 
two years and ordained priest by Bishop Whittingham May 28, 
1856. He was called to the rectorship of St James's Church 
of Birmingham in 1856, where he remained until November, 
1863, when he resigned to accept the rectorship of St. Peter's 
Church at Auburn, N. Y. 

Mr. Brainard was a very acceptable, exemplary and efficient 
pastor and his resignation was much regretted by the parish. 
In 1870 he received the degree of S. T. D., from Trinity College, 
Hartford, and is at present rector of St Peter's Church, Auburn. 

THOMAS BURLOCK 

Was born in New York, October i, 1804; was educated in 
Connecticut, and for two years was a close student in Yale Col- 
lege. After his marriage to Caroline, the acomplished daughter 
of Clarke Elliott, he was largely and successfully engaged some 
years in New York city as a grain distiller and sugar refiner. 
Retiring from this business he removed to Huntington in 1840. 
Having no profession, and being of an active and sanguine 
temperament, he took a lively interest in the political issues of 

^See chapter ii of this history, and the family genealogy. 



BIOGRAPHIES. 54I 

that day, and revolutionized the politics of Huntington and was 
elected in 1847 as a whig representative from that old demo- 
cratic town. On his removal to Derby he became variously 
interested in manufacturing pursuits, but this did not lessen his 
devotion to whig principles, and he represented Derby with 
great credit in the Legislature in 1848-9. 

Mr. Burlock was a man of talent, and of gentlemanly manners, 
and was one of the finest and most elegant off-hand speakers of 
the town. He died, much lamented, very suddenly of heart 
disease, October 3, 1865. 

ABIEL CANFIELD, 

A soldier of the Revolution, was born April 6, 1753, and enlisted 
in the company of Capt. Nathan Pierson as piper, May 8, 1777, 
and marched to New Haven the same day, where he remained 
with the forces for the protection of the city and harbor during 
the term of his service. His residence was in Chusetown 
where he had a shop and manufactured brass and pewter buttons, 
buckles, sleighbells, metal, and tags. He employed an English 
engineer to cut the dies used in making the figures on the but- 
tons, for military and other purposes. He afterwards purchased 
of Bradford Steele the house east of the Episcopal Church and 
built a shop near it. He died December 6, 1812, aged fifty-nine 
years'. 

BEN. ADAM GASTON, M. D., 

Was graduated at Castleton, Vermont, Medical College ; 
Located in Humphreysville in 1829, and remained until 1833. 
He is still practicing in Clinton, Conn. 

GEORGE W. CHEESEMAN 

Was born in New York in 1823, removed to Stratford, Conn., 
in 1833, and to Birmingham in 1842, and was employed by E. 
N. Shelton as book-keeper about five years. He then entered 
the general mercantile business with his brother-in-law, John 
W. Osborn, and they continued in Birmingham until 1858, 
when they commenced the manufacture of hoop-skirts, and in 
1859 removed their manufactory to Ansonia, where they have 
found success in their enterprises. Mr. Cheeseman's father, 

^History of Seymour. 



542 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

George Weeks Cheeseman, died when this son was only six years 
old, but a noble-hearted and Christian mother molded the mind 
and habits of her son, who has been an honor to her good name. 

Mr. Cheeseman is a representative man and highly influen- 
tial in the social and business circles in which he moves. His 
circumspect daily work, being identified with many benevolent 
and Christian efforts, has commanded the respect and confi- 
dence of the community. 

He married Sarah Durand of Derby, a most estimable 
woman, whose life has always abounded in Christian works. 

JOHN COE, 

A good representative of the Coe family, was born in Bethany, 
and for many years was a successful manufacturer and dealer 
in leather at Beacon Falls. In his later years he made Birming- 
ham his residence, and was esteemed among the useful and 
most exemplary citizens. He was a consistent Methodist, 
walking after the example of his first ancestor and namesake in 
Derby ; one of his peculiar traits being to watch and care for, 
in a quiet way, the poor of the community. He died greatly 
respected, December 15, 1876, aged sixty-one years. 

REV. TRUEMAN COE 

Was born in Derby, December 9, 1788, and obtained his early 
education mostly in the shoe-shop at the old Coe place on Sen- 
tinel Hill. While at work on the bench he always kept his 
book before him, making daily progress in a single study 
at a time. After learning his trade he commenced school- 
teaching, which occupation he followed some years with much 
satisfaction in the public school and academy at Up Town, and 
afterwards was engaged with Josiah Holbrook in the agricultu- 
ral college on the Holbrook place. Yale College conferred on 
him the degree of A. B. About 1828 he entered the ministry 
in the Congregational church, when forty years of age, and in 
1832 settled in Kirkland, Ohio, and was a logical and entertain- 
ing preacher. In classical learning he is said to have been 
ahead of his time, and exerted a strong moral, religious and ed- 
ucational influence in Derby, where he was much respected 
and is still pleasantly remembered. 




^ 




HmuKAlMIIKS. 54j 



THE BROTHERS COLBURN. 



Sylvester and Sullivan M. Colburn, twin brothers, were born 
in Stafford, Conn., December 7, 1806, and were sons of Daniel 
Colburn who was the father of thirteen children, all being now 
deceased except the eldest, Dr. J. M. Colburn. These twin 
sons had no education save a few months in the district school. 
When they came to New Haven, they were employed as errand 
boys by different stores, by which they picked up a few pennies 
"to help themselves along." 

They started, in Westville, the business of casting, on a small 
scale, and from that place removed to Birmingham in the 
infancy of the village. After a time they disposed of their 
interests in the iron foundry at Birmingham and removed to 
Ansonia, and became much interested in the growth and suc- 
cess of the place. 

In their habits and methods of doing business, they were 
peculiar. Having married sisters, and both having large fami- 
lies, all bills were paid from the common stock of one pocket- 
book, and no account kept. Horace Greeley like, they often 
carried their valuable notes in the crown of their hats, dealing 
loosely with their customers, and yet they made money. The 
people said, " these Colburns are lucky." If flood or fire threat- 
ened their property, they generally " whistled," seemingly 
unconcerned, and everything came out right for them. Twice 
within six weeks was Sullivan, while at work on a water-wheel 
in Ansonia, thrown into a race and carried under-ground a 
distance of 150 feet without injury. 

These brothers proved themselves valuable acquisitions to the 
town, and we take pleasure in recording them among the enter- 
prising men of Birmingham and Ansonia. 

JO.SI.AH M. COI.BUKN, M. D., 

Was born at Stafford, December 20, 1799, and obtained his 
early education in the district school. He received his degree 
of M. D., August 22, 1822, at the Yale Medical College, and, 
soon after located in Orange, Conn., where he married Miss 
Clarke and conducted an extensive practice until he came to 
Derby in 1839. Here he j^racticed successful!)- for some years, 



544 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

when his health becoming infirm by a dangerous illness he 
abandoned it and became a partner with his twin brothers in 
the Birmingham Iron Foundry. On their removal to Ansonia 
the Doctor followed, and was at one time president of the 
Ansonia Bank. He was assessor of the town, selectman, long 
a justice of the peace, and has always been a firm supporter of 
the Congregational church. 

JOHN W. DE FOREST, 

Son of John Hancock, and Dotha (Woodward) De Forest, was 
born March 31, 1826, at Humphrey sville, Conn. 

In 1846-7 he traveled eighteen months in the Levant ; visit- 
ing Greece, Constantinople, the Holy Land and Northern Syria. 
Returning home he collected the materials for the " History 
of the Indians of Connecticut," and finished that work dur- 
ing his twenty-third year. 

He then went to Europe and remained four years ; visiting 
England, France, Germany and Italy, acquiring during the 
time the French, Italian and Spanish languages. Having found 
rest once more in his native America he devoted himself to lit- 
erature in connection with magazines and the publishing of 
books ; his earliest volumes being two books of travels, " Ori- 
ental Acquaintance " and " European Acquaintance," and 
soon after followed two novels, " Witching Times " and " Sea- 
cliff." 

The civil war breaking out he raised a company and entered 
the service as captain of company I, 12th regiment Connecticut 
volunteers, in which he saw over three years of field duty, in- 
cluding several battles in Louisiana and Virginia, and the siege 
of Port Hudson, in all forty-six days under fire, receiving one 
wound. Brevetted major and transferred to the invalid corps, 
he served over three years longer, acting as adjutant-general 
of the invalid corps, and subsequently as chief of a district un- 
der the Freedmen's Bureau. 

Returning to civil life he re-commenced writing, and pro- 
duced successively the novels, " Miss Ravenel," " Overland," 
"Kate Beaumont," "The Wetherel Affair," "Honest John 
Vane," " Playing the Mischief," " Justine Vane," and "Alice 
the Missionary;" several of them being published as serials in 





^^Tiyji^^y 



BIOGRAPHIES. 545 

the leading magazines. Besides these he has written some 
fifty short stories, a number of articles and reviews, and many 
fugitive poems. 

Mr. De Forest is residing in New Haven and pursuing his 
literary tastes. 

SIDNEY A. DOWNES 

Was born in Huntington, Conn., in 1817, and came to Birming- 
ham in 1838 and entered into mercantile business, but afterward 
engaged in the hardware business in the store now occupied by 
F. Hallock and Company. Still later he became interested in 
the manufacture of hoop skirts, and up to January, 1880, was 
business manager of the house of Downes and Bassett, corset 
manufacturers. 

Mr. Downes has held many offices of trust, among them, 
judge of probate, town clerk and assessor, besides being admin- 
istrator on many estates. He is held in high esteem by the 
citizens of Derby, and in business relations has established a 
reputation for honesty and fidelity which few public men attain. 

WILLIAM E. DOWNES 

Was born in Milford, August 22, 1824. After leaving the com- 
mon school he prepared for college under the instruction of 
Rev. Asa M. Train, entered Yale in 1841, and was gradu- 
ated with honor in 1845. He read law with the Hon. Alfred 
Blackman one year ; was in the law-school one year, was 
admitted to the bar in the autumn of 1848, and in December 
of the same year came to Derby, opened an office and com- 
menced the practice of his profession in which he continued 
about fifteen years, securing a growing business and a fine 
reputation as a lawyer at the New Haven county bar. On 
June 24, 185 1, he was married by the Rev. Mr. Guion of the 
Episcopal church to Miss Jane Maria, the only daughter of the 
late Dr. John I. Howe. Doct. Howe, resigning the general 
management of the Howe Manufacturing Company in 1863, 
urged his son-in-law to relinquish his profession and take his 
place in the company. Mr. Downes hesitated, as his taste and 
legal habits had wedded him to his profession, but he finally 
yielded, assumed the position, and since the death of Doct. 
09 



546 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Howe in September, 1876, has been principally engaged with 
his father-in-law's estate and manufacturing interests. He has 
generally neglected political preferment, but consented to 
represent the town in the Legislature in 1855, and for years has 
been a valuable member of the Board of Education in the town. 
He has been a continuous director in the Ousatonic Water 
Company, and was very efficient in carrying forward the magnifi- 
cent project of building the Ousatonic dam. 

A ripe scholar, progressive in literary attainments, kind, con- 
siderate and liberal to the poor, without ostentation ; identi- 
fied with various enterprises as a capitalist, Mr. Downes occupies 
a commanding and influential position in the community. 

CHARLES DURAND 

Was born in Derby, the son of Samuel Durand, a plain farmer 
who could give to his son only the benefits of a common school 
education. His entrance into public life was first as a clerk and 
afterwards a merchant in New Haven. Thence he went to New 
York city and entered business as a dry goods merchant, but 
subsequently turned his attention to manufacturing, and was 
active in forming the Osborn and Cheeseman Company of An- 
sonia. 

Mr. Durand possesses considerable talent, is of pleasing ad- 
dress, a fine off-hand speaker, and in several whig and republi- 
can presidential campaigns has taken the platform and rendered 
good service to his political principles. He was twice elected 
from Derby as representative to the Legislature, and in 1877 
was elected Speaker of the House, which position he discharged 
with fidelity and credit to his party. 

DOCT. HOSEA DUTTON 

Was born in Southington, Conn., and settled in Derby (now Ox- 
ford) about one hundred years ago. He was self-educated, 
made good progress in Latin, Greek and Hebrew without a 
tutor, and was an expert in mathematics. W^ith these advant- 
ages he seems to have had full command of the place, holding 
nearly all the offices ; and was bitterly opposed to the settle- 
ment of a rival physician, especially when Doct. Noah Stone 
encroached upon his territory. He was rather changeable in 




ayu [yiyiyi-6^yL j' Oly/^/'"-'^C 



BIOGRAPHIES. 547 

his religious proclivities, being first a Presbyterian, then a 
Methodist, afterwards a Baptist, and finally an Episcopalian. 
On the purchase of a bell for the Congregational church, he 
gave one month's earnings from his profession, which amounted 
to $26. He was a strong whig in the Revolution and was 
roughly opposed by the tories. He died at Oxford in his ninety- 
second year. 

His son, Thomas A. Button, succeeded him, and had an ex- 
tensive practice for several years, when he removed to New- 
town, Conn., in 1845, thence to Birmingham and afterwards to 
Milford, and finally to West Haven, where he now resides in 
feeble health at an advanced age. In all these places Doct. 
Dutton secured the confidence of the people as a physician. 

ALMON FARRELL 

Was a native of Waterbury, where he learned of his father the 
trade of a millwright, and for many years was the leading mill- 
wright, machinist, builder and contractor in his line, in the 
Naugatuck valley. There has been probably no other man in 
the state who superintended the construction of so many first 
mills and manufacturing establishments. He was noted for the 
strength and durability of his work. Specimens of his skill 
abound in Waterbury, Seymour, Derby, Thomaston, Wolcott- 
ville, Bristol, Westville, Pequonnock, Newtown, and many other 
places.* 

Mr. Farrell was largely identified with the early history of 
Birmingham and Ansonia, being adviser to and in the employ 
of Anson G. Phelps and others. Through his instrumentality 
the Seymour dam, built by Raymond French, was purchased, it 
being necessary to the growth of Ansonia. 

He was self taught, and his success in life was owing much 
to his native genius and perseverance. He died in the prime 
of life and in the midst of his usefulness. May 31, 1857. 

FRANKLIN FARRELL, 

Son of Almon Farrell, was born in Waterbury, Feb. 17, 1828. 
He had only a common school education, and, like many boys 
who have made their marks in the world, he "roughed it" in 
''Bronson's History of Waterbury, 389. 



548 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

early life. At fourteen he commenced to learn the trade of a 
millwright under the practical teaching of his father. In De- 
cember, 1844, he came to Derby and assisted his father in 
engineering for the water works and other projects within the 
limits of Ansonia. The place was then a sandy region, and, 
many times when Anson G. Phelps was watching the progress 
of the surveying, Franklin built fires under the trees or in 
some corner to secure warmth for the party in the winter 
months. 

In 1849 he went into the foundry and machine business in 
the firm of Farrell and Johnson. Almon Farrell, his father, put 
into the firm ;^8,ooo, and S. and S. M. Colburn with Dr. Josiah 
M. Colburn put in $7,000. With this small capital as a start- 
ing point the concern (afterwards reorganized under the name 
of the Farrell Foundry and Machine Company) has increased 
to a capital of $500,000. This speaks for the capabilities of 
Mr. Farrell who is its manager. 

He has devoted himself with great assiduity to his business, 
which has been varied and extensive, and his labors have been 
crowned with success. He is liberal, especially to his church, 
and is a prominent citizen of the community. 

ROSWELL FREEMAN. 

Near by the old road that winds its way through the woods 
above Derby Neck, there stands a rude domicile, built nearly 
one hundred years ago. So secluded is the spot that its dwell- 
ers from within could never see the rising nor setting sun, 
though surrounded with romantic, beautiful and poetic scenery. 
Here was born, reared and educated the last sable governor of 
Connecticut, Roswell Freeman, who died October 6, 1877, aged 
seventy-four years. 

His father was a slave to Agur Tomlinson, though he 
"bossed " his master, and when young was only known by the 
name of Quash. His mother, whose name was Rose, was a 
.slave to the Rev. Mr. Yale, a minister of the Presbyterian 
church. When the state of Connecticut threw off the yoke of 
human bondage Quash took the name of Quash Freeman, 
which he always retained. Tomlinson gave him the above hut, 
a cow, and the use of some thirty acres of land, at his freedom. 



BIOGRAPHIES. 549 

According to the custom of the colored freemen of that time, 
Quash was elected governor of the state. He held the office 
for many years. He was a man of herculean strength, a giant 
six-footer, and it is said of him that he could take a bull by the 
horns and the nose and at once prostrate him to the ground. 
No one ever dared to molest or tried to make him afraid, and 
when he was approaching from a distance he awakened the 
sense of a coming thunder cloud. 

Tradition has it that one dark night he was out with his son 
Roswell, on the Ousatonic, fishing, and a party from the other 
side came in collision with his skiff and were much damaged. 
They sang out : " There is a lot of niggers over this side, and 
if you don't keep your net out of our way we will come over 
and flax you out." Quash curtly replied, " Nigger this side, 
too." Enough was said ; they knew his voice and dared not 
trouble him. Physically speaking. Quash was probably the 
strongest and largest man that ever shared the gubernatorial 
honors of this commonwealth. 

■ Roswell, his son, was the father of thirteen children, by 
Nancy, who survives him. One of these children, a female, de- 
veloped the muscle of her grandfather, Quash, having repeat- 
edly, it is said, lifted a barrel of cider into a cart or on a 
wagon. 

Roswell, by profession, it might be said, was a fox hunter, 
and the board whereon he stretched his fox skins from time to 
time showed that during his life he had shot and captured three 
hundred and thirty-one foxes. He was three times elected 
governor of the state, and there was fun and frolic in those 
days over the election of a colored governor. The writer of 
this well recollects a notice some fifty years ago, published in 
the papers, which read as follows : 

ATTENTION FREEMEN ! 

There will be a general election of the colored gentlemen of Con- 
necticut, October first, twelve o'clock, noon. The day will be cele- 
brated in the evening by a dance at Warner's tavern, where it will be 
shown that there is some power left in muscle, cat-gut and rosin. 

By order of the Governor, ) 
From Head-quarters, j 



550 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Roswell was less popular as governor than some of his prede- 
cessors, for he was opposed to "treating" on election day. 
These elections were held at Oxford and Humphreysville, but 
more generally at Hawkins Point in Derby. 

The method of choosing or electing the governor was 
changed from time to time, to meet the wishes of different can- 
didates. They had no ballot stuffing, returning boards, or cor- 
rupt and civilized practice of buying votes. On one occasion 
at Hawkins Point the election was decided on muscle, which 
might contrast oddly with the Olympic games of the ancient 
Greeks. There were four or five candidates. It will be recol- 
lected that the Old Point House well, which lives among the 
legends of Derby, and about which strange stories are still told, 
stood near the edge of the steep and long sand-bank which 
reached down to the Ousatonic turnpike. Up this bank it was 
almost impossible for mortal man to ascend, and many who at- 
tempted would fall and roll to the bottom before reaching the top. 
The candidates were to start with their heels drawn on a line from 
the turnpike, equidistant from each other, and the one who as- 
cended the sand-bank, which stood at an angle of forty-five de- 
grees, reaching the top and planting his dexter upon the curb 
of that famous old well, was to be the victorious governor. The 
spectacle was amusing, exciting the risibilities of the most pious 
and long-faced man in town. Tobias, the elder, the bigger, 
alias Black Eben, the father of E. D. Bassett, our Haytian min- 
ister, was the successful competitor. Tobias came off with 
flying colors, for he was caparisoned with gay feathers, flowers 
and ribbons of red, white and blue, which gave a most laugha- 
ble and imposing character to the whole ceremony. Many 
amusing reminiscences in connection with these general elec- 
tions might be narrated. 

Roswell Freeman was a Samson among the foxes of New 
Haven county. Many a sly Reynard, who had made his in- 
roads upon various barn-yards, was brought to bay by his hounds 
and fatal shots, and for this he was called the "farmer's bene- 
factor." Roswell, it is said, was never in a quarrel with his 
neighbors or anybody else. Living quietly, soberly and peace- 
fully, he enjoyed this world's goods in his own way, with little 
or none of the anxieties and perplexities incident to the life of 



P.IOGRAPHIES. 551 

the wisest of statesmen or the most fortunate of milHonaires. 
The pen of eulogy might find much to record in favor of his 
life and character, springing as they did from humble birth. 

" Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife 

His soJDer wishes never learned to stray ; 
Along the cool, sequestered vale of life 

He kept the noiseless tenor of his way." 

DAVID FRENCH, ESQ., 

The eldest son of Israel French, was a patriot of the Revolu- 
tion, going to Boston after the battle of Bunker Hill to assist 
in resisting the encroachments of despotism. He was trial 
justice of the north part of the town of Woodbridge many years, 
having more cases than any other justice of his time. He rep- 
resented the town of Woodbridge in the General Assembly 
twenty successive years. He built his first log-house in Ny- 
umphs on land he afterwards gave to his son Luther. He was 
for many years a deacon of the First Congregational church of 
Bethany, under the Rev. Stephen Hawley, but in later life be- 
came a Methodist, although never of the enthusiastic kind. In 
his political life he was much accustomed to public speaking, 
having a strong voice and expressing his opinions with much 
frankness, energy and confidence, by which he commanded 
much respect and influence. He died August 4, 1821, aged 
eighty years. '^ 

SAMUEL M. GARDNER 

Was born in East Hampton, Long Island, N. Y., in 1841, and 
died at Birmingham, Conn., March 29, 1880. He was gradu- 
ated at Princeton college, N. J., in 1864, devoted himself to the 
study of law and was admitted to the bar in Poughkeepsie, 
N. Y., in 1866. He came to Derby in 1867, and a year later 
began his official connection with the town affairs, serving as 
town clerk from 1868 to 1874, and acting also as judge of pro- 
bate from 1 87 1 to 1873. He was a member of the Board of 
P^ducation of the town for three terms, being a member at the 
time of his death. He was a member of the republican town 
committee for several years, and represented the town in the 
Legislature from 1878 to 1880, serving two years on the most 

^History of Sevniour. 



552 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

important of the joint standing committees, tlie judiciary, and 
acting as clerk of the committee in 1879. The last year, in ad- 
dition to his duties on that committee he was chairman of the 
committee on engrossed bills. He was one of the most indefa- 
tigable workers among the members, and was one of the lead- 
ers of the republican side of the House. 

Mr. Gardner was at one time Grand Chancellor of the 
Knights of Pythias of this state, and at the time of his death 
was a supreme representative. He belonged to the endow- 
ment rank and his family will receive $3,000. 

In his character he was exemplary ; for in all that consti- 
tutes nobility of manhood, true dignity of character, honesty 
and integrity of purpose, gentleness of manner, and a iirm and 
conscientious reliance upon the fundamental principles of 
Christianity as his guide in life, he was the peer of any man in 
the community. All these traits were beautifully and consist- 
ently rounded out in his daily walk and conversation, and it 
was these that made him conspicuous in society, and won for 
him the kindly regard and warm esteem of everybody. In 
whatever relation he occupied, whether as town clerk, probate 
judge, or the framer of the laws of the commonwealth, he was 
the same earnest, patient, careful and conscientious worker ; 
and in many instances his sound judgment and keen perception 
have been advantageously employed in the interests of the 
state. Outside of his own community he won for himself a 
notable distinction by the devotion which he gave to public 
interests, and it was in the midst of this devotion that he 
was stricken down. He carried into his profession the same 
characteristics that marked his other relations in life, and by 
such an honorable course has won for himself and his profes- 
sion lasting honor and respect. 

ISAAC J. GILBERT, 

Although radical in his notions of men and things, yet upon 
most great questions that have agitated the public mind, subse- 
quent events have proved that he was radically right. He was 
one of the earliest abolitionists, and when the news came of 
the hanging of John Brown his was the hand that scandalized 
a large portion of the community by tolling the church bell, 



BIOGRAPHIES. 553 

commemorative of the event. He has been a life-long advo- 
cate of temperance, and during the early days of the Maine 
law prosecutions he was very active, perhaps vindictive, in 
seeing the law maintained, and this rendered him obnoxious to 
certain individuals, and secured him many enemies. Twice 
was his tannery destroyed by fire, as was at the time believed, 
by those who imagined they suffered from the course he pur- 
sued. Whatever his mistakes, in his old age he was a friend to 
the slave and to those who indulged in the cup, when it cost 
money and secured scorn to hold the principles which he did. 

TRUMAN GILBERT 

Was one of three brothers, Truman, Lucius and Ezekiel ; the 
last figuring in the history of ancient Derby as a merchant in 
what was then Humphreysville. Truman learned the house 
builder's trade of Agur Curtis at Huntington Landing, and 
came to Derby when twenty-one years of age, where he mar- 
ried Anna, daughter of Capt. Eneas Smith. He built the edi- 
fice known as the First Congregational church in Derby, and 
many dwellings, employing many men and apprentices. He 
built at Derby Landing Bristol's Wharf, and also the first house 
in Birmingham. He also established the first lumber-yard in 
the town, which business he continued until a short time before 
his death. His business partners were, Andrew Johnson, 
Chester Curtiss, Capt. Lyman Osborn and L. H. Russell, the 
last residing in Stratford. He was in the war of 1812, under 
Col. Robert Gates. He was one of the pioneers in the temper- 
ance cause, was eminently a religious man, served as one of the 
selectmen of the town several years, and died in 1857, at the 
age of fifty-eight years. 

REV. THOMAS GUION, D. D., 

Was born in Bedford, N. Y., August 31, 1817 ; was educated 

at Trinity College, Harford, graduating in the year 1840. 

Advanced to the ministry, he first acted as a missionary in the 

EpiscojDal church at different places. On the resignation of 

Rev. Wm. B. Ashby he was called to the rectorship of St. 

James's parish, Derby, and for four and a half years was a most 

faithful, beloved and acceptable minister of God. 
70 



554 



HISTORY OF DERBY. 



Dr. Guion was called from Birmingham to the rectorship of 
St. John's Church, Brooklyn, N. Y., where in 1862, "he ceased 
from his labors." He was truly a good man, "full of faith and 
the Holy Ghost." 

ZEPHANIAH HALLOCK 

Was born on Long Island in 1792, and died in Derby, January 
II, 1870. He came to Derby about 1816 and engaged in ship 





^j;S^iX^d^(h^/L^^ 



building, first at Sugar street and afterwards at Derby Nar- 
rows, where he built many vessels in company with his brother, 
Israel Hallock. 

Few men, if any, ever lived in the town more universally 
respected than Zephaniah Hallock. In early life he became 




4)^ld>awh^ 



lilOCKAPIIIKS. 555 

a zealous member of the Congregational church, and his 
daily life and devotion to moral and religious principles, with 
his manifested desire to do good, inspired full public confidence 
in his Christian profession. He was seldom absent from the 
stated services of the sanctuary, and, being of a cheerful mind, 
he was delighted in the society and prosperity of others of what- 
ever denomination. It is refreshing to think of an aged soldier 
of the cross whose every day walk has been a steady and shin- 
ing light in the "straight and narrow path." 

FREDERICK HALL, M. D., 

Was born at Derby, June 26, 1842 ; graduated at Bellevue 
Medical College, New York, in 1869, and entered upon the 
duties of his profession in New York city. He was also located 
at Stratford, Conn , for three years, and latterly has made his 
residence at Derby where he is at present in active practice. 

ABRAM HAWKINS 

Was born in Derby November 16, 18 10, and resided here until 
1828 when he removed to Bridgeport to learn the trade of a 
blacksmith. He afterward returned to Birmingham and in 
1837, in connection with his two brothers, David and William, 
commenced the manufacture of carriage and wagon axles. The 
business was continued for a time when David withdrew and 
the two remaining continued the enterprise until 1846, during 
which time the manufacture of carriage springs was added to 
the business. About this time Henry Atwater of New York 
purchased a one-third interest in the firm, and in 1847 the com- 
pany built and organized the well known and extensive " Iron 
and Steel Works." 

In 1849 Abram became associated with his brother William 
and other gentlemen in the formation of a new company for 
the manufacture of carriage and wagon axles under the name 
of the Hawkins Manufacturing Company, which was success- 
fully conducted until 1865 under the management of William 
Hawkins, when the business was closed and the capital re- 
turned to the stockholders with a liberal amount of surplus 
that had accumulated. 

Abram continued his interest in the Iron and Steel Works 



556 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

until 1857 when he withdrew and went to New York, where he 
engaged in the manufacture and sale of iron and iron wire. 

As one of the pioneers of Birmingham Mr. Hawkins was 
enterprising and public spirited, and his departure from the 
town has always been regretted. He was twice warden of the 
borough, besides filling many other important positions. 

WILLIAM HAWKINS 

Was born in Derby, July 6, 18 16, and like his brother Abram 
had but little advantages of education. He learned his trade 
as machinist in 1834, and was associated with his brother for 
many years in Birmingham, and since dissolving partnership 
has conducted the manufacture of skates, wrenches and other 
hardware implements. 

He is now associated in a new company, formed April i, 1880, 
for the manufacture of bits and augers in connection with his 
ether business. 

He has been warden of the borough, and has held ofifice in 
the town. 

This Hawkins family springs from good stock, having de- 
scended from one of the original settlers of the town. 

BENJAMIN HODGE 

Was born in Milford, Conn., September 13, 1793, and came to 
Derby when quite a youth, making his residence in the family 
of Col. David Johnson, one of Derby's old residents. After a 
few years he married Anna, daughter of Capt. Jared Bartholo- 
mew of Derby. He was a prominent citizen of the town until 
his death, July 26, 1868. In the war of 181 2 he was very 
enthusiastic and enlisted in a Derby company and went to New 
London under Capt. Gates, but the British having evacuated 
that place he returned home with his company. For many 
years he was in full charge of Leman Stone's business, that of 
seed raising, and sharing his confidence until Mr. Stone's 
decease, when he assumed the business himself and conducted 
it successfully many years, until his health failed. He was a 
very active member of society ; was some time president of the 
Derby Temperance organization, and being faithful in many 




*^& 



VI. 



M 



o;t^ 





cr(y-ty^ 



BIOGRAPHIES. ' 557 

good deeds he gained for himself the credit of a useful and 
exemplary citizen. 

JOSIAH HOLBROOK^ 

Was the son of Col. Daniel Holbrook of Derby, where he was 
born in 1788. Colonel Holbrook was an energetic, prosperous 
farmer, andaman of wealth and extensive influence. His house 
was that now a little south-east of the Swift farm. His son re- 
ceived the ordinary common school education of the day, fitted 
for college under Rev. Amasa Porter of Derby, entered Yale 
College in 1806, and was graduated in 18 10. Five years 
afterward he married a daughter of Rev. Zephaniah Swift of 
Derby. She died in 18 19, leaving two sons, Alfred and Dwight. 
On the death of his father and mother about that time, the care 
of the farm devolved upon him, and it was during the period oc- 
cupied in this vocation that the ideas which were the central 
ones of his subsequent labors first occurred to his mind. 

Acting on these views he opened, about that time, on his own 
farm, in connection with Rev. Truman Coe, then a teacher, one 
of the first schools in America which sought to teach a popular- 
ized form of natural science, and to combine manual labor with 
education. Boys in this school were allowed to pay a portion of 
their expenses by laboring on the farm. The institution was 
not permanent, but the experiment satisfied Mr. Holbrook of 
the practicability of the principle. We quote from a letter of 
Mr. Coe to a son of Mr. Holbrook, the following statements re- 
specting this school : 

" He had long cherished the idea of endeavoring to found an insti- 
tution in which the course of instruction should be plain and practical ; 
an agricultural school where the science of chemistry, and mechanics, 
and land surveying should be thoroughly drilled into the mind of the 
pupils by practice. With these views the Agricultural Seminary was 
commenced in Derby in 1824, and continued to the fall of 1825, under 
the direction of your father and myself, and. as far as I know, was the 
first educational movement of the kind in all that region. But the in- 
stitution, being unendowed and on a private footing, labored under 
many embarrassments, especially in never having land enough to ac- 
complish the ends of its founders. We did what we could to train the 
students in the analysis of soils, in the application of the mechanical 

''See Barnard's Journal of Isducation. 



558 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

powers to all farming operations, and took out our young men often 
into the field and country for practical surveying, geological excursions, 
road-making, and the labors of the farm, but, not being able at that 
time to place the school on an eligible foundation, it was abandoned." 

While at work on his farm, Mr. Holbrook's zeal in the pursuit 
of knowledge led him, with the design of increasing his acquaint- 
ance with chemistry, mineralogy and geology, to attend the lect- 
ures of Professor Silliman of New Haven ; riding over and back 
from Derby for that purpose, notwithstanding distance and an 
inclement season. 

The precise train of thought and of circumstances which led 
Mr. Holbrook to transfer his efforts from the farm and school at 
Derby to the wider field of popular scientific lecturing, there is 
no data for tracing. The American yournal of Education, then 
conducted by Mr. William Russell, contains in its tenth num- 
ber, October, 1826, a paper by Mr. Holbrook, setting forth his 
views on the subject of " Associations of Adults for the Purpose 
of Mutual Education," which gives some insight to his plans 
and propositions for the general public good ; and this was the 
earliest printed exposition of his principles, or propositions for 
general improvement of the people. 

In this paper to the yournal Mr. Holbrook gave nineteen 
rules for the organization and conducting of lyceums for general 
education and improvement. Every great enterprise requires 
a forerunner, or one to lay out the work, tell how to do it, and 
put the implements into the hands of the workmen, which, when 
done, it becomes easy to follow in the perfecting of the work. 

Mr. Holbrook having defined his plan, went soon after to 
Millbury, Mass., where he delivered a course of lectures, and at 
the close persuaded thirty or forty persons to organize them- 
selves into a society for mutual improvement, which at his re- 
quest was called Millbury Lyceum, a branch of the American 
Lyceum. This society was the first permanent one established 
in the country. From this time forward Mr. Holbrook devoted 
all his efforts for a long series of years to the organization of a 
system of institutions to bear the collective name of the Ameri- 
can Lyceum, 

During the years immediately following 1826, Mr. Holbrook 
made Boston his centre of operations, where he commenced, 



BIOGRAPHIES. 559 

about 1829, the manufacture of philosophical apparatus for com- 
mon schools, in which enterprise he was much aided by Timothy 
Claxton.'' By the desire of Mr. Ilolbrook a convention was held 
in Boston, May 15, 1830. which resulted in the organization of 
the American Institute of Instruction, and a recommendation of 
Teachers' Institutes; and numerous meetings of this kind were 
held during the following year. In 1830, also, Mr. Holbrook 
commenced the publication of a series entitled Scientific Tracts^, 
with the view of diffusing useful knowledge. After two years 
he surrendered the Tracts to Dr. J. V. C. Smith, and devoted 
^himself to the Lyceums and to the interests of a weekly paper, 
The Family Lycetini. 

About the year 1834 Mr. Holbrook left Boston and for a few 
years occupied himself chiefly to establish the Lyceum system 
in Pennsylvania, in which effort he was quite successful. While 
in this field of labor he conceived the plan of a Universal Ly- 
ceum, to introduce national Lyceums. A list of officers was 
made, with Lord Brougham as president, and was published with 
a brief outline of the aims of the institution, in a pamphlet, the 
" First Quarterly Report." His labors in Pennsylvania were 
greatly advantageous to common schools. 

His next effort was to establish Lyceum villages, the first of 
which he commenced in 1837 at Berea, Ohio, but which was a 
financial failure. 

His next engagement was in New York city in 1842, as cen- 
tral agent of his plan of School Exchanges which was a part of 
his original scheme of Lyceums, which seems to have been the 
collection of specimens of natural science, and general associa- 
tion of the societies. While in New York, his friend, Mr, Seton, 
then agent of public schools, drew up, with his assistance, a 
scheme for applying his favorite principle of education to that 
city.* This included particularly the teaching of drawing. 

In the spring of 1849 Mr. Holbrook went to Washington, 
D. C, to ascertain what aid could be secured from the govern- 
ment in behalf of his plans, and such was his encouragement in 
this respect that that city remained the centre of his operations 
until his death. 



"Life of Timothy Ciaxlon. 

**Fouiteenlli Rejjort of Tiustccs ol I'iil)lic Scl'.ools, New York. 



560 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

In May, 1854, he made a journey to Lynchburg, Va., on busi- 
ness connected with his enterprise ; and having walked out alone 
one morning, was evidently collecting minerals, as he had been 
busily engaged in doing for some weeks, from the face of a pre- 
cipitous cliff overhanging a deep creek, and losing his footing, 
fell into the water, and was drowned. His body was found a 
day or two after, on the 24th of May, 1854, floating in the water, 
was interred in the burying-ground of one of the churches 
at Lynchburg, and his funeral was attended by a large number 
of persons, who had become interested in his enthusiastic devo- 
tion to science and education. 

The American Institute of Instruction at its annual session 
at Providence, R. I., in August following, passed resolutions of 
very high commendation upon the life and work of Mr. Hol- 
brook. 

PROF. ALFRED HOLBROOK 

Is the principal of the National Normal School at Lebanon, 
Ohio. He was born in Derby, Conn., February 17, 1816, and 
was the son of Josiah Holbrook. 

At the age of fourteen he went to Boston and was employed 
for a year and a half in his father's manufactory of school appa- 
ratus. His health failing, he returned to his native village 
where he remained until seventeen years of age when he entered 
upon his first experience in teaching, in Monroe, Conn. One 
year later he went to New York city and engaged for some 
eighteen months in the manufacture of surveyors' instruments. 
Being compelled to relinquish this business on account of failing 
health, he repaired to Kirtland, Ohio, with the intention of 
employing himself in land surveying, from the carrying out of 
which plan, however, he was prevented by physical disability. 
He nevertheless accompanied his uncle, David Holbrook, to 
Boonville, Indiana, where he remained a year and a half, occa- 
sionally engaging in surveying. His health proving too feeble 
for this business he returned in 1840 to Ohio, on horseback, and 
began teaching at Berea with a school of three pupils under the 
auspices of John Baldwin. The school rapidly increased in 
numbers and Mr. Baldwin soon erected a commodious building 
for the accommodation of pupils. This was the foundation of 
Baldwin University. Here Prof. Holbrook remained nine years, 



i;i(k;rai'Hies. 561 

within which time the institution passed into the possession of 
the Methodist Episcopal church. Prof. Holbrook next took 
charge of an academy at Chardon, Ohio, for two years, and then 
in partnership with Dr. John Nichols engaged for a time in the 
Western Reserve Teachers' Seminary at Kirtland. He subse- 
quently accepted a call to the superintendcncy of the public 
schools of Marlboro, Ohio where he remained three years, from 
which place he removed to Salem, Ohio. While here he received 
the appointment as principal of the South Western Normal 
School at Lebanon, Ohio, which position he has occupied nearly 
twenty years. His subsequent history is in connection with 
this school. 

The professor is the author of two educational works which 
have had Very wide circulation, namely : " Normal Methods" 
and " School Management." He has also more recently issued 
two text books on the English language which are perhaps the 
best treatises of the kind ever published, namely : " Training 
Lessons" and an "English Grammar." Li an educational 
experience of nearly half a century, Prof. Holbrook has had 
under his direct instruction not less than thirty thousand per- 
sons, a number equaled by very few teachers in our country. 
It has been remarked by those best acquainted with his work, 
and who have seen its results far and wide over the nation, that 
no student has ever left any institution of which he has had the 
control, morally worse than when he or she entered it. 

The Professor's ripe scholarship, large experience, superior 
judgment and Christian integrity eminently fit him for his 
position as a teacher of teachers, and his long and successful con- 
nection with the National Normal has placed him in the front 
rank of American educators."' 

Prof. Holbrook's sons and daughters are all engaged with 
him in his normal school, with great efficiency and success. 
His son, R. Heber Holbrook, a few years since came east to 
obtain a little independent experience and took charge of the 
large public school at Vineland, N. J., where during two years 
he had very marked success. A few of the principles which he 
recommends to teachers are obtained by the slightest accident 



'■•Extract from the Historical Atlas of Warren coiintv, Ohio, 
71 



562 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

of preservation, and commended to the consideration of all per- 
sons. 

" I. Be pleasant. It is never necessary to frown or scold. 

" 2. Be lively. The true teacher will seldom seat himself before a 
class 

'• 3. Be original. Never depend upon your book If yi)U can't con- 
duct the recitations without a book, you have given too long a lesson. 

"4. Be reasonable. Don't assign a lesson so long that you will 
yourself be hardly able to prepare it. 

'• 5. Be prepared. Always make out in your own mind the work to 
be accomplished by the class at their next recit.Uion. 

" 6. Be not too talkativ-e. Any fool can lecture and interest children 
with wonderful facts ; but it requires a wise, patient, and hopeful per- 
son to draw those facts from the pupils. 

" 7. Be sympathetic Come down to the apprehension of your 
pupils. Remember what is curious and interesting to you is beyond 
their understanding. What are axioms to you are difficult propositions 
to them. 

"' 8. Be patient. Let the smart ones take care of themselves. Give 
your energies, your ingenuity and your smiles to the stupid ones." 

The sixth rule of this catalogue is particularly commended to 
the consideration of all who engage in Stmday-school teaching 
at the present day. 

DWIGHT HOLBROOK, 

Son of Josiah and Lucy (Swift) Holbrook, was born in Derby, 
Conn., in 1817, and accompanied his father to Boston, Mass., 
in 1829. In 1833 he went on a business tour to China. In 
1839 he went to Berea, Ohio, to carry out his father's plans of 
an educational village which was then being established at that 
place. His next enterprise was the establishment of a manu- 
factory for making school apparatus, which articles he sold 
mostly in the state of New York for the use of public schools ; 
that state Legislature having passed an act to use the Library 
Fund for that purpose In 1850 he exhibited his inventions 
and productions in Toronto, Canada, in the House of Parliament, 
and they were granted entrance free of duty ; the result being 
the sale of large quantities to the Educational Department of 
that Province. 

The Legislature of Connecticut passed a special act in 1852, 



BIOGRAPHIES. 563 

to allow the use of twenty-five convicts for five years for the 
production of this apparatus for the use of the schools of the 
state, and in 1853 it was introduced into the schools of Ohio by 
the Superintendent of Education for that state. 

In 1867 the Danish and Chinese Governments purchased 
through their ministers at Washington samples of the goods. 
For the last twenty years the apparatus has gone into every 
town in the country and Mr. Holbrook's name has become a 
household name, and these goods are still extensively manufact- 
ured by many firms ; Mr. Dwight Holbrook's eldest son, C. W. 
Holbrook, has a factory for this purpose in Windsor Locks, 
Conn., and the firm of A. H. Andrews and Co., in Chicago, III , 
have an extensive manufactory, of which Mr. Dwight Holbrook 
is the superintendent at the present time. The goods are also 
manufactured in New York and Boston. 

In a great lawsuit in Chicago between the successors to the 
Holbrook School Apparatus Company and A. H. Andrews 
and Company, Judge Wilson decided that the word " Holbrook" 
was public property as applied to school apparatus, since it had v 
been used so many years by so many firms. Thus from so 
small a beginning has grown an immense business that has ap- 
parently filled the pockets of every one connected with it more 
than the inventor of it, and again the old rule is exemplified 
that one furnishes the ideas and others turn them into money. 

REV. ZEPHANIAH SWIFT HOLBROOK, 

Son of Dwight Holbrook, was born in Berea, Ohio, September 
16, 1847, is a descendant of Rev. Zephaniah Swift of Derby, 
Conn., and the grandson of Josiah Holbrook the educator. 
At the age of sixteen he went to Chicago and engaged in busi- 
ness life, where, while thus pursuing his work at the age of 
nineteen, he united with the church, and two years after closed 
his business relations to study for the ministry, although he had 
risen to a partnership in one of the largest firms in Chicago. 
After spending two years at Beloit College he went to Yale, and 
studied in the college and seminary five years, when he accepted 
a call to the Oakland church in Chicago. After two years of 
successful work in this church he resigned his pastoral position, 
and soon after, while on a visit east, accepted a call to the 



564 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

church at Methuen, Mass., where he was installed December 4, 

1878. 

Frederick Holbrook, second son of Dwight Holbrook, is a 
teacher in Wisconsin. 

LEWIS HOTCHKISS 

Was born in Derby in 1805, and worked at the same business 
as his brother Willis. In 1834 they came to Birmingham and 
eno-ao"ed in church, factory and house building, and were the 
principal founders of the present Derby Building and Lumber 
Company. About the beginning of the Rebellion they ex- 
changed their stock in the Lumber Company for 2,600 acres of 
timbered land in Rathburn, New York. Operating this suc- 
cessfully they bought 300,000 acres, nearly all pine timber, in 
Canada. On this tract Lewis, who was the principal manager, 
erected two large saw-mills, one to run by steam, the other by 
water power, and for six years he conducted a lumber trade with 
the States, very extensively and profitably. 

Lewis Hotchkiss, apart from this Canada enterprise, built, 
and ran on his own responsibility, a steamboat on Lake Georgian 
Bay. In 1871 he sold this adventure to good advantage, and 
also sold the land to Anson G. Phelps and Dodge, and re- 
turned to Derby and has continued since in business under the 
name of W. and L. Hotchkiss. Lewis Hotchkiss is a practi- 
cal, sound common-sense man, and with meagre opportunities 
in early life has worked his way under many disadvantages to 
an enviable position. Neither he nor his brother had, scarcely, 
the benefit of a common school education, yet they have suc- 
ceeded well in the business relations of life. 

WILLIS HOTCHKISS, 

Brother of Lewis, was born in New Haven, March 29, 1803, 
and came to Derby when three years of age, where he has since 
resided. His father was a carpenter and joiner, from whom he 
learned the same trade. 

WILLIS HOTCHKISS 

Was born in Derby April 25, 1788, a poor boy. He often said 
he " never went to school but one day in his life, and that was 
Saturday and the school didn't keep." He was a great stut- 





u 



BIOGRAPHIES. 565 

terer, which was to him an embarrassment all his life. Very 
eccentric in his way and quick at repartee, a large amount of 
his sayings, made more laughable by his stammering, are treas- 
ured up among the people of the town. When quite a young 
man he tried his hand at impromptu poetry. The subject of 
repairing or removing the meeting-house at Up Town was under 
discussion, and the building being an old, dilapidated structure, 
various opinions prevailed as to what should be done with it, 
while the pious Swift, then pastor, tried to calm the troubled 
waters as much as possible. At a meeting called for the pur- 
pose, after the subject of the meeting-house had been well 
discussed, Mr. Swift called on Mr. Hotchkiss for his opinion. 
After rising, it was minutes before he could speak a word, but 

finally said : 

" W^'ve got .111 old church without a steeple, 
A good pastor and quarrelsome people.'' 

" Them is my views," said he, and the poetic speech had a very 
good effect. 

On a later occasion, when the same society had been troubled 
with frequent changes in the ministry, the good deacon, in meet- 
ing, moved that " we settle the Rev. Mr. as pastor over this 

church," which provoked some discussion, when Mr. Hotchkiss 
said he "would move an important amendment, that this — this 
minister be set — set — settled on — on — on horse — back." 

Coming from New Haven one dark evening in a lumber 
wagon, he was stopped on the road by two highwaymen, one 
seizing his horse by the reins, the other accosted him : "Give 
us your money, or I'll knock h — 1 out of you in two minutes." 
He replied : " All the money I had with me I left at the toll- 
gate, and if you think I have h — 1 in me you may knock it out." 
This cool reply, in stammering language, disarmed the ruffians, 
who let him go without further hindrance. 

On a certain occasion there was to be a great agricultural 
dinner given at New Haven; Capt. Thomas Vose of Derby, be- 
ing president of the society, invited several prominent men from 
his town, Mr. Hotchkiss being one of the number; but he ex- 
cused himself by saying he could not talk. To which it was re- 
plied that he need not say anything, especially at the table, 
upon which he ventured to go. At the sumptuous dinner he 



566 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

succeeded well until the waiter came round asking: "What 
will you have, pudding or pie ? " To which he could not readily 
answer, as any word beginning with P was very difficult for 
him to speak, and by a significant wave of the hand he said to 
the waiter : " Go — go — go — on." Soon the waiter repeated the 
interrogation, to which he received the same reply : " Go — go 

go on." Captain Vose, John L. Tomlinson and others being 

at the head of the table, desirous that all should be well served, 
the waiter inquired of Captain Vose, " What shall I do for that 
man at the foot of the table, he acts crazy." " Oh ! follow him 
up, you '11 get something out of him." On the next round the 
waiter said with much emphasis : " Now sir, what will you have, 
pudding or pie ? " In a loud voice he stammered out, " B-b-both." 
As he had attracted the attention of the guests this created the 
greatest laugh of the entertainment. 

One day John L. Tomlinson, the lawyer, asked him for two 
dollars. "What for.? "said Hotchkiss. "Why, for speaking 
advice to you about your division fence," was the reply. "Well, 
I '11 pay it, but don't you ever speak to me again." 

When young Doct. B came to Birmingham, in 1836, 

Donald Judson introduced him to Mr. Hotchkiss, saying that 

Doct. B had come to Derby to doctor folks and get a living. 

The quick reply was, " It is high time, neighbor Judson, that we 
all pre-pre-prepare for death." 

Mr. Hotchkiss was a cooper by trade, a"hd conducted the busi- 
ness at one time quite extensively. He died November 24, 1872, 
at the advanced age of eighty-four years, and will long be re- 
membered by the people of Derby. 

JOHN I. HOWE 

Was born at Ridgefield, Conn., July 20, 1793. His early 
education was obtained at the village school, and being of very 
studious habits, he at the age of nineteen commenced the study 
of medicine and surgery with Doct. Nehemiah Penny, a distin- 
guished physician of that town. He was graduated at the 
Medical University of New York ; married Cornelia Ann, 
daughter of George Ireland of New York, and for many years 
was a successful and skillful physician in that city. A large 
portion of these years he was one of the resident physicians of 



HIOCRAPHIES. 567 

the New York almshouse. His constitution having been 
impaired by a severe illness of fever, he removed v^^ith his 
family in 1829, to North Salem, N. Y. Before abandoning his 
chosen profession he made a series of experiments on India 
rubber with a view to its use with other substances and for 
purposes to which it has since been so variously applied. 

As early as 1828, he obtained a patent on rubber compounds, 
and for the manufacture of which while in North Salem he 
constructed machinery at considerable expense, but he was 
beaten in the race by Charles Goodyear. He next gave his 
attention to model making for pin machines. During some of 
his visits at the New York almshouse among the English 
inmates he was forcibly impressed with the manner of making 
pins by hand, and being of a mechanical and inquisitive turn of 
mind he was moved with the idea that this staple article could 
be manufactured by machinery. In the winter of 1830 and 31 
he employed his time in constructing a pin machine ; made a 
rude mold performing various movements and combinations 
essential to such a machine. In 1832 he was successful in 
making a machine which made pins though in an imperfect way. 
For this he was awarded by the American Institute a large sil- 
ver medal for "inventing a machine that would make pins by 
one operation." 

To aid in his finances about this time James Brush and Ed- 
ward Cook (brothers-in-law, of New York) were associated with 
him by contract. In the spring of 1833 he completed a second 
machine and immediately sailed for Europe and secured patents 
in France, England, Scotland and Ireland; and spent about two 
years in London and Manchester experimenting and building 
machines according to his invention and finding a market for 
his patent. 

In December, 1835, the Howe Manufacturing Company was 
organized in New York and Doct. Howe was appointed its 
general agent, in which position he had the sole management 
of its manufacturing department until 1863, a period of nearly 
thirty years. 

These machines made what was called the " spun head " pins, 
but afterwards they were changed so as to make the " solid 
header," and for this patent, in 1842, the American Institute 



568 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

awarded him a gold medal for '' the best solid headed pin made 
by machinery." The company removed their manufactory from 
New York in 1838 to Birmingham, since which time the busi- 
ness has been carried on most successfully. Doct. Howe with 
a persevering courage, contending against prejudice, inexperi- 
ence and poverty, knew no defeat, and must be placed at the 
head, as the first practical and successful pin manufacturer by 
means of automatic machinery, however worthy may be his 
numerous predecessors and competitors, especially, Slocum, 
Fowler, Atwood and others. The " History of American Manu- 
factures" by I. L. Bishop enrolls Doct. Howe among "the most 
useful inventors of the country." 

While a resident of Birmingham Doct. Howe held many offi- 
ces of trust, and having accumulated large means he was enabled 
to identify himself with many substantial enterprises of the 
town. During the war he was very patriotic and contributed 
liberally to the support of the Union cause; Among other con- 
tributions he paid the amount of ^1,500, to a certain number of 
families, in monthly installments, while the heads of those fami- 
lies were absent as volunteers in the army. As an evidence 
of his devotion to his country, a short time before his death, he 
headed a subscription with $500, towards erecting a suitable 
monument to the memory of the soldiers of Derby who lost 
their lives in the war. 

Doct. Howe was a self-made man ; modest below his merit, 
and governed his life by precepts of the golden rule. Inf]exible 
in his principles, most exemplary in his habits, faithful to his 
professions, strict in his integrity, wise in counsel, he won for 
himself the highest approbation and was universally esteemed 
by the community in which he resided. He died suddenly of 
aneurism September 10, 1876, in the eighty-fourth year of his 
age. 

COMMODORE ISAAC HULL 

Was born in Derby, March 9, 1775, and was the son of Joseph, 
the eldest brother of Gen. William Hull. His father was a sea 
captain and Isaac early learned the arts of navigation. When 
a boy he was entertaining one day a party of ladies at Derby 
Narrows, with a sail on the river in one of his father's old whale 
. boats, affording much frolic and amusement to the participants. 



BIOGRAPHIES. 569 

when a sudden squall (of wind, not the ladies) capsized the 
boat, and dumped the precious cargo all overboard. Young 
Hull being an expert swimmer plunged into the water, and by 
almost superhuman efforts succeeded in securing his entire 
party, some eight or ten in number, and placing them on the 
bottom of his boat, and was encouraging and cheering them 
when assistance arrived from the opposite shore. His coolness 
of conduct on that occasion was highly applauded by the peo- 
ple, and the ladies especially commended him for his noble 
exploits and at once named him the gallant Hull. 

Isaac Hull entered the merchant service, and at the age of 
nineteen commanded a ship and made a voyage to London. 

The first effort of the United States to establish and main- 
tain a Navy was made in 1798, when four frigates were built for 
that purpose. 

To one of these, Isaac Hull, then a distinguished shipmaster 
of New York, twenty-three years of age, was appointed as Lieu- 
tenant in the United States Navy. He was, at the early age of 
twenty-five, in charge of the frigate Coiistitiiiion on the West 
India station, where a French ship under letters of marque was 
lying under cover of the guns of a strong battery in the harbor 
of Port Piatt, St. Domingo. Captain Hull, full of his youthful 
dash, manned a small sloop with ninety sailors and marines, and 
entered the harbor with it about noon, captured the ship by 
boarding her, carried the fort and spiked the guns, the whole 
being done with such adroit stillness that the commanding 
officer had no opportunity for defense. 

From 1802 to 1805, Hull commanded the Najitilus and Argus, 
under Commodores Preble and Baron in the Tripolian War, 
and afterwards was with Gen. Eaton in the capture of the city 
of Deonoh, and in the bay of Naples protecting American shij)- 
ping against an apprehended onslaught of the French. He was 
promoted to Master Commandant in 1804, and to Captain in 
1806. 

When the war of 1812 broke upon the country Captain Hull 
was in command of his favorite frigate, the Constitution, in which 
vessel he performed a surprising feat of seamanship. 



570 HISTORY OF DERBY. 



ESCAPE OF THE CONSTITUTION. 

"The frigate Constitution, commanded by Captain Isaac Hull, had 
received orders to join the squadron, under Commodore Rodgers, and, 
for that purpose, sailed from Annapolis on the fifth of Jul)'. On the 
seventeenth off Egg Harbor, four ships, apparently men of war, were 
discovered from the mast-head to the northward, and in shore of the 
Constitution ; and, in the belief that it was the American squadron, 
waiting her arrival, all sail was made in chase for them. At four in 
the afternoon, another ship was to the north east, standing for the 
Constitution with all sail set. At ten in the evening, heing then within 
six or eight miles of the strange sail, the private signal was made by 
the Constitution ; which not being answered, it was concluded that she, 
and the ships in shore, were enemy's vessels. Captain Hull immedi- 
ately laid his vessel in the same course with the others, having deter- 
mined to lie off till daylight to see what they were. 

" Next morning, two frigates were seen from the Constitution under 
her lee, one frigate four or five miles, and a line-of-battleship, a frigate, 
a brig and a schooner, ten or twelve miles directly astern, all in chase, 
and coming up fast, they having a fine breeze, and it being nearly calm 
where the Constitution was. Finding there was but little chance for 
escape, being then within five miles of three heavy frigates, the Consti- 
tution was cleared for action, and two guns were run out at the cabin 
windows, and two at the ports on the quarter-deck. At eight o'clock, 
four of the ships were nearly within gunshot, some of them having six 
or eight boats ahead, towing with all their oars and sweeps out. 

'• In this perilous situation a new expedient was adopted, which was 
the means of saving the vessel. Being in only twenty-four fathoms of 
water, boats were sent out ahead with anchors and the ship warped up 
to them, by which they soon began to get ahead of the enemy. They 
however adopted the same plan, and all the boats from the most distant 
ships were sent to assist those which were nearest. For two days and 
nights the Constitution was thus chased by the British squadron, some- 
times with light winds, at others, warping and towing in a calm, seldom 
much beyond gunshot distance. On the morning of the twentieth, only 
three of the squadron could be seen from the mast-head, the nearest, 
about twelve miles distant, directly astern. A light breeze now spring- 
ing up, the enemy was soon left far behind, and 'the Constitution, woX. 
being able to find the American squadron, arrived safe at Boston. 

" During the whole of the chase the gallant cre.w of the Constitution 
remained at their stations. It is related on good authority, that the 



inOGRAPHIES. 571 

officers of the British expressed their admiration of the skill with which 
Captain Hull maneuvered his ship and effected his escape. 

" But however hrilliant the nautical knowledge and professional 
adroitness of Captain Hull displayed on that occasion were, his gener- 
ous disinterestedness afterwards is worthy of universal applause and 
imitation. The public notice taken of the affair, and the praises 
bestowed on the commander, induced him, on his arrival at Boston, to 
insert the following card on the books of the Exchange Coffee House. 

" ' Captain Hull, finding that his friends in Boston are correctly 
informed of his situation, when chased by the British squadron oft^ New- 
York, and that they are good enough to give liim more credit for hav- 
ing escaped it than he ought to claim, takes this opportunity of request- 
ing them to transfer their good wishes to Lieutenant Morris and the 
other brave officers, and the crew under his command, for their very 
great exertions and prompt attention to his orders while the enemy 
were in chase. Captain Hull has great pleasure in saying, that not- 
withstanding the length of the chase, and the officers and crew being 
deprived of sleep, and allowed but little refreshments during the time, 
not a murmur was heard to escape them.^"' " 

The following month the Constitution was lying in Boston 
harbor, when the British fleet from Halifax, composed in part 
of Hull's late pursuers, concocted another plan to capture our 
frigate, which would prove a very desirable prize at the opening 
of the war! Previous to this the ocean had been the theatre of 
many a sanguinary conflict, in which the British gained untar- 
nished laurels, and the Americans, with a weak little navy and 
crippled land forces, seemed to them easily conquered. The 
honor of bringing in the first Yankee prize was courted and 
claimed by Captain Dacres, their most accomplished commander. 
He was fitted out with their boasted frigate, the Gnerricrc^ a 
former prize seized from the French, with a choice crew from 
the fleet. He had also this advantage over his opponents, he 
with his officers and crew were thoroughly trained to arms in 
the best naval schools then known in the civilized world. The 
Constitutions crew were mostly Cape Cod fishermen, expert 
sailors, intelligent, patriotic, obedient. to their officers, but un- 
skilled in naval warfare. 



i°Naval Battles, Smith, Boston, 1S31. 



572 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

CAPTURE OF THE GUERRIERE. 

On the second day of August, the Constitution again set sail, 
pursuing an easterly course. She passed near the coast as far 
down as the Bay of Fundy ; then ran off Halifax and Cape 
Sable ; and not seeing any vessels for some days, Captain Hull 
steered towards Ne^vfoundland, passed the Isle of Sables, and 
took a station off the Gulf of St. Lawrence, to intercept the 
Canada trade. While cruising here, he captured two merchant 
vessels. On the 15th, he chased a convoy of five sails, captured 
one of them, and prevented the prize ship of an American 
privateer from being retaken. Having received information 
that the British squadron were off the Grand Bank, and not far 
distant, he left the cruising ground, and stood to the southward. 

On the memorable 9th of August, at two p. m., the Consti- 
tution being in latitude forty-one degrees and forty-two minutes 
north, and fifty-five degrees and thirty-three minutes west longi- 
tude, a vessel was discovered to the southward. The Constitu- 
tion instantly made all sail in chase, and soon gained on her. 
At three p. m., it could plainly be perceived that she was a ship 
on the starboard tack, under easy sail, close hauled to the wind. 
At half-past three, she was ascertained to be a frigate. The 
Constitution continued the chase. At about three miles' distance, 
Captain Hull ordered the light sails to be taken in, the coursers 
to be hauled up, and the ship to be cleared for action. The 
chase now backed her main-top-sail, and waited for the Constitu- 
tion to come down. As soon as the Constitution was ready for 
action, she bore down, intending to bring immediately to close 
action the British frigate, which had about this time hoisted 
three English ensigns in token of defiance. As soon as the 
Constitution came within gunshot, the British frigate fired her 
broadside, then filed away, wore, and gave a broadside on the 
other tack. They, however, produced no effect, her shot fell 
short. The British maneuvered and wore several times for about 
three-quarters of an hour, in order to obtain a raking position. 
But not succeeding in this, she bore up under her top-sails and 
jib with the wind on the quarter. Captain Hull immediately 
made sail to bring his ship up with her. At five minutes before 
six, p. m., the Constitution being alongside, within pistol shot, 



lilOGRAPHlES. 573 

he ordered a brisk firing to be commenced from all her guns, 
which were double shotted with round and grape shot, and so 
well directed and so warmly kept up was the American fire, that, 
in fifteen minutes, the mizzenmast of the British frigate went 
by the board, and her mainyard in her slings. Her hull was 
much injured, and her rigging and sails torn to pieces. The fire 
was kept up, in the same spirited manner, for fifteen minutes 
longer by the Cojtstitntion. She had now taken a position for 
raking on the bows of the British frigate, when the latter 
could only bring her bow guns to bear on the Constitution. The 
grape shot and small arms of the Constitution completely swept 
the decks of the British frigate. Thirty minutes after the com- 
mencement of the action by the Constitution, the mainmast and 
foremast went by the board, taking with them every spar except 
the bowsprit. She then struck her colors which had been fas- 
tened to the stump of the mizzenmast. The Constitution then 
set fore and mainsails, and hauled to the eastward to repair 
damages. All her braces, a great part of her standing and 
running rigging, and some of her spars, were shot away. At 
seven p. m., she stood under the lee of her prize, and sent a boat 
on board, which returned at eight with Captain Dacres, com- 
mander of the frigate. She was the Guerriere, rating thirty-eight, 
and mounting forty-nine guns. The hull of the Guerricre was 
so much shattered that a few broadsides would have sunk her. 
She had fifteen men killed, sixty-one wounded and twenty-four 
missing, who, it is presumed, were swept overboard by the fall- 
ing masts. The Constitution had only seven killed and seven 
wounded. 

The boats were immediately employed in bringing the wounded 
and prisoners on board the Constitution. About two a. m., a 
sail was discovered oft^ the larboard beam standing to the south. 
The ship was instantly cleared for action. At three, the vessel 
stood away. At day-break information was received from the 
lieutenant on board the prize, that the ship was in a sinking 
condition, and had four feet of water in the hold. As soon as 
all her crew were removed from on board of her, she was set on 
fire, and blew up a quarter-past three. 

Captain Hull, in his letter to the Secretary of the Navy, says 
that, " from the smallest boy in the ship to the oldest seaman, 



574 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

net a look of fear was seen. They all went into action giving 
three cheers, and requesting to be laid along-side the enemy.^^" 

In the heat of the engagement, one of the crew of the Consti- 
tution, perceiving the flag at the fore-top-mast-head had been 
shot away, went up with it and lashed it so securely as to ren- 
der it impossible to shoot it away, unless the mast went* with it. 

The generosity of Captain Hull and his crew was equal to 
their bravery. Captain Dacres, in his official letter, confessed 
their conduct to have been " that of a brave enemy; the greatest 
care being taken to prevent the men losing the slightest article, 
and the greatest attention being paid to the wounded." 

The Constitution arrived in Boston harbor the 30th day of 
August. When Captain Hull landed he was received with 
every demonstration of affection and respect. The Washington 
Artillery, posted on the wharf, welcomed him with a federal 
salute, which was returned by the Constitution. An immense 
assemblage of citizens made the air ring with loud and unani- 
mous huzzas, which were repeated on his passage up State 
street to the Exchange Coffee House ; the street was beautifully 
decorated with American flags. 

A splendid entertainment was given to Captain Hull and his 
officers by the citizens of Boston, to which Commodore Rodgers 
and the officers of his squadron were invited. The citizens of 
Philadelphia subscribed for two elegant pieces of plate — one to 
be presented to Captain Hull, and the other to Mr. Charles 
Morris, his first lieutenant. The Legislature of New York, the 
council of the cities of Albany and Savannah, the Congress of 
the United States, the House of Representatives of Massachu- 
setts, and other public bodies, voted their thanks to Captain 
Hull, his officers and crew. The order of Cincinnati admitted 
him as an honorary member. Congress voted fifty thousand 
dollars as an indemnification to the captain, officers, and crew, 
for the loss sustained by the destruction of the Guerriere. 

The news of Commodore Hull's success in capturing the 
Gnerrie7-e was very gratifying to the people of Derby, and when 
assembled in town meeting April 12, 18 13, they passed the fol- 
lowing resolution, which was presented by the old soldier, Gen. 
David Humphreys, '' Resolved xSxzS. John L. Tomlinson, William 

"Clark's Naval History, vol. i. pp. 175-176. 



HIOGKAPHIES. 5/5 

Humphreys and Pearl Crafts be a committee to collect and 
digest such distinguished and illustrative facts on the subject 
matter now before us as may be attainable, and that they will 
cause the result to be communicated to the public in such man- 
ner as they shall deem most proper."' Very careful search has 
been made to find some report from this committee in the pub- 
lic prints ot that day or on the town records, but without any 
success. Commodore Isaac Hull died at Philadelphia, Penn., 
February, 1843, aged sixty-eight years. 

LIEUTENANT JOSEPH HULL, 

Son of Joseph Hull, 3d, was born in Derby in 1750, and re- 
ceived the ordinary common school education. In early life he 
engaged in the West India trade, and became familiar with a 
seaman's as well as a farmer's life. A Scotch historian has 
said that *' bravery like royalty runs in the blood," and it was 
so in the Hull family. 

He was appointed Lieutenant of Artillery in Washington's 
army in 1776, and was taken prisoner at the capture of Fort 
Washington, that same year. 

In defense of this fortress he is said to have behaved with 
great gallantry. He remained in captivity two years and was 
then exchanged (1778), when his imbroken spirit was once more 
given to the service of his country. 

In 1779 he was appointed to the command of a flotilla on 
Long Island Sound, consisting of some boats formerly used in 
the whale fishery, but now fitted out to annoy the enemy, as op- 
portunity might offer. In this limited but dangerous sphere of 
action, he gave an earnest of a mind and spirit which under 
other circumstances would probably have developed more im- 
portant results. 

On one occasion a J^ritish armed schooner was lying in the 
Sound, being engaged in transporting provisions from the coun- 
try to New York, where the British army was then stationed. 
Lieutenant Hull proposed to some of his companions of the 
town of Derby to go and capture the schooner. 

On the evening appointed twenty men placing themselves 
under him embarked in a large boat, similar to those used in 
carrying wood to the city of New York. The men lay con- 



576 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

cealed in the bottom of the boat ; and the dusk of the evening 
favoring the deception, it had the appearance of being loaded 
with wood. As they approached the vessel the sentinel on deck 
hailed him. Hull, who was steering, answered the call, contin- 
uing his course till quite near the vessel without exciting suspi- 
cion, when by a sudden movement he drew close along side of 
her. His men being well trained sprang to her deck with great 
celerity. The commander of the schooner was sleeping below, 
and aroused by the firing of the sentinel, he made an attempt 
to gain the deck, but was instantly shot dead. The Americans 
immediately fastened down the hatches, took possession of the 
vessel and conducted her in triumph up to Derby. 

This gallant soldier was the father of Commodore Hull, who, 
by his coolness and intrepidity, was the first to give to America 
the knowledge of her naval superiority, as exhibited in his cele- 
brated escape from a British squadron, and afterwards by his 
victory over the Grcerriere. 

Lieutenant Hull —he is sometimes called in the family, captain 
because captain of a vessel, but he was a lieutenant in the Rev- 
olutionary army — is said to have been entirely engaged in the 
war during the Revolution. His coolness, presence of mind and 
energy of character as well as fearlessness, is manifested in the 
following anecdote : While on his way to New Haven, just as 
he came to the top of the hill in West Haven, he saw some Brit- 
ish soldiers advancing towards him. It was too late to retreat, 
and he at once resorted to a ruse, and turning in his saddle he 
motioned as if for his company to hasten forward, then riding 
forward demanded a surrender. The men, believing the enemy 
close at hand in numbers and that resistance would be unavail- 
ing, delivered up their swords. 

Lieutenant Hull married Sarah, daughter of Daniel Bennett 
of Huntington, son of Nathan, son of Isaac of Stratford, son of 
James of Fairfield, who came from Concord, Mass., in 1639. 

Captain Hull owned and occupied the Bennett farm, a large 
tract of land on the west side of the Ousatonic, in the latter part 
of his life. During his most active career the whale fishery was 
carried on in the Sound and the immediate coast, in open boats 
manned by four or six oarsmen, a steersman and chief or har- 
pooner ; a most dangerous calling, requiring a high degree of 



];iO(iRAi^HiEs. 577 

skill, perfect drilling and unity of action to insure success. In 
this school his son Isaac took his first lessons in seamanship. 



GEN. WILLIAM HULL 



Was born in Derby, June 24, 1753, being the second son of 
Joseph Hull, a prominent farmer of the town. At an early age 
William resided with his grandfather, where he attended public 
school according to the custom of the times. 

He fitted for college under the Rev. Mr. Leavenworth of Wa- 
terbury, and entered Yale at the age of fifteen, and was gradu- 
ated when in his twentieth year, the English oration being 
assigned him at commencement. 

His first occupation after leaving college was the teaching of 
a school. He used to say frequently that " this was among the 
happiest years of his life." His parents anxiously desired that 
he should become a clergyman, and he commenced the study of 
divinity rather from the motives of filial afiection than from a 
conviction of religious duty. He studied a year with Dr. Wales, 
subsequently professor of theology in Yale College. After this 
he changed his course of studies and entered the celebrated 
Law School in Litchfield, Conn., and was admitted to the bar in 

1775- 

The war with Great Britain was now the subject of universal 
interest, and while at home one evening, his father returned 
from a meeting of the citizens of Derby, and said to his son, 
"Who do you suppose has been elected cajotain of the company 
raised in this town .'* " He named several, but his father 
replied, " It is yourself." He hesitated not in accepting the 
appointment so unexpectedly offered by his townsmen, and pre- 
pared himself to join the regiment of Colonel Webb, then being 
raised by the state. At this interesting period his father was 
seized with a severe illness, which soon terminated his useful 
life. By his will the property was bequeathed to his widow and 
children. William refused to receive any part of it. He said, 
" I want only my sword and my uniform." With a full but res- 
olute heart he left his peaceful home and affincted mother's fam- 
ily, and with his company immediately joined the regiment, 



i^Mis. Cainpljell's Military Life of den. Win. Hi 



578 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

which marched to Cambridge, the head-quarters of General 
Washington. 

The next year, in the midst of the sanguinary battle on Long 
Island, General Washington crossed from New York to Long 
Island with a part of his army and took possession of Brooklyn 
Heights. The regiment of Colonel Webb, consisting in part of 
Captain Hull's company, was in this division, and took part in 
the masterly movements of the next forty-eight hours. 

Captain Hale, whose melancholy end is a sad part of the his- 
tory of the Revolution, was an intimate friend of Captain Hull. 
They were of the same age and had been classmates at college. 
Two years after they graduated their names were enrolled under 
the standard of their country, and they marched in the same 
regiment to join the army of Washington. Captain Hull had 
every opportunity to learn the true character of his much 
esteemed associate, and says of him : "There was no young man 
who gave fairer promise of an enlightened and devoted service 
to his country than this my friend and companion in arms." 

Captain Hale became a spy, was detected and executed within 
the British lines on Long Island, and thereby the English laid the 
foundation for the execution of Major Andre, a short time after- 
ward. Captain Hull urged him not to enter upon so hazardous 
and ignoble an undertaking, but his great desire to do some- 
thing for the good of his country, and this alone, led him to 
undertake the venture. 

Captain Hull was with his company in the battle of White 
Plains, in Colonel Webb's regiment, which sustained the heavy 
onset of the enemy in that engagement so as to receive the 
thanks of Washington. From this place Captain Hull's com- 
pany marched to the Highlands and thence across New Jer- 
sey to Delaware, and in December joined the main army in 
Pennsylvania. In five days they were again on the march for 
Trenton, where a battle was fought and a great victory gained 
for the colonies. Captain Hull was acting field officer during 
this battle at the personal request of General Washington. At 
this time the weather was extremely cold and the soldiers suf- , 
fered beyond description. The victory was worth the effort. 
Hull wrote: "To give you some idea of the excessive fa- 
tigue of the troops engaged in this enterprise, I relate the 



IMOGKAI'IIIES. 579 

following respecting myself. It was between two and three 
o'clock in the morning of the second night, when my company 
recrossed the Delaware. I marched them to the house of a 
farmer, and halted to obtain refreshments and rest. After my 
men were accommodated, I went into a room where a number 
of officers were sitting around a table, with a large dish of hasty- 
pudding in its centre. I sat down, procured a spoon, and began 
to eat. While eating, I fell from my chair to the floor, overcome 
with sleep, and in the morning, when I awoke, the spoon was 
fast clenched in my hand." 

Soon after this, Washington marched to meet Cornwallis, and 
on the way promoted Captain Hull to be a major in the eighth 
Massachusetts, and the battle with a part of the enemy's troops 
was fought, resulting" in great gain to the Americans. It was 
the fortune of Major Hull to be in the severest parts of these 
memorable battles of Trenton and Princeton. The classical and 
eloquent Italian historian of the war, Charles Botta, after de- 
scribing these transactions, adds : " Achievfements so astonish- 
ing acquired an immense glory for the Captain General of the 
United States. All nations shared in the surprise of the Amer- 
icans ; all equally admired and applauded the prudence, the 
constancy and the noble intrepidity of General Washington." 

Hull wrote: "When I left the Highlands my company con- 
sisted of about fifty, rank and file. On examining the state 
of the clothing, I found there was not more than one poor 
blanket to two men ; many of them had neither shoes nor stock- 
ings ; and those who had, found them nearly worn out. All the 
clothing was of the same wretched description. 

" In the attacks at Trenton and Princeton we were in this 
destitute situation, and continued to sleep on the frozen ground, 
without covering, until the 7th of January, when we arrived 
at Morristown, N. J., where General Washington established 
his winter quarters. The patient endurance of the army at 
this period is perhaps unexampled in this or any country." 

As soon as the army was established in winter quarters. 
Major Hull was ordered to Boston to recruit his regiment, and 
thence to Springfield soon after to take command of the disci- 
pline of the new forces then gathering there. Here h^ re- 
mained until April (1777) when he was directed to march with 



580 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

his men to reinforce the army at Ticonderoga, under St. Clair, 
where he arrived in May. In the retreat from that place he, 
as also the other officers, lost all but the clothes he wore. 
This retreat continued to Fort Edward, and thence across the 
Hudson above Saratoga, Hull commanding the rear guard 
under General Schuyler. The next morning Major Hull was 
forced to meet a much superior force and repelled their attack 
with much energy and bravery until reinforcements arrived, 
and received the thanks of General Schuyler for his conduct on 
this occasion. 

In the battle at Saratoga, September 19, Major Hull held a 
separate command on the right of the main army and did very 
efficient service, being under fire from one o'clock until nearly 
dark. At the second day's battle at Saratoga, October 7, he 
held an important command in the midst of the battle, being 
connected with Arnold's division, and maintained himself nobly, 
and the victory of the day was very great to the Americans. 

From this field of victory Major Hull and his regiment were 
ordered to reinforce General Washington at Whitemarsh, Penn., 
where they went into winter quarters at Valley Forge, about 
twenty miles from Philadelphia. 

At this place, during the winter, the sufferings of the army 
were indescribably wretched, and Hull was in the thickest of it 
ordered to pursue a foraging party of the English under circum- 
stances of intense suffering. 

He speaks of his own house at this place, which was con- 
structed of logs like all the rest, as follows : 

"The hut we occupied consisted of one room. This was 
dining-room, parlor, kitchen and hall. On one side shelves 
were put up for our books, on another stood a row of Derby 
cheeses sent from Connecticut by my mother, a luxury of which 
the camp could rarely boast, and with which visitors to the hut 
were often regaled." 

The conduct of Congress that winter, in debating and strug- 
gling over place and position, while the soldiers were starving 
in their camp, unable for want of food and clothing to pursue 
the British foraging parties, was worthy of the disgust of every 
patriot. It was this struggle for personal preferment that sent 
General Gates to Saratoga in the midst of the battle, to super- 



BIOfiKAPHFKS. :;8t 

sede General Schuyler, and who took to himself all the glory of 
that victory, (who scarcely left his tent during the day of that 
battle,) not so much as mentioning Arnold, who was really the 
general of the day, in his report ; it was this that made Benedict 
Arnold what he became, and caused mutiny in the camp at 
Valley Forge ; and which rose so high that Washington was 
urged to join the uprising and make himself Dictator of his 
country, instead of submitting to the shameful neglect of Con- 
gress. This Congress would change the appointee over the 
commissary, against the protest of Washington, and that was 
what ted the soldiers with hunger and secured frozen feet in 
the camp. It was this political laction that favored the starv- 
ing of the soldiers so as to raise prejudice against Washington 
and secure his removal as Commander-in-Chief and instate Gen- 
eral Gates in his place, a man who never won a great battle ex- 
cept through his political friends. 

Major Hull, commanding the eighth Massachusetts, was pres- 
ent, under General Sterling, at the battle of Monmouth, N. J., 
directly in front of the enemy's right, which division was in a 
severe part of the battle, which lasted until dark and was unde- 
cided. The American army lay on their arms that night, during 
which the enemy retreated. 

Hull writes : " I went over the field of battle the next 
morning, and discovered a large number of dead bodies without 
wounds, who probably died of heat. We buried four officers 
and two hundred and forty-five privates, and more must have 
been killed, for there were a number of new-made graves." 

The campaign of 1779, with Major Hull and his command at 
the Highlands, opened with the purpose of the British com- 
mander to obtain possession of the Highlands on the Hudson, 
and the purpose of Washington was to retain possession of this 
stronghold. The enemy, in order to draw off Washington's 
forces, sent General Tryon to pillage and burn the villages along 
the shore in Connecticut, and well did he perform his errand, 
beginning at New Haven, and burning Fairfield and Norwalk. 
General Washington determined to attack a stronghold of the 
enemy rather than send troops to oppose General Tryon. 
He therefore organized an expedition to capture the fort at 
Stony Point, and gave the command to General Wayne, a 



582 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

brave officer, whose troops included Hull in command of 
about four hundred men. At eleven o'clock on the 15th of 
July, the march was commenced over rugged and almost impas- 
sable mountains, and continued for fourteen miles, when the 
detachment arrived a little before dusk within a mile and a half 
of Stony Point. Here it halted and the object of the march 
was made known to the troops. The fort was garrisoned with 
about six hundred men under the command of Lieutenant Col- 
onel Johnson. 

" About half-past eleven o'clock in the evening," writes Major 
Hull, " the two columns commenced their march in platoons. 
The beach was more than two feet deep with water, and before 
the right column (in which was Major Hull) reached it, we 
were fired on by the outguards, which gave the alarm to the 
garrison. We were now directly under the fort, and closing 
in a solid column ascended the hill, which was almost perpen- 
dicular. When about half-way up, our course was impeded by 
two strong rows of abattis, which the forlorn hope had not been 
able entirely to remove. The column proceeded silently on, 
clearing away the abattis, passed to the breastwork, cut and tore 
away the pickets, cleared the cJieveaiix- de-frise at the sally-port, 
mounted the parapet, and entered the fort at the point of the 
bayonet. All this was done under a heavy fire of artillery and 
musketry, and so strong a resistance as could be made by the 
British bayonet. Our column on the other side entered the 
fort at the same time. Each of our men had a white paper in 
his hat, which in the darkness distinguished him from the en- 
emy ; and the watch-word was, ' The fort's our own.' Our 
troops reached the area of the garrison not having fired a gun, 
the enemy still firing on us. The men made free use of the bay- 
onet, and in every direction was heard 'The fort's our own.' 
The enemy did not surrender until nearly one hundred men 
were killed or wounded, after which their arms were secured, 
and they were assembled under a strong guard in an angle of 
the fort until morning. In ascending the hill, just after he had 
passed the abattis, General Wayne was wounded in the head 
by a musket ball and immediately fell. He remained on the 
spot until the British surrendered, when some other officers and 
myself bore him into the fort, bleeding, but in triumph. The 



niOdKAi'HiKS. 583 

prisoners amounted to five hundred and forty-three. One ball 
passed through the crown of my hat, another struck my foot." 

Of the capture of Stony Point, Sparks, in his Life of Wash- 
in<fton, says : "The action is allowed to have been one of the 
most brilliant of the Revolution." 

Late in the autumn the detachment of Major Hull was re- 
turned to West Point, and was established in winter quarters, 
and the Major was promoted to be Lieutenant Colonel of the 
Massachusetts Third. 

During the campaign of 1780, the attention of Colonel Hull 
was devoted to the discipline of the division of the army com- 
manded by Major-General Howe, of which he was appointed 
deputy inspector under Baron Steuben. 

At this time Colonel Hull writes: "General Parsons called 
one morning on me, and informed me that he was requested by 
General Washington to inquire if it would be agreeable to me to 
come into his family as one of his aids, and if so the appoint- 
ment would be made." 

This honor Lieutenant Hull, after consideration and consul- 
tation specially with Baron Steuben, declined with expressions 
of gratitude, and he recommended David Humphreys, then cap- 
tain, who had been aid to (leneral Putnam. Colonel Hum- 
phreys was appointed and remained in that situation until the 
end of the war. During the following winter Colonel Hull was 
in the vicinity of White Plains with his command, and did very 
great service for the American cause, receiving the thanks ot 
General Washington and of Congress. 

In February, 1781, he asked, for the first time in si.x years, 
leave of absence to pass the remainder of the winter in Boston. 
Having obtained his request, he repaired to Boston and was 
soon after married to the only daughter of the Hon. Judge P\il- 
ler of Newton, Mass. 

Colonel Hull was now appointed Adjutant and Inspector 
General of the army at West Point and the neighboring posts 
in the Highlands. The duties of these oflficcs he performed un- 
til the summer of 1783, when General Washington had returned 
from the South, after the capture of the army of Lord Cornwallis. 

At this period the preliminary articles of peace were signed, 
and hostilities between Great Britain and America ceased. 



584 HISTORY OV DERRV. 

On the memorable 25th of November, Colonel Hull had the 
honor of escorting, with his light infantry, the Commander-in- 
Chief into New York, upon the delivering up of the city by the 
British ; and for thirty years thereafter whenever General Hull 
was in New York on that anniversary, he was invited to the 
public dinner and treated with particular honor. 

Before General Washington retired from his command he was 
authorized by Congress to disband the whole army excepting 
one regiment and a corps of artillery. The regiment was com- 
posed of such officers as he should designate, and soldiers whose 
time of service had not expired. Colonel Hull was selected by 
the Commander-in-Chief as the Lieutenant Colonel of the regi- 
ment, and accepted the appointment ; General Heath being 
first in command, and Colonel Hull second. 

In 1786 Colonel Hull retired to civil life and commenced the 
practice of law at Newton, Massachusetts, at which place he led 
a busy life in his profession and as a prominent man in the 
community. 

In 1798 he passed the winter in London and the spring in 
France, amidst the public commotions of that time. 

On his return he was appointed by the Governor and Council 
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and also selected by the 
third division, in the place of General Brooks, to whom he had 
been second in command many years, both in the Revolution- 
ary army and in the militia. He was likewise elected senator 
in the Legislature of Massachusetts, and thereafter was annually 
elected senator, and continued in other public situations until 
he voluntarily resigned them on being appointed Governor of 
the Michigan territory. This appointment he received in 1805 
from Thomas Jefferson, and held it until 18 12, when he was 
appointed brigadier-general to command the north-western 
army. He was also while governor appointed Indian agent, an 
office then connected with that of executive magistrate. 

In the war of 18 12 General Hull, while in command at De- 
troit, Mich., being overwhelmed by the combined forces of the 
British and the north-western Indians, surrendered that military 
post in order to save the lives of the people, not only of Detroit 
but of Michigan, and for this conduct was denounced as a 
traitor, tried by a court-martial and condemned to death, but 



Hro(iRAPiirEs. 585 

the President of the United States reprieved him from the 
execution of the sentence. It has since been shown that the 
charge against the General and the conducting of the court- 
martial were all pursued for the purpose of saving the President 
and his advisers in that war from just censure, and to save the 
party that supported him from defeat before the country. Not 
until after twelve years did General Hull have access to his own 
letters and other papers at Washington by which to clear him- 
self from the charges made against him. When Mr. Calhoun 
became Secretary of War, he gave Gen. Hull full access to the 
papers, when he vindicated himself in the eyes of the country 
most clearly, by a series of articles published in the American 
Statesman of Boston and copied into many other papers 
throughout the country. A review of the circumstances con- 
cerning the surrender has been published in book form by the 
Rev. James Freeman Clarke of Boston, which most clearly es- 
tablishes the above statement of judgment. 

The •' North American Review," in a notice of these letters, 
understood to have been written by Jared Sparks, said that " from 
the public documents collected and published in them, the con- 
clusion must be unequivocally drawn that General Hull was 
required by the Government to do what it was morally and 
physically impossible that he should do." Many other periodi- 
cals throughout the Union expressed the same opinion. 

After this a public dinner was given to General Hull in 
Boston, by citizens of both parties. He also received very 
gratifying letters from various quarters, particularly from old 
companions of the Revolutionary army, expressing their pleas- 
ure at his having vindicated so completely his conduct and his 
character. 

General Hull did not live long after his vindication. He 
however had the pleasure of meeting Lafayette in 1825, who 
paid him a visit when in Boston during that year. He was 
present at the celebration of the battle of Bunker Hill, and 
afterwards visited his mother in his native town of Derby. 
While on this visit the citizens of Derby gave him a public 
dinner at the Narrows, at which many distinguished persons 
were present, including veterans of the Revolution and the war 
of 18 1 2. James Bassett then kept the Derby Hotel and pro- 
74 



586 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

vided the entertainment. The occasion was one of great rejoic- 
ing. Cannons corresponding to the number of states were 
discharged, flags floated in the breezes, toasts were volun- 
teered, and speeches exhumed from the vaults of tradition 
were made. Among other things said, a veteran of the war of 
1812 presented the following toast : " General William Hull — 
Derby's born. His civic and military services in the war of the 
Revolution and the war of 18 12 justly entitle him to the grati- 
tude of his countrymen." To this, the General, then seventy- 
two years of age and feeble in health, feelingly responded at 
some length, which proved to be his last public address. A 
citizen of this town, now living, was employed at the time by a 
man who attended this dinner. 

Returning home he was attacked by a disease which soon 
proved fatal. On his death-bed he declared, in the most solemn 
manner, his conviction that he had done right in surrendering 
Detroit, and expressed his happiness that he had thus saved the 
lives of the peaceful citizens of Michigan from being needlessly 
sacrificed. He died in November, 1825, in the seventy-third 
year of his age. 

The sources of information upon which the above statements 
are founded are very numerous, an enumeration of which may 
be seen on page 302 of the "History of the Campaign of 1812," 
by James Freeman Clarke. 

Mr. Benson J. Lossing, the historian of the American Revo- 
lution and the war of 1812, has given a review of" Hull's Sur- 
render of Detroit," in pamphlet form, which was a reprint from 
" Potters American Monthly" for August, 1875, in which, after 
examining carefully the historical matter he renders the follow- 
ing conclusions : 

" This sensational history''' was scattered broadcast over the country 
by the newspapers, and excited intense indignation against the unfor- 
tunate General in the public mind. It was welcomed by Dr. Eustis, 
the Secretary of War, and General Dearborn, the Commander in-Chief, 
as a foil to the just censure which they would have received for remiss- 
ness in official duty had the whole truth been known ; how the Secre- 
tary omitted to inform Hull of the declaration of war until it was known 



i^The letter written bv Col. Cass, concerning the surrender. 



P.IOGRAPIIII'.S. 587 

in Canada, and even in the wilderness near Mackinaw, and how Dear- 
born had failed to communicate to Hull the fact that he had agreed to 
an armistice which relieved Brock from duty on the Niagara frontier and 
allowed him to hasten to the western frontier of Canada. Hull was 
made the scapegoat of these officers, and they allowed him to suffer 
for their own sins. He was abused by almost everybody and every- 
where, without stint, and the most impossible stories were told and 
believed about his being bribed by the British to surrender. The 
absurd story was put afloat and absolutely credited that a wagon-load 
of ' British gold' had been taken to his house at Newton, whither he 
had retired to the shelter of domestic life from the storm of vituperation, 
after his return from captivity in September. 

"•' The well informed government and the ill informed people joined 
in the pursuit of General Hull with the lash of bitter calumny ; the 
former with the selfish intention to shield itself from reproach, and the 
latter impelled by a righteous indignation against one whom they 
regarded as an almost unpardonable sinner. The people had been 
made to believe by the politicians of the war party that Canada might 
be very easily conquered by a small American force, and public expec" 
tation ran high, when news came that our flag had been unfurled upon 
its soil. But men of more wisdom and experience had formed contrary 
opinions. General Harrison had seen from the beginning the danger of 
such an invasion as that undertaken by Hull. And when he heard of 
the fall of Mackinaw, he regarded it as the forerunner of the capture 
of Chicago and Detroit. This opinion he expressed in a letter written 
on the 6th of August. On the lOth he again wrote to the Secretary 
of War, saying : ' I greatly fear that the capture of Mackinaw will give 
such eclat to the British and Indians that the Northern Tribes will pour 
down in swarms upon Detroit, oblige General Hull to act on the defen- 
sive, and meet and perhaps overpower the convoys and reinforcements 
which may be sent to him.' This is precisely what happened when 
Van Home, with a detachment, went to meet a convoy of supplies from 
Ohio. Harrison continues : ' It appears to me, indeed, highly probable 
that the large detachment which is now destined for his (Hull's) relief, 
under Colonel Wells, will have to fight its way. I greatly rely on the 
valor of those troops, but it is possible that the event may be adverse 
to us, and if it is Detroit 7nust fa/l, and with it every hope of re-establish- 
ing our affairs in that quarter until the next year. 

"This trial, in most of its aspects, was a remarkable and most dis- 
graceful one, and no sensible man can read the record of it without a 
conviction that General Hull was offered a sacrifice to appease public 
indignation, and to the necessity of preserving the administration from 



588 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

disgrace and contempt. The court was evidently constituted for this* 
end. The president of the court, who was the Commander-in-Chief of 
the armies, was deeply interested in the conviction of General Hull. 
He had made a serious and (for Hull) a fatal blunder in concluding an 
armistice with Sir George Prevost without including the Army of the 
North west, or even advising its commander of the omission. If Hull 
should be acquitted, the president of the court might be compelled to 
appear before a similar tribunal on a charge of neglect of duty. It is a 
significant fact to be remembered that the president was called from 
very important military duties at that time to preside over a trial that 
lasted eighty days, when there were other peers of the accused not 
nearly as much engaged as the Commander-in-Chief The principal 
witnesses against the accused were allowed extraordinary latitude. 
They were permitted to give their opinions concerning military move- 
ments, which were admitted as evidence ; a thing unheard of in a court, 
except in ca^e of medical or other experts. Chiefly upon such kind of 
testimony the unfortunate General was condemned. Some militia 
officers, who had never been under fire, testified that because of the 
peculiar appearance of the General's face during the cannonade of the 
fort, it was their opinion that he was moved by tear \ whilst others, who 
had been in battle, attributed his appearance to the real cause — exhaust- 
ing fatigue of mind and body, for neither had enjoyed any rest scarcely 
for several days and nights. 

''The charge of treason was withdrawn at the beginning of the trial 
in a manner most injurious to the accused, namely, that the court had 
no jurisdiction ; but when the trial was over, they saw the necessity of 
saying in their verdict : ' The evidence on the subject having been 
publicly given, the court deem it proper, in justice to the accused, to 
say that they do not believe, from anything that, has appeared before 
them, that General Hull has committed treason against the United 
States.' Why this show of 'justice to the accused?' The reason is 
obvious. 

" The principal fact on which the charge of treason was based 
was the sending of the baggage, intrenching tools and sick, by water 
past a British fort after war was declared. Because of the neglect of 
the Secretary of War to send an early notice to Hull of that declaration, 
the latter was ignorant of the important act until after his schooner had 
sailed. He might have received the notice some days before she sailed, 
had the Secretary not been remiss in his duty. That fact, and the proof 
which appeared that the British at Maiden had received a notice of the 
declaration of war before Hull's vessel sailed, in a letter franked by the 
Secretary of the Treasury (in consequence of which the British were 



r,iO(ii<AP]iiEs. 589 

enabled to send an armed vessel out of Maiden to capture Hull's 
schooner), were likely to be damaging to the administration ; so the 
court, more ready to serve the government than to do justice, dismissed 
the charge of treason, and made a forced acknowledgement of the 
GeneraFs innocence of that crime. But upon the strength of the extra- 
ordinary testimony alluded to, they found the veteran soldier guilty of 
the second and third charges, and sentenced him to be shot dead ! On 
account of his Revolutionary services, as the court alleged, they 
earnestly recommended him to the mercy of the President. Madison 
approved the sentence, but pardoned the alleged offender. By this 
act justice and mercy, in the public estimation, were satisfied; the 
administration was absolved from its sins, by sacrificing upon the altar 
of its selfishness the character (which was to him dearer than life) of 
the innocent victim, and history was allowed to unconsciously defile her 
pen by writing falsely of the immolated patriot. What a relief to the 
administration from crushing responsibility was this unjust sentence ! 
The Secretary of War, conscious of his own errors, expected to feel the 
public wrath, and had written to General Dearborn : ' Fortunately for 
you, the want of success which has attended the campaign will be 
attributed to the Secretary of War.' 

'■ General Hull lived under a cload of unmerited reproach, and was 
compelled to keep silent for the want of'access to the facts to establish 
his innocence. His papers were burned while on their way from 
Detroit to Buffalo, after the surrender; and during two administrations 
he was denied the privilege of obtaining copies of papers in the War 
Department at Washington that might vindicate his character. When 
John C. Calhoun became Secretary of War, he generously gave Hull 
permission to copy any paper he wished. With the material so obtained 
the General began the preparation of a vindication, which was published 
in a series of letters in a Boston paper {American Sfatesman) in 1824, 
when he was past three-score and ten years of age. He lived long 
enough after publishing that vindication to perceive unmistakable signs 
of sympathy in the partially disabused public mind, which prophesied 
of future awards of justice. 

'■The conception of the campaign against Canada was a huge blun- 
der, Hull saw it and protested against it. The failure to put in vigorous 
motion for his support auxiliary and co-operative forces was criminal 
neglect. When the result was found to be a failure and humiliation, 
the administration perceived it and sought a refuge. ]\iblic indigna- 
tion must be appeased ; the lightning of the public wrath must be 
averted. I repeat it — General Hull was made a chosen victim for the 
peace-offering — the sin bearing scapegoat — and on his head the fiery 



590 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

thunderbolts were hurled. The case of General Hull illustrates the 
force of Shakespeare's words : 

" ' 'Tis strange how many imimagined charges 
Can swarm upon a man when once the lid 
Of the Pandora box of contumely 
Is opened o'er his head.' " 

REV. DANIEL HUMPHREYS 

i/ Is said to have been born in Simsbury ; was graduated at Yale 
College in 1732, ordained at Derby in 1733, and died in 1787, 
just one hundred years after the death of the first pastor, Mr. 
Bowers. Some account of his labors and peculiar church views 
is given in the first part of chapter five, showing him to have 
been a progressive and spirited man in religious opinions ; but 
after twenty years as pastor we find him practicing church dis- 
cipline after the Saybrook order. 

He married April 18, 1739, Sarah, widow of John Bowers, and 
daughter of Captain John Riggs. She was a very efficient, 
worthy, elegant woman, called always Lady Humphreys. The 
family were polished in their manners, whether on the farm or 
elsewhere. 

The following record is given to show how good people 
thought it right to obtain all the law would give thero : 

" Derby, May 25, 1874. Then by virtue of the within execution 
of the plaintiff, I took possession as follows : one log dwelling house, 
two log barracks. Test, David Hitchcock, constable." 

In 1784 Rev. Daniel Humphreys and Sarah his wife, brought 
a suit against Samuel Hazelton of Derby for " the sum of £2, 
lawful money, damages, and for the sum of £^$ 14s, lawful money, 
cost of suit," to which one shilling and sixpence was added for 
the writ, and sufficient to pay other expenses. Upon this a 
writ was sent to the constable andjie attached the above houses, 
and the appraisers appraised them thus : 

"One dwelling-house, £2^. The south barrack, 15 shillings; the 
north barrack 10 shillings. Appraiser's fee, 7s 6d ; officer's fee £1 
23 6d. Recorded June 3, 17S4. John Humphreys, clerk." 

For a certainty the house and barracks were all the man had, 
else more would have been taken. The transaction stripped 
Mr. Hazelton of his only house (so far as appears) and left Mr. 
Humphreys to pay over ^30 costs ; all for '•' £^2 damages." 



BIOGRAPHIES. 59 1 

From the records still preserved of Mr. Humphreys's work, he 
was evidently a diligent, faithful, earnest minister and pastor, 
and served his day and generation very acceptably according to 
the style of the times. 

As to slavery the following is recorded : "December 31, 1781. 
Voted that the selectmen are desired to give the Rev. Mr. Dan- 
iel Humphreys a certificate of liberty to manumit his servants, 
Cambridge and Cale his wife." 

The following statement was recorded by John Humphreys, 
the town clerk at the time, and is probably a very faithful, as it 
is a very interesting, sketch of the character and life of his 
father. 

" The Rev. Daniel Humphreys died at Derby on Lord's day morn- 
ing, the second day of September, A. D. 1787. 

" For more than half a century he was the established minister of the 
First society in said town. His funeral was attended on Tuesday, when, 
the corpse being carried into the meeting-house, the Rev Dr Edwards 
began divine service with prayer, which was succeeded by singing a 
favorite psalm of the deceased, the seventy-first. Then the Rev. Mr. 
Leavenworth preached a sermon from 2 Tim , iv. 6-8, to a numer- 
ous and mournful auditory. After which was sung an anthem taken 
from the seventh chapter of Job The procession then moved to the 
grave and performed the interment with every mark of affectionate re- 
spect for so pious and venerable a character. 

'' The Rev. Mr. Humphreys having received a liberal education at Yale 
College, and devoted his future days to books and contemplation, his 
mind was embellished with human literature, but the study of theology 
was his favorite employment. He was possessed of a masculine under- 
standing, particularly calculated to reason and distinguish. His man- 
ner, instead of being tinctured with the austere gloom of superstition, 
exhibited that hilarity which made him the delight of his acquaintances. 
A consciousness of intentional rectitude was* productive of cheerfulness 
and serenity , a desire of making others happy was the effect of philan- 
thropy and religion. This conspired to give'him a peculiar facility and 
dignity of behavior on every occasion. The honorable discharge of all 
the duties of the domestic, the social, the sacred functions, and the un- 
deviating practice of unaffected piety through a long life will be the best 
comment on his creed and complete his character. 

" Mrs. Sarah Humphreys, the aft'ectionate wife of his youth and the 
tender companion of his advanced age, died the Lord's day, July 29, 
1787 A. D. ; five weeks before him." 



592 HISTORY OF DERBY. 



LADY HUMPHREYS. 



Sarah Riggs, daughter of Capt. John and Ehzabeth (Tomlinson) 
Riggs, was born in 171 1, and married John Bowers in 1732, and 
had three children before his death, which occurred in 1738. In 
1739 she married the Rev. Daniel Humphreys, and continued a 
noble and much honored minister's wife until her death, July 29, 
1787, only two months before the death of her husband. During 
forty-eight years she was known as "Lady Humphreys," and a 
more perfect ornament to that title was probably not known in the 
community. Elegant in personal appearance, refined in educa- 
tion and manners, she became, through President Stiles of Yale 
College, celebrated for her intelligence and knowledge of Derby 
history. It was at her great grandfather's house that the Judges 
were sheltered from the English officers, fifty years before her 
birth, and yet she was quite familiar, when over fifty years of 
age, with the minute details of the friendship rendered to the 
Judges, and with the early history of Derby. Her elegance of 
personal appearance and style of manners descended from her 
and her husband to the third generation at least, illustrating the 
most ancient teachings in a highly creditable manner. Nor 
was this all. There exist a number of prominent evidences that 
the family, among themselves, were warm in their attachments, 
sympathetic and true hearted, and the outside style was not an 
appearance put on, but that it sprung from a true, generous 
nature. These statements apply not only to General Hum- 
phreys in his life-long familiarity with society, but equally if not 
more emphatically to the other members of the family. There 
was one minister's family that did not, by far, produce the worst 
boys in the comm unity. » 

GEN. DAVID HUMPHREYS^^ 

Was born in Derby July 10, 1752, and was the son of the Rev. 
Daniel Humphreys. When a boy he was passionately fond of 
books, and his father, after giving him the preparatory course, 
sent him to Yale College at the early age of fifteen, where he 

^^This portrait of General Humphreys is from an engraving in Herring's Portrait 
Gallery, from the original by Gilbert Stuart, now in the Art Gallery of Yale 
College. 



BIO(iRArHIKS. 



593 



was graduated with distinguished honors in 1771. After which 
he resided a short period in the family of Colonel Philips of 
Philips Manor, N. Y., and returned to New Haven where he 
was when the Revolution began. He became noted for his 
poetical tastes during his college course, and, with two others, 
was denominated " the young bards of Yale," and during the 




r,EN. DAVID HUMrHREYS. 



war, but specially afterward, he made good and honorable use 
of this talent. 

On entering the army he was commissioned captain, and soon 
after appointed aid-de-camp to General Putnam, with whom he 
became familiarly acquainted, and after the war wrote a history 
of the general's life. 

In the following lines from his poem on the " Happiness of 
75 



594 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

America," it appears that he was also aid for a time to General 
Greene : 

" I too, perhaps, should Heaven prolong my date, 
The oft-repeated tale shall oft relate ; 
Shall tell the feelings in the first alarms. 
Of some bold enterprise the unequaled charms, 
Shall tell from whom I learnt the martial art. 
With what high chiefs I played my early part; 
With Parsons first, whose eye with piercing ken 
Reads through their hearts the characters of men; 
Then how I aided in the following scene, 
Death-daring Putnam — then immortal Greene — 
Then how great Washington my youth approved." 

Early in 1780, by the recommendation of Gen. William Hull, 
he received the appointment of aid and secretary to General 
Washington, with the rank of lieutenant colonel, and soon after 
joined the General's family, with whom he constantly resided 
until the close of the war, "enjoying,'' says Burton, "his full 
confidence and friendship, and sharing in the toils of his arduous 
duties." 

It was just after this appointment as aid that Colonel Hum- 
phreys went to Boston, and on his return in the spring of the year 
met with various mishaps, which he celebrated in a poem consid- 
erably amusing, entitled " Sleighing Adventures." 

On the staff of General Washington he proved himself an 
efficient and worthy officer, and especially at the siege of York- 
town, where he held a separate command. When Lord Corn- 
wallis surrendered, with his army, to the American forces. 
Colonel Humphreys had the distinguished honor of receiving 
the English colors, and, as a mark of approbation, bearing them 
from the Commander-in-Chief to Congress, with copies of the 
returns of prisoners, arms, ordnance, and twenty-five stands of 
colors surrendered, with a letter from Washington w^armly 
commending the bearer to the consideration of the government. 
In the following November he was voted an elegant sword in 
the " name of the United States in Congress assembled," and 
in 1786, it was presented by General Knox, then Secretary of 
War, with imposing ceremonies. Congress also commissioned 
him lieutenant colonel, dating his commission back to his ap- 
pointment as aid to Washington. 



lUOGRAPHIES. 595 

By the United States in Congress assembled, November 7, 1781 ; 

Resolved, That an elegant sword be presented, in the name of the 
United States in Congress assembled, to Colonel Humphreys, aid de- 
camp to General Washington, to whose care the standards taken under 
the capitulation of Yorktown were committed, as a testimony of their 
opinion of his fidelity and ability ; and that the Board of War take 
order therein. 

Extract from the minutes. 

Chas. Thompson, Secretary. 

At the close of the war he accompanied Washington, at his 
special request, to his home in Virginia, where he made his resi- 
dence, until appointed in 1784 secretary of legation at Paris 
under Jefferson, then minister to the court of Portugal. He 
was accompanied in this mission by Kosciusko, between whom 
and himself a strong friendship was matured. 

Revisiting his native town in 1786, he was elected to the Leg- 
islature, and soon after appointed to command a regiment raised 
for the Western Reserve. During this period he resided at 
Hartford, and with Hopkins, Barlow and Trumbull, published 
the AnarcJiiad. On the reduction of his regiment in 1788, he 
repaired to Mount Vernon, remaining with Washington until 
appointed in 1790, minister to Portugal. Revisiting America 
in 1794, he was after returning to Lisbon appointed in 1797 
minister to Spain, continuing in that station until 1802 ; and 
concluding treaties with Tripoli and Algiers. 

During his residence in Spain he carried into execution a 
project which resulted in great benefit to his country : the intro- 
duction of merino sheep into the United States. 

In an essay, on the subject of the improvement of sheep in 
this country, addressed to the Massachusetts Society for Pro- 
moting Agriculture, at their request he gives some account of 
this importation. 

" Many circumstances concurred to favor the importation, some of 
which may not be expected to unite again : the season was the best 
that could have been chosen for a safe and easy passage ; the conclu- 
sion of a general peace rendered the transportation less exposed to 
embarrassments than it had been for several years ; and the diminution 
of the freighting business made it less difficult than it otherwise would 
have been to engage a convenient vessel for transporting a greater 
number of sheep than probably ever before crossed the Atlantic together. 



596 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

My acquaintance in the capitals of Spain and Portugal, as well as with 
the officers commanding on the frontiers, afforded me greater facilities 
for the extraction than any stranger could be supposed to possess. 

" The race of merinos, probably first imported from Barbary to Europe, 
are believed to have become superior to the original stock, or at least 
to the sheep that now exist on the opposite coast of the Mediterranean 
Climate and culture have both an influence in the formation and con- 
stitution of animals . . . Convinced that this race of sheep, of which 
I believe not one had been brought to the United States until the 
importation by myself, might be introduced with great benefit to the 
country, I contracted with a person of the most respectable character, 
to deliver to me at Lisbon, one hundred, composed of twenty-five rams 
and seventy-five ewes from one to two years old. They were conducted 
with proper passports across the country of Portugal by thre.e Spanish 
shepherds and escorted by a small guard of Portuguese soldiers. On 
the loth of April last (1802) they were embarked in the Tagus on 
board the ship Perseverance, of 250 tons, Caleb Coggeshall, master. 
In about fifty days twenty-one rams and seventy ewes were landed at 
Derby in Connecticut ; they having been shifted at New York on board 
of a sloop destined to that river. The nine which died were principally 
killed in consequence of bruises received by the violent rolling of the 
vessel on the banks of Newfoundland. 

" If the project of introducing this breed of sheep should be attended 
with the desired success, our country will be principally benefited by 
it. In case of failure no one can be the sufterer but myself. The 
trouble and expense have been considerable for an individual to incur, 
but a consciousness of the patriotic motives by which I was actuated, 
and the anticipation that some national good might be produced by the 
attempt, have furnished no inconsiderable compensation." 

A LETTER FROM REV. DOCTOR PARKER. 

Boston, December 15. 1802. 
Hon. David Humphreys, Esq.: 

Sir : — The Trustees of the Massachusetts Society for promoting 
Agriculture, at their meeting, held October 29. 1802, voted that a gold 
medal be presented to you by said society, for your patriotic exertions 
in introducing into New England one hundred of the Spanish merino 
breed of sheep ; and appointed me a committee to procure and trans- 
mit the same to you. 

It is with pleasure I have executed this commission, and now trans- 
mit to you the medal accompanying this; and, in the name of the 



lil()(iKAJ'IIIF..S. 597 

trustees, request your acceptance of the same, as a small testimony of 
the high sense they entertain of your merit in accomplishing this arduous 
enterprise. 

I have the iionor to be. 

With sentiments of the highest esteem and respect, 
Your most obedient and very humble servant, 

S. Parkkr, Corresponding Secretary.''^ 

These sheep, when landed on the dock at Derby, attracted as 
much curiosity as if they had been so many elephants, and 
thousands of persons flocked to witness their advent into the 
town. They were driven from Derby Narrows into an inclo- 
sure at Squabble Hole, where they were kept some weeks. 

General Humphreys, in all this enterprise, did not seek to 
advance his own private interests in the introduction of these 
sheep. A favorable opportunity presented itself for that pur- 
pose, but he scorned to speculate in an enterprise, which, if suc- 
cessful, he designed for the benefit of his country. In fact, in 
every way he discouraged speculation as subversive of the 
great object to be gained. He sold a part of his flock judici- 
ously, distributing them among the most enterprising farmers 
for the improvement of their sheep at one hundred dollars per 
head, a price, it is said, less than they cost. When the market 
price rose to four hundred a head he refused to sell, declaring 
his opinion that such sales would prove a ruinous speculation ; 
but his advice and entreaties were unheeded, for soon the price 
of a Humphreys merino buck went up to from $1,500 to ^2,000, 
and that of ewes from $1,000, to $1,500. A few were sold as 
high as $2,500, and $3,000. Many honest and well meaning 
men suffered great loss in the operation. John Bassett of 
Derby, overjoyed at the birth of a full-blooded merino ewe 
lamb, and being offered for it by Philo Bassett $1,000, refused 
to sell it for less than $1,500. A day or two after this tempting 
offer, the lamb, with the flock, being turned into an inclosure, 
a fox, seeming to know its great value, seized it for his prey 
and dragged it dead nearly to his hole in the mountain. About 
this time two young farmers together bought a buck to improve 
their flocks for which they paid $1,500, but in less than an hour 
after the purchase they had the great mortification of seeing 
him die in attcm])ting to swallow an apple. These mishaps 



598 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

though they dampened the faith of many in the fortunes of 
merino sheep, did not materially put a stop to a ruinous specu- 
lation, which was not confined to Derby. When the merino 
sheep mania was at its height, — Doctor Ives of New Haven 
is responsible for the story, — a woman in Humphreysville 
actually knocked her child in the head that she might raise a 
merino lamb in its stead. 

Soon after the introduction of the merino sheep the General 
purchased the fulling mills at the Falls on the Naugatuck and 
arranged to produce fine broadcloths, in which he succeeded 
so well that in 1808 he had the reputation of producing the 
best quality of that kind of goods of any one in America, and 
Thomas Jefferson procured of him a sufficient quantity for a 
suit to wear on his inauguration as President. '■' 

After some effort in making broadcloths the General went to 
Europe and obtained the partnership of John Winterbotham, a 
man bred to the trade, who came to this country and took full 
charge of the woolen mill and continued its manager until the 
General died. 

General Humphreys was particularly philanthropic as to the 
education and moral training of the operatives in his factory, 
devoting much thought and effort in their behalf.^'' 

At the opening of the war of 181 2, he took command of the 
militia of Connecticut, was appointed general, and as a mem- 
ber of the Legislature was active in organizing for the local 
defense. 

He married an English lady of great wealth, whose annual 
income was ^{^30,000. Her residence in this country was in 
Boston. 

General Humphreys died February 21, 1818, and was buried 
in the New Haven cemetery where his monument still stands. 

After his decease the people of Derby, in town meeting 
assembled, took the following action : " April 13, 18 18. Voted 
that we appoint a committee to prepare resolutions expressive 
of the sense entertained by this town of the distinguished 
character and services of our fellow citizen, General David 



i°See New Haven Hist. Society Papers Vol. I. 143. 
i''.See chapter xv. 



BIOGRAPHIES. 599 

Humphreys, comprising a biographical sketch of his life, and 
report to this meeting, to be held by adjournment on the 27th 
inst. at one o'clock, afternoon, and that John L. Tomlinson, 
Truman Carr and Dr. Crafts be the committee." 

Careful search has not brought to light the report of that 
committee. 

Upon a careful review of the life of Gen. David Humphreys 
it is impossible not to award him the character of a most 
unselfish, patriotic and high-minded man. He was one of 
Derby's noblemen, of whom she has had a large number, who 
lived for his fellow-man, having, in the language of the inscrip- 
tion on his monument, " enriched his native land with the true 
golden fleece." A scholar, poet, historian, statesman, patriot, 
and philanthropist, his name is held in high esteem, and will 
be for generations yet to come. 

His literary works have been collected into one volume of 
430 pages, octavo, and are very pleasant reading. 

MAJOR ELIJAH HUMPHREYS, 

Son of Rev. Daniel Humphreys, was town clerk of Derby many 
years and seems to have been a man of great candor and reli- 
ability in the community. He served as a major in the Revolu- 
tionary war, three horses being shot under him. He married 
the daughter of Rev. Dr. Mansfield the Episcopal minister, in 
1774, just at the beginning of the troubles with the English 
government. 

There is a tradition in the family that when Dr. Mansfield 
attempted to go within the British lines on Long Island, in the 
war, he was captured by his son-in-law ; and that he was after- 
wards allowed to preach with a guard in the pulpit to prevent 
him from preaching against the American cause ; and that John 
Humphreys, the brother of Elijah, fearing the soldiers might 
be rough or disrespectful to the Doctor, solicited and obtained 
the privilege of being the guard instead of the soldiers, and 
under this arrangement quiet and good feeling was restored. 

This tradition looks very much like the events of that day. 
No intimation is given that Elijah Humphreys was not per- 
fectly kind and respectful to the Doctor, but that as an officer 
he felt under the necessity to detain him. The Doctor, how- 



600 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

ever, did go to Long Island for a time, but returned and preached 
as above described. 

Of Elijah Humphreys, his brother made the following record 
on the town clerk's book : 

"He died July 2, 1785,011 his way to the West Indies and was 
buried on the Isle of Martinico, in the 40th year of his age. 

Pr. John Humphreys." 

ELIJAH HUMPHREYS, JUN., 

Son of Elijah and Anna (Mansfield) Humphreys, was born in 
1779, in the midst of Revolutionary times, and became a very 
successful merchant and honored young man in New York city, 
and died young. The following is from the " Old Merchants 
of New York City," Vol. I. 197: 

" I must say something about Elijah Humphreys. He was origi- 
nally from Connecticut, as I have said. So was Stephen Whitney, who 
was born in the same town of old Derby as was John Lewis, and they 
used to go to school together. In 1803 Elijah Humphreys formed a 
partnership with Archibald Whitney at No. 22 Burling Slip. They 
did a large grocery business Among their customers were Joseph D. 
Beers of Newtown and John P. Marshall of Woodbury, Conn. 

" I omitted to mention that Elijah Humphreys had been brought up 
by Theophilus Brower, the great grocer of his day, at No. 5 Burling 
Slip. Brower started after the war and in 1789 was doing a large busi- 
ness. Elijah was with him from 1795 to 1803 At that time the accounts 
of grocers were kept in pounds, shillings and pence, and I have before 
me some of the accounts of Mr. Brower made out in the neat business 
handwriting of Elijah Humphreys. At this period, and as late as 1805, 
his cousin David Humphreys [son of John] was a clerk with Oliver 
Wolcott, then doing a large business in the city, and president of one 
of the banks, and who was afterwards governor of Connecticut. 

" Elijah Humphreys was partner with A. Whitney for many years, or 
until the war of 1814. He afterwards continued alone and became 
quite rich. He was a bachelor and boarded at Washington Hall when 
it was kept by Mclntyre. There a very romantic matter occurred. 
He had boarded there several years and was worth $60,000, a great 
sum in those days. He was a director in the Fulton bank. Prosper- 
ity in business could not save him from a severe attack of bilious fever. 
He came near dying; probably would have died but for the careful 
nursing of the sister of Mrs. Mclntyre. She nursed him as tenderly as 



UKXiRAPHIKS. 60 1 

if he had been her brother and saved his life. After he recovered Mr. 
Humphreys felt grateful and oft'ered the young girl his hand in mar- 
riage. He was accepted, and shortly after they went to housekeeping 
in very handsome style at No 4 Murray street, near Broadway. He 
was out of business some time ; had a good income and would have 
had for life, but he began to reflect that he was married, that he should 
probably have a large family, and that he should want more. So he 
decided to go into business again. The Erie canal had been opened, 
which was in his favor. Still he had been out of business three years 
and was out of the traces. He had to pick up a new set of customers, 
and these he soon found in the West, lliey came to New York as 
greedy as sharks. Mr. Huinphreys sold heavily. There could be but 
one result — he stopped payment. . . . Every one was surprised and 
every one was sorry." 

REV. JOHN JAMES 

Began to preach in Derby in the latter part of 1693, and in the 
beginning of 1694 the town gave him a call to settle, which he 
seems to have accepted soon after, and continued to labor with 
much devotedness both in teaching and preaching until 1706, 
when his health had so failed that he was unable to supply the 
pulpit all the time, and was dismissed at his own request. Of 
his labors some account is given in the early part of chapter 
foin-. Mr. James is said to have graduated at Harvard. He 
preached at Haddam as early as 1683. President Stiles says: 
" He came from England ; was devoted to books, and died at 
Wethersfield, August 10, 1729, having there lived in private 
some years." It is supposed that this is the man Rev. Mr. Mix, 
minister at Wethersfield, called "a \'ery good man with a very 
ungraceful delivery." (Savage H. 536.) 

ISAAC JENNINGS, M. D., 

Was born in Fairfield, Conn., November 7, 1788, and died of 
pneumonia March 13, 1874, at his residence in Oberlin, Ohio, 
at the advanced age of eighty-five years. He was favorably 
known in Derby more than a quarter of a century. 

He entered the office of ICli Ives, M. D., of New Haven in 
1809, and pursued his studies with him until he fitted himself 
to sustain the examination then required before the state com- 
mittee of examination, there being then no medical college. 
76 



602 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

The exhibition of his medical knowledge was such as to entirely 
satisfy the committee, and he was licensed to practice medi- 
cine, and in 1828 Yale College conferred on him the degree of 
M. D. Soon after beginning his professional studies he gave 
attention to Latin and Greek, and exhibited an extraordinary 
aptitude for these studies, and a remarkable memory for text 
books. At one interview he recited to his instructor (Rev. Mr. 
Humphrey, afterwards president of Amherst College) large 
portions of the Latin grammar, showing that he had in like 
manner mastered the whole of it ; and in the same way his 
memory retained much that he read. He used to quote at 
times the whole of the Westminster Catechism, question and 
answer. 

After receiving his license he procured him a horse and 
equipments, including the saddle-bags well filled, and located in 
Trumbull, Conn., and commenced the practice of his profession. 
After a year or more Dr. Pearl Crafts of Derby, being in a 
lingering consumption, invited him to locate here to take his 
practice, which he did in 1820. He soon secured an extensive 
although not a very lucrative practice, and for a series of years 
enjoyed the confidence of such distinguished physicians as Doct. 
Ives, Doct. Hubbard and the learned Doct. Knight. 

Being a strong temperance man he regarded alcohol, in all its 
forms, an enemy to the living principle in the human system, 
and with alcohol he classed drugs and medicines. This fact, 
with other considerations, led him after a time to adopt the 
theory of the remedial powers of nature as more curative in 
diseased action than pills or powders. 

Discarding medicine, he continued to practice disguisedly, 
giving his patients nothing but bread pills and colored water, 
as he and his friends claimed, with more success than on the 
old plan. Too honest to humbug the people, and not wishing 
to keep his light under a bushel, he after a little time gave bold 
publicity to his views and tried to enforce the doctrine of no 
medicine, or the let alone principle of curing curable disease 
in all its phases. This narrowed down his practice to about 
four hundred dollars a year, a sum inadequate to the support of 
his family, and in 1837 he sold his ofiEice fixtures and library to 
the then young Doctor Beardsley, and bade adieu to a profession 



BIOGRAPHIES. 603 

which he always honored and respected until the day of his 
death. Many worthy and influential people in Derby endeav- 
ored to prevail on him, by liberal subscriptions of money, to 
remain in town, as he had made great sacrifices in his pecuniary 
interests for the good of his fellow men, but the effort failed, 
and in 1839 ^^^ ^^^^ ^o^" Oberlin, Ohio, where he married his 
second wife and lived until the time of his death, highly 
esteemed and beloved as a citizen and Christian. 

The last twenty-five years of his life he devoted principally 
to writing, some of the time to lecturing ; and in furthering and 
maintaining his views he has published three books, entitled 
respectively "Medical Reform," "Philosophy of Human Life," 
" The Tree of Life ;" and a fourth work was ready for the press 
at his decease, "Orthopathy," — right action, disease simply a 
negation of health, — which fully embodied and illustrated his 
theory and system. 

He had nine children by his first marriage, three of whom 
are still living ; the eldest, a graduate of Yale College, is a Con- 
gregational minister in Bennington, Vt.; another was a business 
man in Cleveland, at the head of the Ohio agency of the 
Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York ; besides a daugh- 
ter, who is now a most worthy and self sacrificing missionary 
in Asiatic Turkey. Two of his deceased children, a son and a 
daughter, were graduates of Oberlin College, Ohio. 

Dr. Jennings was a thinker and, in more senses than one, a 
genuine reformer, but perhaps he attempted too much. When he 
dropped the use of medicine fifty years ago, he at the same 
time gave up unreservedly the use of alcoholic stimulants, also 
tobacco, tea, coffee, spices of every variety, and meats of all 
kinds, living on the plainest vegetable diet up to the hour of his 
last sickness. His longevity, considering that he belonged to 
a consumptive family, must be taken as evidence that there is 
some truth in his position on diet. 

Dr. Jennings had noble traits of character. His uprightness 
and integrity commanded universal respect. 

In his religion he was a Congregationalist, being a deacon in 
Derby and in Oberlin, unflinching and unyielding in his Chris- 
tian principles ; and from early life was an ornament and exam- 
ple of the faith he professed. 



604 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

This sketch cannot more appropriately be concluded than by 
quoting the closing stanza of the most beautiful elegy in our 
language : 

" No farther seek his merits to disclose, 

Or draw his frailties from their dread abode; 

(There they alike in trembling hope repose) 
The bosom of his father and his God." 

REV. ISAAC JENNINGS, 

Son of Isaac Jennings, M. D., was born in Trinnbull, Conn., 
July 24, 1 8 16, and attended the common schools and academy 
of Derby. He graduated at Yale College in 1837, ^-'''cl at 
Andover Theological Seminary in 1842 ; was ordained pastor of 
the Congregational church in Akron, Ohio, in 1843 ; became 
pastor of the First Church in Stamford, Conn., in 1847, and 
the pastor of the First Church of Christ in Bennington, Vt., in 
1853, where he still remains, having nearly completed the 
twenty-seventh year of his pastorate in that place. While in 
Akron he secured the passage in the Ohio Legislature of the 
" Akron School Law " and the founding of the Akron graded 
schools.'^ In 1859 ^"'^ visited Europe. In 1869 he published 
"Memorials of a Century."'^ He has published several ad- 
dresses, discourses and sermons. He is secretary of the board 
of directors of the Bennington Battle Monument Association, 
and president of the Bennington County Society School Union. 
His son, Isaac Jennings, jun., A. M., is the successful princi- 
pal and teacher of the Classical High School of Waterbury, 
Conn. 

MRS. CATHARINE (jENNINGS) PARSONS, 

Daughter of Isaac Jennings, M. D., was graduated at Oberlin 
College and became the wife of the Rev. Justin W. Parsons. 
They went as missionaries of the A. B. C. F. M., first to Salonica 
in European Turkey, thence to Smyrna, thence where they are 
now, at the head of the missionary work, including a prosperous 
boarding and day school for girls, in the Nicomedia mission field, 
having their residence in Batchejuk, Turkey in Asia. One of 
her daughters, Miss Sella C. Parsons, is assistant missionary 



i^See 28th Annual School Report, Akron, Ohio. 
i^'Benn'ngton History, 40S. 



IJIOliRAFHIES. 605 

teacher. Another daughter, Mrs. Loui.sa S. Whiting, is a mis- 
sionary of the Presbyterian Board, near .Shanghai in China. 

THE REV. STEPHEN JEWETT 

Succeeded the venerable Dr. Mansfield in the rectorship of 
St. James's church. He was born in Lanesboro, Mass., August 
18, 1783. His parents were originally Congregationalists, but 
at the time of Stephen's birth his father withdrew from that 
communion for want of belief in all the doctrines of Calvinism 
and connected himself with the Episcopal church. In a great 
measure self-taught in the rudiments of an English education, 
he assisted his father in his humble occupation until his failing 
health at the early age of twenty-three years influenced him to 
seek other and lighter pursuits. He studied the classics with 
the Rev. Mr. Pardee, an h4:)iscopal minister of Lanesboro ; keep- 
ing school winters and studying summers, and at length found 
his way to the Episcopal academy at Cheshire, which institu- 
tion was then in its zenith of prosperity, serving the church in 
the double capacity of a college and theological seminary. 
Mr. Jewett by occasional school keeping, economy and the lib- 
eralit}' of friends, completed his education, incurring a debt of 
only 3150, which he discharged in the first year of his ministry. 

"Ordained deacon by Bishop Jarvis in Trinity church, New Haven, 
September 5, 181 1, he was advanced to the priesthood by Bisliop 
Hobart, October 5. 18 13. He removed to Hampton, New York, and 
with filial affection received into his house and under his own care and 
protection his parents, both then aged and infirm. Though his cure 
was large enough to demand his entire attention, yet, in the then scar- 
city of Episcopal clergN'men, he was a missionary for all the region from 
Fort Fxlward on the south to Plattsburgh on the north. He has been 
heard to say that children have been brought one hundred miles to 
him for baptism, and he himself has traveled forty miles or more to 
attend a funeral. This was not in the days of railroads but of slow 
stage or private conveyance. A faithful ministry, running through a 
period often years in the same place, left its abiding marks in the form 
of a house of worship in Hampton commenced by all denominations 
with the understanding that it should belong to the body that should 
finish it. This house was through his zeal and influence properly com- 
pleted and cpiietly surrendered to the Episcopalians. "'■' 

i^Comiiiemorativc seinion l)y l\cv. I'-. K. lleardsley. 



6o6 • HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Mr. Jevvett was called to the rectorship of St. James's church 
of Derby, December 9, 1821, and for thirteen years divided his 
labors between this church and Union (now Trinity) parish of 
Humphreysville " on a salary of $500 a year and his fire-wood," 
as shown in the records. 

Dr. Mansfield was then rector and the Rev. Calvin White 
his assistant, but the latter's perversion to Romanism caused 
divisions among the people, and Mr. Jewett upon his advent 
into Derby found he had not only " a flock to feed, but a fold 
to defend." Old prejudices against the church, her doctrines 
and her liturgy, for certain causes, coupled with the defection 
of Mr. White, freshened anew the seeds of discord and rendered 
it all the more necessary for him to be vigilant, cautious, godly 
and firm. 

In addition to his pulpit and parochial duties he kept a private 
school in which he fitted for college or the theological semi- 
nary several young men, among whom may be mentioned Abel 
Nichols, John D. Smith, Oliver Hopson, Isaac Smith, Edward 
Hardyear, Sheldon Clarke and Caleb S. Ives, all of whom 
became ministers in the Episcopal church. Mr. Jewett also 
had great influence in the way of encouragement to other young 
men to enter the ministry, one of whom was Rev. S. Davis. 
From Mr. Jewett's ministry in Derby up to the present time 
not a single young man has been induced to enter the Episco- 
pal ministry in this town (with the exception of Charles H. 
Proctor) during the long period of forty-seven years. This 
speaks well for the record of Mr. Jewett. 

Coming into possession of unexpected wealth Mr. Jewett 
relinquished his salary in Derby for the last two years of his 
rectorship. In 1834 he removed to New Haven, and here and 
there for some years performed valuable ministerial services, 
commensurate with his failing health. The most important were 
those rendered to the feeble parishes of West Haven, Westville 
and Fair Haven, where his services were gratuitous, and he 
thus contributed largely to their revival and prosperity ; and to 
this day the fruit of his labors, broken by repeated attacks of 
illness, are duly appreciated. He was some months an assist- 
ant in Trinity church, New Haven. His hospitality was note- 
worthy ; under his roof his brethren always found acceptable 



RIOGRAPHIES. 6oj 

rest and refreshments. In his life-time he gave what he could 
to promote the objects of humanity, learning and religion. A 
quarter of a century before his death he founded a scholarship 
in Trinity College, Hartford, the largest individual gift up to 
that time that the institution had ever received. The contri- 
bution of $2,000 to St. Thomas parish. New Haven, while in 
its infancy, it is due to him and his family to say, was a strong 
incentive to others to abound "more and more" in good works 
for the glory of God and the benefit of His church. Feeble in 
the beginning, with only a handful of worshipers, this parish 
(St. Thomas) under thirty-one years' ministration of one clergy- 
man, the present rector, Rev. E. E. Beardsley, D. D., L. L. D., 
has grown to be among the strong and substantial churches in 
the diocese. 

Mr. Jewett was gathered to his fathers August 25, 1861, and 
the following Sunday Rev. Mr. Brainard, then rector of St. 
James's church, Birmingham, announced his death to his congre- 
gation, and immediately after divine service a meeting was held 
by the rector, wardens and vestrymen of the parish, at which 
the following resolution, among others in relation to Mr. Jewett, 
was unanimously passed : 

" Resolved, That we remember with gratitude the fact that for the 
space of thirteen years Rev. Stephen Jewett, whose public and private 
character, adorned as it was with rare and excellent virtues, went in and 
out among us as the zealous and faithful parish minister, active in 
every good work, rendering most efficient services to the church in this 
vicinity in the days of her comparative feebleness, contributing largely 
by God's blessing to the present position of strength and prosperity 
which it now enjoys." 

Thus the name of this man of God, like his patriarchial pre- 
decessor's, is still held in pleasing and grateful remembrance. 
Many are now living who testify warmly to his self-sacrificing 
devotion, his unswerving fidelity and Christian zeal in building 
up and strengthening the walls of Zion in the ancient parish of 
St. James's church, Derby. 

PLINY ADAMS JEWETT, M. D., 

The son of Rev. Stephen Jewett, was born June 4, 18 16, and 
spent his early years in Derby where he attended the village 



6o8 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

school, and after being fitted, entered Trinity College, Hartford, 
from which he was graduated in 1837, and then entering Yale 
Medical School received the degree of M. D. from that college 
in 1839. He has been one of the most prominent physicians 
and surgeons in the state, and held the chair of professor of 
obstetrics in Yale for ten years. He has been intimately con- 
nected with the State Hospital since its organization, and is a 
life director and consulting physician and surgeon in that insti- 
tution. At the commencement of the Rebellion he offered his 
services to the government to take command of the Govern- 
ment Hospital at New York, known as the Knight General 
Hospital, where he remained in charge until the close of the war 
in 1865. He has been an active and influential member of the 
State Medical Society for many years, having held all the offices 
within the gift of that society, and is an honorary member of 
the New York State Medical Society. Although Dr. Jewett's 
professional life has been spent in New Haven he still consid- 
ers himself a Derby boy, and has lost none of his love for the 
home of his childhood. 

THOMAS B. JEWETT, M. D., 

Son of Pliny A. Jewett, M. D., and grandson of the Rev. Stephen 
Jewett, was born at New Haven, January 9, 1850. His early 
education was pursued at the rectory school, Hamden, Conn., 
and the Collegiate and Commercial Institute of New Haven. 
He fitted for college at the Hopkins Grammar School, New 
Haven. He studied medicine with his father and Dr. Ambrose 
Beardsley of Birmingham, graduated from the medical depart- 
ment of Yale in January, 1879, ^^^ immediately located himself 
at Birmingham with Dr. Ambrose Beardsley. He has been 
very specially engaged in some cases of surgery of public in- 
terest and notoriety in the state. 

/ COL. EBENEZER JOHNSON 

Is supposed to have been the son of Peter Johnson of Fairfield, 
and was born about the time his father settled in Fairfield, 1649. 
He came to Derby, a single man, about 1668, and married Eliza- 
beth, daughter of Edward Wooster, in 1671, and made his home 



fUOGKAPIlIES. 609 

not long after on the south-east part of Sentinel Hill as it was 
then called ; the place being now on the turnpike east of Derby 
Narrows, and still known as the old Johnson place. He very 
soon became a leading man in all the interests and enterprises 
of the plantation and town, developing marvelous activity and 
energy, and a generosity of character that won the confidence 
and esteem of the whole community, and a large circle of asso- 
ciated officers both military and civil throughout the state. He 
seemed to believe in everybody, and feared nothing. He was 
once censured by the General Court for administering the oath 
to certain persons without requiring a record of those persons 
of the necessary legal qualifications in order to receive the oath. 
This was like the man. He knew those persons to possess the 
necessary qualifications as his neighbors, and thereupon admin- 
istered the oath, not doubting but that all others knew the 
same, and would accept the fact without further question. 

The location of his farm indicates the native good judgment 
and discrimination of the man ; the land being of the best 
quality, and its position being warm for early seed in the spring. 
He was such a worker that he accepted several pieces of land 
from the town, which were scarcely regarded as worth fencing, 
and soon made them most productive and valuable. 

He was early introduced to military position, which secured 
some little money, and thereby he had large advantage over 
most of his neighbors ; for a little silver in the hand in those 
days was equal to a large capital stock in the best manufactur- 
ing enterprises of the present day. In 1685 he was chosen 
lieutenant, and Abel Gunn, his neighbor, ensign of the first com- 
pany organized in Derby, and in 1689 he was commissioned by 
the General Court to the office of captain in a volunteer com- 
pany, raised to aid England to oppose the French in the twenty- 
four years' war that followed. In this war he went on two 
expeditions to Albany and one to New York, besides others 
against the Indians of his own state, and to protect the sea- 
coast. He was also appointed as one of the commissioners, 
or governor's council, several years during the war, and as such 
seems to have been depended upon as much as any one in the 
state. He was appointed sergeant-major of New Haven county 
militia in 1704, and in 1709 the General Assembly made the 
77 



6lO HISTORY OF DERBY. 

following record : " Upon consideration of the age and long 
service of Major Ebenezer Johnson, sergeant-major of the regi- 
ment of militia in the county of New Haven, this assembly have 
thought meet to excuse, and do now hereby excuse and release 
him from any further labor in that post." But his retirement 
did not last long, for the French war continuing, an expedition 
was organized in 1710 to go to St. Johns, or Port Royal, in that 
region, and Major Johnson was commissioned colonel of the 
regiment on that expedition. After this Colonel Johnson was 
more respected and honored than before, which was scarcely 
necessary, for in 1701 the town clerk wrote : " The worshipful 
Major Johnson," and in after years repeated this appellation 
several times, denoting the highest honor. 

He was justice of the peace much of the time, if not all, from 
1698 to 1 7 16, and was representative much of the time from 
1685 to 1723, a term of thirty-eight years, the equal of which is 
seldom known in any state. This is evidence that sometimes 
men do receive some proportionate honor in their life-time. 

For his public services, the town gave him while captain, one 
hundred and seventy-five acres of land at " Quaker's Farm, 
including the Eight-mile brook from north to south." He re- 
ceived also of the state, by vote of the General Assembly, in 
1700, three hundred acres of land as a recognition of his public 
services, particularly during the French war. 

*' Liberty and full power is by this assembly granted to the Honored 
Deputy Governor, Col. Robert Treat, and to Capt. Ebenezer Johnson, 
and to the Reverend Mr. James to take up their respective grants of 
land . . in the country lands adjoining Stratford nordi bounds." 

Dr. Benjamin Trumbull, the historian, in his manuscript 
notes says of Major Johnson : "About this time (1706) Major 
Johnson transacted almost all the public business in the town. 
He was a man of great resolution, courageous even to temerity, 
which gave him a great superiority over the common people 
and especially over the Indians." 

It is very seldom that such a character is found who is so 
considerate of his fellow men as Major Johnson, as manifested 
in his proposition to Ensign Samuel Riggs in town meeting in 
1700. 

Colonel Johnson's first wife died early, leaving one daughter. 



BIOGRAPHIES. 6ir 

Elizabeth, who married Jeremiah Johnson, and to her he gave 
his interest in certain lands "which did of right belong to my 
first wife and her heirs, she being long since deceased and with- 
out any other heir or issue, male or female, surviving but only 
the said Elizabeth, descended to her from her father Edward 
Wooster." Deed given in 1710. 

He gave to his son Peter in 1707, "one piece of land adjoin- 
ing to Pootatuck river, containing by estimation one hundred 
acres, and another piece adjoining to Two-mile brook, containing 
fifty acres." 

HARVEY JOHNSON 

Of Ansonia was born in Monroe, Conn., February 14, 1798, and 
married Nancy Riggs of Oxford, by whom he had twelve children, 
and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren are numerous. 
By trade he was a stone mason, and few men if any in the state 
have erected more monuments to their memory in the shape of 
public buildings (stone and brick), factories, stores and dwell- 
ing houses than he. His first contract for public buildings was 
the Insane Retreat at Hartford. He next built the state prison 
at Wethersfield, then Washington College, now Trinity, at 
Hartford, a church at Hartford, St. John's Church at Bridgeport, 
St. James's Church at Birmingham, St. John's in Waterbm-y, 
and a stone church in Washington, Conn. In addition to these 
he has erected sixteen large stone factories and a great variety 
of stores and dwelling houses. In the construction of some of 
these buildings other masons have been associated with him. 

He has been an industrious, hard working man, always lead- 
ing his men in the work before them. He is still in good health 
and is much respected in the community. His neighbors cele- 
brated his golden wedding February 14, 1869. Having seen so 
much polished stone, he has erected a monument in Evergreen 
Cemetery, a native, rough, bayonet-shaped stone, fourteen feet 
high, a curious and unpolished monument. 

SHELDON C. JOHNSON, M. D., 

Settled in Humphreysville in 1825. He attended lectures at 
the Yale Medical School, where he received his degree of M. D. 
He married a daughter of Doct. Abiram Stoddard and is still a 



6l2 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

practicing physician and surgeon in Seymour, and is upwards 
of eighty years of age. 

WILLIAM JOHNSON, M. D., 

Was born in Montgomery county, Penn., in 1849. His early 
education was obtained at the Normal School, Westchester, 
Penn., and the Polytechnic College, Philadelphia, from which 
institution he was graduated ; and afterwards was graduated at 
Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, receiving the degree 
of M. D., in 1869. He practiced his profession three years in 
Philadelphia and one year in Meriden, Conn., before coming to 
Ansonia, where he has been located over eight years, during 
which time he has proved himself a careful and attentive follower 
of Esculapius. 

DONALD JUDSON 

May be reckoned among the pioneers of Birmingham. He was 
born in Huntington, Conn., and in 1834 was senator from the 
loth senatorial district. In November, 1835, he removed to 
Birmingham and built the stone store on Main street, one of 
the first buildings in the.village. Previous to June 29, 1830, he 
and Philo Bassett, bought the old Leavenworth bridge and 
removed it, or rather built a new one near Hawkins Point, 
before Birmingham as a village was started. This investment 
proved profitable and Mr. Judson then became variously inter- 
ested in the advancement of the place. He was a man of ster- 
ling integrity and greatly respected. The Judson bridge, which 
was a sort of monument to his name, was carried away by a 
terrible ice flood in P^ebruary, 1857, and immediately rebuilt by 
his widow, Mrs. Polly M. Judson, and Dr. Martin B. Bassett. 
Mr. Judson died September 2, 1847. 

ITHIEL KEENEY 

Was born at Derby Narrows, March 17, 1755, being the first 
white child born at that place. He kept the tavern in the 
corner house, still standing opposite the store now occupied by 
Frank D. Jackson, and also kept the tavern, for a while, which 
is now occupied by Emery Hotchkiss ; was a sea captain, sailing 
to foreign ports as well as on home waters. He was town 



BIOGRAPHIES. 613 

treasurer about thirty years, which implies that great confidence 
was placed in him, and that he was much respected by the 
people of the town. 

COL. ELISHA STRONG KELLOGG 

Was born in the town of Glastenbury, Conn., in 1824, and a 
love for adventure led him to choose the life of a sailor. For 
many years he was buffeted by the waves and disciplined by 
hardship, until, like a true son of Neptune, he grew in stature, 
robust and vigorous in body ; — in mind honest, sincere, and 
kind, with a certain brusque roughness, which pertains to the 
hardy sailor. His sailor life terminated with a visit to Califor- 
nia in the days of the gold excitement, whither he went but 
found little success, and from which he returned to the vicinity 
of his native village when he settled in one of the mechanical 
pursuits of busy New England industry, where aptitude in 
mechanic art soon made him a skillful worker. He married 
the lady he loved, and whose affection he prized more than any 
earthly treasure. Upon a hill in Winsted, Conn., resides the 
widow with their only child, Eddie. Those who are familiar 
with the history of the state militia will remember Lieut., Capt., 
Major, and Lieut. Col. Kellogg, for this is the order in which he 
rose from rank to rank, until he was acknowledged the best 
drilled soldier in the state. 

Col. Kellogg had been a resident of Derby about five years 
when the news of the fall of Fort Sumter surprised the nation. 
A company was soon organized and he was called to command 
it, but before they were ordered to rendezvous the call for three 
years' troops was issued, and Capt. Kellogg's company .offered 
their service for the three years, and was mustered in as com- 
pany B, fourth Connecticut volunteers, it being the first three 
years' regiment from the state. In March, 1862, he was pro- 
moted to be major in this regiment, then changed to heavy 
artillery. One month later, it went with the army of the 
Potomac on the "Peninsular Campaign." At the siege of 
Yorktown he commanded battery No. i, consisting of five one- 
hundred and two two-hundred pound Parrott guns, the only bat- 
tery which opened on the rebel works. It was the first time 
guns of this calibre had been used, and the practice attracted 



6r4 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

much attention. The skill displayed by Major Kellogg in the 
management of these guns was admired by all the generals, and 
he was honorably mentioned in the report of the " Chief of 
Artillery." He distinguished himself in the battles of Gaines 
Mills and Malvern Hill, and a few weeks after was promoted to 
be lieutenant colonel of the 19th regiment, a new organization in 
Litchfield county. After a short time he was transferred as 
colonel of his old 19th heavy artillery, and on the ist of Jime 
was ordered to charge the enemy's works at Cold Harbor, 
where after distinguishing himself as a cool fighting soldier, and 
after having taken two lines of the enemy's works he was seen 
standing on one of these works cheering the "boys on after the 
fleeing rebels, his face covered with blood from a wound in the 
cheek, and where soon after he was found dead with four 
wounds, two in the head, and near him a score of our brave 
boys had fallen." The ofificers of Col. Kellogg's regiment said : 
" He fell a hero at the head of his command, fighting his coun- 
try's battles. We cherish his memory and hold his honor dear." 
He was a man of sterling character. What is ordinarily 
termed "manhood," was his distinguishing trait of character. 
Truth, honor, bravery, sincerity, were in his esteem cardinal 
virtues ; these were his idols. Thus fell a hero ; once for all. 

JOSHUA KENDALL, M. D., 

Came to Humphreysville in 1833, and is now next to the oldest 
physician of the place. He attended medical lectures at Castle- 
ton University, Vt., where he graduated. As a physician and 
as a citizen he has been a leading and influential man ; has been 
a most efficient member of the school board over thirty years, 
and has done good work for the advancement of education, 
teroperance and sound morality in the town. He has been 
ardent and unyielding in his politics and represented Derby in 
the Legislature in 1849, before Seymour was organized as a 
new town. He is still in active practice as a physician. 

EDMUND LEAVENWORTH 

Was born in Huntington, December 14, 1766. His father was 
Edmund, his grandfather Thomas, and his great-grandfather 
Doct. Thomas Leavenworth, who came to this country and set- 



HI()(iRAIM41]:S. 



6k 



tied on the west bank of the Ousatonic, near the Indian Well. 
Edmund had small advantages in his early training, but grew to 
be a man of more than ordinary intelligence, activity and capac- 
ity for business. When a boy he was identified with his father 
in ship-building, who lost heavily of his property in vessels upon 
the high seas. In early life he engaged extensively in butcher- 
ing, and in the war of 1812 barreled beef in large quantities for 
the government. He was elected first selectman of the town 
of Huntington for thirteen successive years, and was very vigi- 
lant in protecting the treasury of the town. A physician ren- 
dered his bill for services to the town poor, and Mr. Leaven- 




worth demanded the items, since the bill seemed larger than 
he supposed it should be. The Doctor proceeded to read the 
statements, and after making some progress in the Latin names 
of the medicine, Mr. Leavenworth broke in suddenly by saying, 
"Squills and the devil and all," and proceeded to pay the bill. 
Mr. Leavenworth came to Derby about 1826, and was well 
known by the familiar name of " Uncle Ed," being a genial 
and warm-hearted man. For many years he was deputy sheriff 
in Derby, discharging his duties as an efficient and faithful 
officer, and was a favorite among the people for his fund of 
anecdote. 



6l6 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

JOHN LEWIS 

Was a nativ^e of Derby and attended school with Stephen Whit- 
ney. The following- account is taken from the "Old Merchants 
of New York." Vol. II. 197 : 

" I remember among the clerks of Hoffman and Son, at that period, 
one named John Lewis as late as 1827. Hoffman sold largely for 
Archibald Gracie, and I used to see Mr. Lewis frequently. He had 
been a merchant at Derby, Conn. He was born there. He came to 
this city and went with the Hoffmans for the sole purpose of acquiring 
a knowledge of business paper. At that time Elijah Humphreys was 
doing a very heavy business as a grocer at 171 Front street. He was 
anxious to see Mr. Lewis go into the brokerage business, then a differ- 
ent business from now. John Lewis did go into that business from 
Hoffman's and took an office at 53 Wall street, in a basement which 
then rented for $50 a year. Probably now it would be $3,000. 

" John Lewis made a success. He kept an account in the Bank of 
America, and then aided his old townsman, Stephen Whitney. 

"The firm of Mr. Lewis was John Lewis and Co. . . . Mr. Lewis 
afterwards left business in 1840 with an ample fortune of $100,000 
At that time he was at No. 12 Wall street. He retired against the 
protestations of every friend. They advised him to stay in the street 
and get rich. 

"John Lewis had a favorite object for many years, and he used to 
travel at his own expense between this and Albany to get it carried out. 
I allude to the New York Free Academy. He was a warm advocate 
for the advancement of the highest educational facihties. He, before 
and since that time, had advanced substantial means as high at one 
time as $20,000. As he never aspired to riches, he gratified himself 
in spending his money in that way and it was very laudable. I do not 
know among the list of names 1 have rescued from oblivion any one 
who has done more good in a quiet way, and added to the prosperity of 
our city more than John Lewis. 

'' I see that he many years ago paid taxes on more than $200,000 
real estate in the city." 

JOHN LINDLEY 

Was born at Oxford, April 17, 18 16, and worked on his father's 
farm until he was seventeen, when he engaged in school teach- 
ing, which he followed for seven winters, working at his trade 
summers with W. and L. Hotchkiss, builders, then of Birming- 



BIOCRAPIIIES. 



617 



ham. He afterwards engaged in the lumber business and con- 
tinued therein until i<S58, since which time he has been a 
merchant in a furniture, carpet and variety store in Ansonia, 
in which place he was one of the pioneers in 1845. He has 




a 







^"'"^^f -^^WSsWJI^V \ 




always taken a deep interest in the cause of common school 
education, which he has most effectually served a number 
of years. He was first selectman and town agent for three 
years, and since the organization of Christ Church, Ansonia, 

has been a devoted worker in that church. 

78 



6l8 HISTORY OF DERBY. 



LYMAN L. LOMER 

Was born in South Hadley, Mass., July 20, 1814; came to 
Seymour in 1834, and to Birmingham in 1836, where he worked 
for David Bassett at the auger business for three or four years, 
and then became the market dealer in meats. After this he 
engaged in the livery business, having this peculiar rule, he 
would not let a horse on Sunday. He established a stage route 
from Birmingham to Bridgeport, then from Seymour to Wood- 
bury. After following the business of staging a number of 
years he returned to that of the meat market for a time, and 
then engaged in the manufacture of corsets, to which he is still 
devoting his attention. In his business enterprises he has been 
successful. He has been warden of Birmingham, and selectman 
of the town. 

REV. RICHARD MANSFIELD, D. D. 

The annals of Derby furnish no character more conspicuous 
and deservedly honored than the subject of this sketch. His 
ancestor, Richard Mansfield, came from England to Boston about 
1636, and thence to New Haven in 1643. The son of the first 
Richard, Moses, born in England, became distinguished in New 
Haven, holding the highest military office in the county, who in 
1673 routed a party of hostile Indians, where the town of Mans- 
field is now situated. For this heroic act he received a large 
tract of land, which was afterwards incorporated as a town and 
called Mansfield. 

Richard Mansfield was born in New Haven in October, 1724 
and his early religious training was in the Congregational faith ; 
his father, Jonathan Mansfield, being a worthy deacon in that 
church. At the early age of eleven years he was prepared for 
college, but owing to its rules could not enter it until fourteen. 
He graduated with the first honors of his class in 1741, being 
greatly respected by his instructors as a remarkably steady and 
studious young man. He was a " scholar of the House " as it 
was termed and received the premium founded by Bishop Berke- 
ley for the best examination in Greek, provided the student 
remained in New Haven as a graduate one or more years. He 
read attentively many of the works donated to Yale College by 



niO(;RAI'HIES. 619 

Bishop Berkeley, and during this period began to think favorably 
of the Episcopal church, and finally, with great warmth of feel- 
ing united with that church. In 1744 he took charge of a gram- 
mar school in New Haven, remaining as its principal more than 
two years. He was a ripe scholar for those times, and fitted 
many young men for Yale college, and the college in after life 
conferred on him the degree of D. D. Being determined to 
enter the ministry of the church of England, although bitterly 
opposed by his father's family, he sailed in the summer of 1748 
for England, where he was admitted to Holy Orders by the 
Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Herring. 

Dr. Mansfield returned to this country and under the eye of 
Dr. Johnson of Stratford, who had undoubtedly aided him in his 
theological preparation, he began his work in the face of the 
jealousy, prejudice and opposition engendered by the early 
Puritans. His field of labor was appointed in Derby, having 
been preceded by the missionaries, Arnold, Morris and Lyons, 
and he established his residence in Derby village, the centre of 
his extensive field of labor, and was supported here by that ven- 
erable " Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign 
Parts" until the acknowledgment of the American independ- 
ence. 

The papers containing his declaration of allegiance to the 
Episcopal church, the certificate of the same, and his parchment 
of ordination are still preserved, and are as follows : 

" I do declare that I will conform to the liturgy of the Church of 
England as it is now by law established. 

Richard Mansfield.'" 

" This declaration was made and subscribed before "us, by the said 
Richard Mansfield to be licensed to perform the ministerial office in 
the province of New England in America, this nth day of August in 
the year of our Lord 1748, and in the twenty-sixth year of our trans- 
lation. Edm"*. London." 

The following record of Dr. Mansfield's ordination is tx. fac- 
simile copy of his parchment; the name "Thomas of Canter- 
bury" was the title as Bishop. A green ribbon was attached 
to the parchment, which is also preserved. 







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15IOGRAP1TIES. 621 

On the lOth of November, 175 i, in his church he was married 
to Sarah Anna, eldest daughter of Joseph Hull, 2d, of Derby by 
the Rev. Dr. Samuel Johnson of Stratford, who has been justly 
styled, " the father of Episcopacy in Connecticut." For a quar- 
ter of a century Dr. Mansfield received annually from the society 
in England forty pounds sterling, besides Bibles, prayer-books 
and other church works for distribution among the people. 
This parish included the present towns of Derby, Orange, Wood- 
bridge, Seymour, Oxford, Southbury, Naugatuck andWaterbury. 
After 1755, his labors being abundantly blessed, his duties were 
mostly confined to Derby and Oxford. 

The war of the Revolution brought troublesome times to the 
church. Dr. Mansfield was a loyalist, and having sworn allegi- 
ance to the British crown in his vows of ordination, his mind 
and conscience were not easily forced to abandon his chosen 
ground. It is said he was ordered not to pray for the king. In 
1775 he preached a sermon from the words " Fear God ; honor 
the king," which created a bitter feeling against him. The ser- 
mon was loyal to the British ministry, but it was strangely per- 
verted ; the Puritan element declaring that Dr. Mansfield's 
doctrine was, that "in fearing God you must join the Episcopal 
church, and to honor the king you must fight his battles." A 
short time after this, on a Sunday morning while preaching, a 
guard of American troops marched into his church, when the 
good parson came down from his pulpit in "double quick " and 
escaping from the sanctuary without his hat, hastened to his 
home and soon fled to Long Island, then in possession of the 
l^ritish, leaving his wife and infant, and seven other children 
to the care of others ; one daughter being married to Elijah 
Humphreys. It is said that his son-in-law being an officer on 
a war vessel arrested him in his flight, but it is more probable 
that he became a guarantee for his conduct and obtained the 
privilege for him to return not long after to his home and his 
pulpit. There is good authority for the statement that this son- 
in-law obtained the privilege for his brother John to take the 
place of the guard in the church to see that the devoted loyalist 
did not preach against the American cause. After the war his 
opposition to the cause of liberty in the colonies seems to have 
been soon forgotten in the piety and zeal he manifested towards 



622 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

his church, and the meek but dignified deportment he exhibited 
toward all who entertained different religious views from him- 
self 

Dr. Mansfield was rector of St. James's church seventy-two 
years without a break, — a solitary instance it is believed in the 
Episcopal church in this country. 

The labors of Dr. Mansfield were arduous and extensive. 
The ministerial rates in support of the church services were 
paid directly to him, and he gave his receipt as follows : 

" Derby, January 6, A. D., 1755. Then received of Mr. Nicholas 
Moss his ministerial rate in full for the year 1753- ^ ^^Y received per 
me, Richard Mansfield, Missionary.'''' 

Dr. Mansfield's register of baptisms numbers 2,191, and there 
is reason to believe his marriages and burials were equally pro- 
portionate. He taught from house to house, and was diligent 
in his attentions to his people. He was particularly tender and 
affectionate towards the lambs of his flock, and thus they grew 
in years to love and venerate his person and cherish his fatherly 
instructions. He generally rode on horseback, being a good 
horseman, and no inclemency of weather or almost impassable 
roads prevented his visiting the sick, or in any way discharging 
his duty. On one Sunday he appointed to preach and hold a 
baptismal service in Oxford, and the week previous rains fell in 
torrents, the streams were greatly swollen and bridges swept 
away ; but mounting his horse in the morning, around gullied 
roads, through lots, and traveling eight miles out of his way to 
cross the Naugatuck, he reached Oxford and found his little 
flock waiting his arrival. This he considered no hardship in 
the line of duty. Again on one stormy afternoon he was sent 
for to marry a couple in Waterbury, and he hurried to be in 
season to return before night. The ceremony over, he was 
asked his fee for such services. The Doctor replied : "It's a 
stormy time, and as you are entering on a new and uncertain 
life, I shall be governed by your liberality," whereupon the 
happy groomsman handed him a pistareen and two coppers, 
wishing him a safe return home. Again he was called to tie 
the "indissoluble knot" at Wooster's tavern in Gunntown, in 
the limits of old Derby. The happy pair were colored, and 



BIOGRAPHIES. 623 

they wanted to be "married like white folks." "Will you pay 
the same as white folks, if I marry you in that way ?" said Dr, 
Mansfield. " Oh yes, massa," was the reply. The ceremony 
over and the parson ready to leave, waiting for his fee, the sable 
groomsman turned him off by saying, " You no sing the psalm 
nor kiss the bride, as you do with white folks." 

Dr. Mansfield was very familiar with his laymen, who loved 
him as a father, and always provided " something good " when 
he came among them. Visiting a parishioner one day in 
Oxford, the wife had prepared him a meal with the luxury of 
coftee sweetened, as was common in those days, with molasses 
" fretted in." Passing his cup for more sweetening, the good 
lady said, " La me, parson, this coffee would be none too good 
for you if it was all 'lasses ! " 

He frequently officiated among his people by special appoint- 
ment. On one occasion he was to preach on Great Hill where 
the church services were a rarity and the people anxious to hear 
him. Prayer-book exercises through, the Doctor felt for his ser- 
mon but drew by accident from his loose pocket nothing but 
his long pipe, for he was a noted smoker. Before he began to 
extemporize a layman " spoke out in meeting " and said, " Par- 
son, if you had put your sermon with your pipe you would have 
known where to find it." 

Dr. Mansfield was never idle. Among his diversified and 
arduous duties he found time to cultivate the lands about his 
residence, in which he took particular pride. The venerable 
elm that now adorns the front yard of the " old Mansfield house " 
at Up Town, was planted and nourished by him more than a 
hundred years ago, he having brought it from New Haven on 
horseback. The black walnut so fashionable in this age was 
first introduced into Derby by Dr. Mansfield. On his return 
from England in 1748, the year of his ordination, he brought in 
his pocket some of the "old England walnuts" and had them 
planted on the farm now owned by the heirs of the late Capt. 
Asa Bassett. One seed took root and grew to be a large tree, 
the stump of which we believe, in part, still remains. In his 
old age, then ninety-five, one of his parishioners (named Haw- 
kins) carried him some walnuts from that tree with the remark : 
" These grew from the seed planted by you seventy years ago." 



624 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

The old Doctor smiled and said : " If such be the fruits of Eng- 
land in the vegetable world what may we not expect in the ani- 
mal ? " 

We might call up many more pleasing reminiscences of this 
excellent divine. As a preacher he was earnest, persuasive and 
scripturally interesting. In a word, his connection with the 
Episcopal church in Derby for nearly three-quarters of a century 
largely identifies his name with her history, and the people here 
are greatly indebted to him for the good fruits of his long, faith- 
ful and untiring ministry. How striking the example, and how 
suggestive to the clergy of modern times, the labors of such a 
man. In season and out of season he went about doing the will 
of his divine Master. Ever watchful for the greatest good of 
his people he was an acceptable minister indeed. " An Israel- 
ite in whom there was no guile." In the language of the excel- 
lent Cowper : 

" We would express him simple, grave, sincere ; 
In doctrine uncorrupt, in language plain, 
And plain in manner; decent, solemn, chaste, 
And natural in gesture ; much impressed 
Himself, as conscious of his awful charge. 
And anxious, that the flock he feeds 
May feel it too. Affectionate in look, 
And tender in address, as well becomes 
A messenger of grace to guilty men." 

In person he was tall, venerable and commanding, and it is 
said of him for fifty years he scarcely changed the cut or color 
of his garments, which were the small clothes and shoes. He 
wore the large white wig surmounted with a broad flat-brimmed 
hat. Such was an embassador of Christ in olden times, who 
closed his useful labors August 12, 1820, aged ninety-six years. 
He still lingers in the affection of those who remember his godly 
example and pious teachings, with profit and comfort to their 
souls. A " memorial window" in the flourishing church of An- 
sonia holds sacred his memory. Near where was the corner- 
stone of the first Episcopal church edifice erected in Derby, an 
humble slab, leaning towards the rising sun, for over half a cen- 
tury has marked the place where he lies, over which many 
grateful tears have been shed. Through the munificence of his 
descendants an imposing monument has very recently been 
erected. 



BIOGRAPHIES. 625 

MRS. SARAH MILLS, 

Daughter of Rev. Daniel and Sarah (Riggs) Humphreys, was 
born in 1750, and married the Rev. Samuel Mills, and they were 
residing in Fairfield when that place was burned in 1779, i" the 
Revolution, and it was where her house stood, probably, that 
her brother. General Humphreys, wrote his poem on the burn- 
ing of Fairfield, for he says he wrote it at that place. It is said 
that when the British burned that place on the 7th of July, 
1779, s^'is ^6<^1 ^^ horseback, having put her best feather-bed 
across the horse, and came to Derby. The parsonage and the 
church in which her husband had preached were burned to the 
ground. He probably was settled in Chester, where he died 
in 1814, and she returned to Humphreysville to reside. She 
married Chipman Swift, Esq., father of the Rev. Zephaniah 
Swilt, March 8, 1819. Mrs. Ann Stephens was at the wedding 
festivities, and gives some interesting description of the occasion 
and of the bridal dress on page 454 of this book. In personal 
appearance, style and manners she was a good illustration of 
the same in her honored mother. Lady Humphreys. She was 
for the times highly educated, and published a volume of her 
poems. She died March 31, 1827, aged seventy-seven years. 

REV. JOSEPH MOSS 

Was the son of Joseph Moss of New Haven, and was born 
April 7, 1679. ''e was graduated at Harvard College in 1699, 
and received the degree of A. M. at Yale in 1702, and was en- 
gaged some time as teacher in the Hopkins grammar school. 
In the spring of 1706 he was engaged to supply the pulpit in 
Derby immediately after the dismissal of Mr. James, and soon 
after was invited to settle as pastor, but did not see fit to accept 
the offer, although continuing to preach there. A further ofi'er 
and the urgency of the people of Derby prevailed, and he was 
ordained there in the spring of 1707. By the gift of lands by the 
town he became a farmer as well as minister, and his influence 
was very soon felt in the improvement of public schools. He 
served several years as town clerk, and after a few years his 
salary was placed in the form of fourpence on the pound, under 
which arrangement he kept the rate bills and account of the 
79 



626 HISTORY OF DERHV. 

payments and delinquents, and a short time before his death 
the town made quite an offer, providing he would surrender 
these old rate bills, but for what end is not known. 

It was the next year after the settlement of Mr. Moss that the 
Saybrook synod or council met and gave expression to certain 
principles of church order that were then becoming quite accept- 
able to many Congregational people, which Rev. Dr. Bacon very 
appropriated says, "■ implied that the new form of ecclesiastical 
government in Connecticut was to be, in some sort, and to some 
extent, a compromise with Presbyterian principles." The ac- 
ceptance of the platform of Saybrook by the Legislature made it 
the state or legal platform or principles of church government, 
and every church that did not accept this platform was denomi- 
nated a dissenting church, or as in Derby the dissenting Presby- 
terian church, which meant the holding to the old Congregational 
ideas. Mr. Moss and his church took their position finally as a 
dissenting church, and hence probably did not practice the half- 
way covenant. 

Mr. Moss was a very capable, well qualified and successful 
minister. Dr. Benjamin Trumbull says of him : " He was a 
gentleman of great depth of understanding and as well skilled in 
mathematics as almost any in the government " In his day 
occurred " what was known among the churches of this region 
as the great 'Episcopal schism.' At this time several of our 
ministers became dissatisfied with their ' Presbyterian ordina- 
tion ' and desired ordination at the hands of bishops. In the 
historical collection of Massachusetts there is a letter preserved 
which was written by Mr. Moss to Cotton Mather, setting forth 
the facts of this episode and giving the names of the disaffected 
ministers. In this letter Mr. Moss pithily remarks that, although 
disaffected with their condition, these ministers were not so dis- 
satisfied that they were willing to give up their Congregational 
pulpits for conscience' sake, although the churches would wish 
to be rid of them ! '"'" 

Mr. Moss was a man who commanded some money, as appears 
from several transactions recorded, and thereby exerted a larger 
influence both at home and abroad, and his ministerial work 



■■^'Rev. J. Howe Vorse's centennial sermon, 1S76. 



r.IOC.RAPHIES. 627 

was tlie more highly appreciated, as is frequently the case at the 
present day. 

Three of his brothers settled in the parish and married into 
the best families, which gave additional strength and force to 
his professional lile. His pastorate continued until his death in 
1731. His remains were buried in the old Up Town cemetery, 
near the centre. His tombstone is a short lead-colored marble 
slab, bearing" this inscription : 

'• Here lyes interr'd ye body of ye Rev. Joseph Moss, ye fnithful and 
affectionate Pastor of ye flock in this town 25 years ; a learned- man, a 
good Christian, who departed this life January 23, Anno Dom. 1731. 
yKtatis Suai, 53. 

" With Holy ardor of Seraphic love 

He dropt his clay and soared to Christ above." 

H. B. MUNSON 

Was born in Middlebury, Conn., January, 1821, and scarcely 
had the advantages of the district school, tor he was bound out 
in early life to learn the carpenter and joiner's trade, where he 
continued until he was twenty-one years of age, so that what he 
had was as he says " picked up nights and Sundays." He was 
admitted to the bar in 1846, and soon after located in Seymour 
to practice his profession, where he still continues. From 1852 
to 1854, he was judge for New Haven county, and for the 
prompt and impartial manner in which he discharged his duties 
he received great commendation, not only from 'the newspapers 
but from the members of the bar. 

Rough-hewn, like the marble in the quarry, Judge Munson 
has risen to a high standing in his profession. His native tal- 
ents are of the first order, and before courts and jury he is a 
sort of sledge-hammer as an advocate. Not learned, nor pol- 
ished, yet he is a convincing pleader, and has succeeded far 
above many who have had the advantages of a liberal education. 
He has ably represented his town six times in the Legislature, 
and being a life-long democrat has exerted great influence in his 
party. 

MAJOR THOMAS M. NEWSON 

Was born in New York city, and received his early education 
in a private school in New Haven. He says he " graduated at 



628 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

the great practical school of humanity." He learned the trade 
of a printer, and became editor of a paper at the age of eighteen 
years. He started the first newspaper printed in Derby in 1847, 
and removed to St. Paul, Minn., in 1852 ; was four years in the 
Union army, has been lecturer and an explorer in the far West, 
is author of the drama of " Life in the Black Hills," which met 
with a quick sale of 20,000 copies. 

In 1878 he established his present illustrated monthly maga- 
zine, one of the most popular periodicals of the West. He is a 
ready and forcible writer, and many of Derby's citizens will learn 
with satisfaction of his present prosperity, for his departure from 
the town was deeply regretted. 

REV. CHARLES NICHOLS 

Was born at Derby Narrows, in the year 1798. When fifteen 
years of age, his father being deceased, his mother placed him 
to service in the family of Dea. Daniel Holbrook, where he 
remained until nineteen years of age, when he engaged in 
teaching school. Of this, his first beginning in the world of 
employments, he wrote in 1878 : 

" I being then a poor youth, fatherless, despondent, awkward, miser- 
ably equipped as to clothing, books and acquaintance with society, 
took charge of an academy in Huntington, Long Island, and actually 
began my school with prayer, making in the hearing of my stranger 
pupils the first prayer before others that I had ever audibly made in 
my life. Whether I should have taken this step had not your brother 
(Chipman Swift) presented the subject to my mind months previously 
I do not know. God meant it for good, and this step being taken in 
the right direction, it led to other good things. It made the manage- 
ment of my school comparatively easy. It gained me the respect of 
good people. It led to my taking part in the prayer meetings of the 
church. It imposed a restraint upon me in reference to my word, tem- 
per and action. It separated me from all intimacy with profane and 
profligate young men." 

Mr. Nichols continued in this school as teacher nearly two 
years, and then spent three years in the theological department 
of Yale college, and entered upon life as a pastor September 28. 
1825. He received the honorary degree of A. M. from Yale in 
1871. He was a settled pastor at Gilead in Hebron, Conn., 



r!IO(~.KAPHIES. 629 

September 28, 1825, where lie remained until his dismissal 
in October, 1856, a term of thirty-one years, and afterwards 
preached several years at Higganum in Haddam. He died at 
New Britain. 

THOMAS J. O'SULIVAN, M. D., 

Was born at Preston, Conn., March i, 1852, his early education 
being secured at Norwich Free Academy, Conn., and Nicolet 
College, Canada, from which institution he graduated. Enter- 
ing the University of Vermont at Burlington, he took one course 
of lectures and then went to Bellevue Medical College, New 
York, where he received the degree of M. D. and entered upon 
the practice of his profession at Worcester, Mass., where he 
remained until his removal to Birmingham in 1878, where he 
is engaged in a good practice. 

ELEAZER PECK, 

Son of Benjamin C. Peck of Woodbury, a descendant of Joseph 
Peck of Stratford, in the seventh generation, was born in 
Woodbury, Conn., in 1808. Removed to Derby in 1829; was 
associated with David Bassett in the manufacture of augers 
until 1845. About 1849 he left manufacturing to engage in 
mercantile business in the new village of Ansonia, and built 
the first store in that place. He continued to be a successful 
merchant until 1870, when on account of declining health he 
retired from business. He was twice married ; first to Nancy 
Mansfield ; second, to Louise Martentrough, both granddaugh- 
ters of the Rev. Richard Mansfield, D. D. He had one child 
by his first wife, a son, who died at six years, and five children 
by his second wife, who all died in childhood, except one daugh- 
ter, P31iza, who married A. W. Webster, Esq., and lives at pres- 
ent at the family residence in Ansonia. Mr. Peck died July, 
1878. 

GEOKGE IIOBART PECK, 

Fourth son of Ephraim Birdseye Peck of Woodbury, removed 
to Birmingham in 1863, and succeeded Mr. G. H. Corlies in the 
drug business, which he conducted alone until 1873, when he 
entered into a partnershij:) with Charles H. Coe, and the busi- 
ness is still conducted under the style of G. H. Peck and Co. 



630 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

In 1866 Mr. Peck became a stockholder in the Star Pin Com- 
pany, a new interest just organizing tor the manufacture of 
pins, and was elected president of the company, which office he 
held until 1875, when, by the purchase of stock, he became more 
largely interested in the business; and upon the resignation of 
Mr. j. Tomlinson, former secretary and treasurer of the company, 
he was elected secretary and treasurer and assumed the manage- 
ment of the business of the company, which he still continues. 

He was elected Judge of Probate, District of Derby, in 1869, 
70, 71 ; was elected to Legislature in 1873 ; and has been war- 
den in the Church since 1866. 

He was married in 1856 in Tecumseh, Mich., to Maria P. 
Stillson, a daughter of David Stillson formerly of Woodbury. 
Has three children ; Ina Gertrude, Irving Hobart and How- 
ard Birdseye. 

ROBERT PECK 

Born in Woodbury, Conn., in 1825 ; the third son of Ephraim 
Birdseye Peck of Woodbury, a descendant of Joseph Peck of 
Strattbrd in the sixth generation. Removed trom Woodbury 
to Ansonia in 1870 to engage in the dry goods trade, having 
purchased the long established business of Mr. Eleazer Peck. 
He continued in trade till 1876, when he sold his stock, and soon 
after succeeded Scott Brothers in the job printing business in 
the village of Shelton, which he still continues, residing in 
Ansonia as before. 

For a number of years one of the burgesses of the borough 
of Ansonia; in 1873 was elected warden; has been trial justice 
for many years, and an active member of the board of vestry of 
Christ's Church ; has been twice married ; first to Catharine M. 
Farr, of Woodbury, who died in 1854. His second wife is Sarah 
L. Lindley, a daughter of Ira Lindley, Esq., ol Danbury, Conn. 
They have one child, Minnie C. Peck. 

DOCT. JOSEPH PERRY 

Was born at Quaker's Farm about 1727, and died in Woodbury, 
April 29, 1793, in the sixty-sixth year of his age. He is said to 
have been the third English child born at Quaker's Farm. He 
prepared himself for the practice of medicine and settled in Wood- 



HIOfiKAPHIES. 631 

bury about 1750. For ruore than forty years he was the leading 
physician of the town and vicinity, and was frequently called 
into neighboring towns in critical cases. He fitted many dur- 
ing his long practice for the profession he so much adorned. 
He also had much interest in the civil aftairs of the town and 
was frequently engaged in its public business.-' 

He had a son Nathaniel, who was a physician in Woodbury, 
and this Nathaniel's son was the honorable Nathaniel Perry of 
Woodbury. 

AN.SON GREEN PHELPS, 

Whose name occurs so frequently in these pages, was born 
in Simsbury, Conn., in March, 1781. His father died when he 
was an infant, and his mother before he was eleven years of 
age. Ide was placed under the care of Rev. Mr. Utley, with 
whom he remained several years, learning a trade. Mr. Phelps's 
father was among the first who left Simsbury to join the army 
of the Revolution, and served much of the time through the 
war as an officer under Gen. Green, and in memory of whom 
he named his son. His wife, mother of Anson Green, a very 
excellent woman, was reduced to indigent circumstances, and 
struggled hard to obtain a living during the war. When her 
husband returned, only to die, nothing was left her but worth- 
less Continental money. 

At an early age Anson G. spent several winters in Charles- 
ton, S. C, where he established a branch of business. In 
1815 he removed to New York city, where he became largely 
identified with commercial interests. His business, which was 
dealing in copper, tin, brass, iron and lumber, became very 
extensive throughout the country, resulting in the establish- 
ment of a branch firm in Liverpool, England. He was among 
the most prominent and successful business men in the coun- 
try. Having accumulated a fortune, he seemed to take delight 
in starting new enterprises, and building manufacturing vil- 
lages, and the people of Derby owe him more than a debt of 
gratitude that he was induced by Sheldon Smith to turn a por- 
tion of his energies towards the waste places of the town. 
After Mr. Smith sold his interests in Birmingham, Mr. Phelps 



■■^1 Woodbury History, I. 393. 



632 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

was the chief pillar of support in sustaining the early growth 
and prosperity of the place. 

Ansonia, which bears its derivative name from him, owes its 
existence to his persevering efforts. He interested himself 
apparently with no selfish ambition ; was a promoter of the 
public good, and encouraged progress in all directions. Those 
who recollect his operations in Derby, which were only a small 
part of his business life, can appreciate his career, in which, 
being incessantly employed in a great variety of undertakings, 
he signalized his business talent by success in nearly every- 
thing he attempted. Armed with an invincible self-reliance, 
he took counsel chiefly of himself, and often saw success where 
most other men predicted defeat. He had an iron will, a com- 
prehensive judgment and power of combination, a physical con- 
stitution capable of immense endurance, and by these he 
worked out extraordinary success. He gave liberally of his 
ample means to all benevolent objects, without regard to class 
or sect. He took no active part in politics, although a firm 
friend of the slave, and for many years was president of the 
American Colonization Society, to which he contributed largely. 
He enjoyed the personal esteem of many eminent statesmen, 
such as Henry Clay, Daniel Webster and others, who were often 
guests at his house. 

In his daily walk Mr. Phelps was a model Christian. No 
business relations, however important, were permitted to inter- 
fere with his devotions or his duties to his church (Congrega- 
tional) through his long and useful career. This was the 
crowning fact of his life, that, unlike most men in large business 
enterprises, he carried his religion into almost every line and 
department of work, and to this principle, he attributed his 
success. His Sunday contributions were often more in amount 
than that of all the congregation. He kept a diary of his 
religious and business expenses for fifty years. Long will the 
citizens of Derby hold him in grateful remembrance. He died 
at New York in November, 1853, in the 74th year of his age. 

ALBERT W. PHILLIPS, M. D., 

Was born at Marcellus, N. Y., July 26, 1838, his early educa- 
tion beins secured in the common schools of his native town. 




^■^ V Geo E. Eerir^e .N-^' 




lUOCiKAFHlES. 633 

He graduated from the Hannemann Homeopathic College, Chi- 
cago, 111., in 1861. 

At the commencement of the Rebellion he enlisted as a pri- 
vate in the 12th Regiment, New York State Volunteers, but was 
afterward appointed hospital steward of the same regiment, and 
later received the appointment of assistant surgeon of the 149th 
Regiment New York Volunteers, and served until the close of 
the war, when he removed to Birmingham. He has held the 
office of registrar of vital statistics, and has also been an influ- 
ential member of the board of burgesses for several years. He 
has been the only follower of the school " similia similibus 
cnmiitur'" in the town, and has a large and lucrative practice. 

CHARLES HITCHCOCK PINNEY, M. D., 

Who has been closely identified with the interests of the town 
of Derby over a quarter of a century, is a descendant of the 
ancient line of the Pinneys of Somersetshire, England. 

Humphrey Pinney, his earliest ancestor in America, was 
nephew and heir to Edmund Pinney, gentleman, of Somerset- 
shire, village of Broadway, so called from being built upon an 
ancient Roman road which by its breadth and solidity impressed 
that Saxon ancestor. 

Humphrey emigrated to New England March 30, 1630, and 
settled at Dorchester, Mass. He returned to England the fol- 
lowing year to prove the will of his uncle, which contained some 
curious provisions, among them this : A certain amount, the 
income of a tract of land called Pinney's ground, situated in the 
adjoining parish of He Abbott, was settled in perpetuity upon 
two poor people of Broadway, said payments to be made quar- 
terly at the family burial place, known as Pinney's tomb. The 
legacy is regularly paid to this day, the present holder of the 
property being William Speake, Esq. 

Soon after the return of Humphrey to Dorchester, he, in com- 
pany with two other gentlemen, purchased of Tehano, sachem 
of the local Indian tribe, a tract of land covering the site of the 
present town of Windsor Locks, Conn., one-third of the town of 
Windsor and the southern part of Suffield. He removed to 
Windsor in 1635, '^'""^^ resided on Main street, one mile north of 

So 



634 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

the present Congregational church. He died in August, 
1683." 

Samuel, his son, born in Dorchester about 1634, settled in 
Simsbury, where he lived until the town was burned by the 
Indians in 1676. He then removed to Windsor on the east 
side of the Connecticut river, now Ellington, he being its first 
settler, his son Samuel assisting him in the survey of the town 
and adjustment of its boundaries. Concerning this property in 
Ellington, the Hon. Judge Benjamin Pinney said recently, " I 
feel proud in saying that the land bought by Samuel Pinney 
from the Indians has never been in other hands than the Pin- 
neys. It is the only tract of land in that town which has never 
been conveyed by deed from the family descendants. Of this 
tract no deed can be found but the original Indian deed to Sam- 
uel Pinney." 

Samuel Pinney, jun., was born at Simsbury in 1668. He 
married at Ellington in 1698 and died about 1740. 

Capt. Benjamin Pinney, youngest son of the preceding, was 
born at Ellington in 171 5, and died in November, 1777. 

Eleazer, son of the preceding, was born at Ellington, P^ebru- 
ary, 1753. He was a lieutenant .in the campaign against Bur- 
goyne, of a Connecticut corps which distinguished itself for 
bravery. He was at the Stillwater engagement, September 19, 
1777, and at Saratoga the following October ; his corps being a 
part of the division that stormed the camp of Burgoyne and 
decided the late of that General's army. Lieutenant Pinney, 
until age closed his active career, was among the most useful 
citizens of his town ; represented it in the Legislature ; was 
selectman fourteen years ; and in various positions of trust so 
constantly received tokens of preference from his townsmen 
that he was often alluded to as administrator general of Elling- 
ton. He died in 1835. 

Ebenezer his son, the father of the subject of this sketch, was 
born at Ellington, September 26, 1796. He married September 
10, 1827, Mary Ann Lee, daughter of Dr. Tully Lee of Hart- 
ford, who was the son of the Rev. Thomas Andrew Lee, rector 
of the church in Lisbon, Conn., who was the descendant of 
Martin Lee, a legal gentleman of note in Somersetshire, Eng- 

'^^History Ancient Windsor, 745. 



BIOGRAPHIES. 635 

land. His predilections were in favor of the legal profession, 
but through the influence of friends he turned his attention to 
manufactures and subsequently to mercantile pursuits, retiring 
from business at the age of forty years. 

He was a man of studious habits, a great reader, and of 
remarkably retentive memory, seldom forgetting anything he 
once read. He could repeat whole volumes from his favorite 
authors, and many books of the Bible. A Universalist in creed 
at a time when Universalism was a reaction from the severities 
of Calvinism ; he was a man of inflexible integrity, and. like his 
father, was called by his townsmen to fill numerous positions 
of trust, and received the highest official position in their gift ; 
a man of remarkable energy, originality of thought and expres- 
sion, with an unbending sense of justice which the innate kindli- 
ness of his nature redeemed from anything like harshness ; he 
was eminently a leading citizen, a helpful friend, and an affec- 
tionate kinsman, and by his death a community was bereaved. 
He died May 12, 1877, at South Windsor. His widow at this 
date survives him. 

Charles Hitchcock Pinney, son of the foregoing, was born at 
South Windsor, then a part of East Windsor, April 25, 1831. 
His early school days were passed at Mr. Lincoln's Academy. 
Later he received at Rogers's Private Academy at East Hart- 
ford, his preparatory training, and having decided to adopt 
medicine and surgery as his profession he entered Harvard Col- 
lege in 1849, where he remained but one year, the east winds 
of the locality inducing severe hemorrhage of the lungs. But 
unwilling to abandon the choice he had made, he went to New 
York where he matriculated at the College of Physicians and 
Surgeons in that city, being at the same time under the private 
instruction of Doctors Willard Parker and Robert Watts. In 
1853 he graduated with honor and immediately opened an office 
in Derby. 

In 1854 he married Maria Watson, daughter of Royal I. Wat- 
son of New Hartford, Conn., a lady of intelligence and Chris- 
tian character. Her earliest ancestor in America was Sir 
Richard Seymour (from whom are descended the Connecticut 
Seymours) who emigrated to this country in 1739. He was 
the youngest son of Edward, Earl of Hertford, Duke of Som- 



6t,6 history of derby. 

erset, whose lineage is definitely traced to William the Con- 
queror. 

Although taking great interest in the spirit of progress and 
the enterprises of the day, Dr. Pinney has always refused the 
tender of official position and devoted himself exclusively to his 
profession. He is an earnest student, unremitting in his atten- 
tions to patients, alert to investigate and adapt all scientific 
progress to practice, and has won an extensive and successful 
practice in his profession. 

During the civil war he supported the Union cause by his 
votes and influence; sent a substitute into the field; contrib- 
uted generally to the cause, and gave to the families of Union 
soldiers gratuitous medical attendance during the whole period 
of the war. 

Possessed of fine social qualities, good judgment, genial 
nature, and a keen sense of humor, the public appreciation of 
him as a citizen is equal to the esteem in which he is held as a 
physician. 

Dr Pinney is a member of the following medical associations: 
New Haven County, Connecticut State, American National 
Medical Society, and an honorary member of the Maine Asso- 
ciation. 

During the summer of 1879 the Doctor with his wife and son, 
Royal Watson Pinney, their only surviving child, born Decem- 
ber 25, 1863, made an extended tour in Europe ; and returning 
after four months' absence is again actively engaged in his pro- 
fession, which, during a period of nearly thirty years, has been 
alike honorable to himself and gratifying to his friends. 

DAVID W. PLUMB 

Was born in Trumbull, Conn., October 13, 1808. His father, 
Noah Plumb, was a dealer in cattle, and possessed a large farm 
on which his son worked while a boy. His early education was 
obtained at the common school and afterwards a short time at 
an academy. Upon the father removing to Bridgeport, the son 
David went into a store as clerk, and his employer failing in 
business, Mr. Plumb bought the goods and removed them to 
Birmingham in the spring of 1836, and built the stone factory 
on Main street. Here he carried on the manufacture of woolen 



BIOC.RAPHIES. 637 

goods, such as flannels, beavers and cassinicres, with Benjamin 
B. Beach, for about ten years. Dissolving this partnership he 
removed to Ansonia in 1848, and alter building a large factory 
continued the same business until he sold to Wm. R. Slade in 
1865. His business in Ansonia was very successful during the 
war. 

In 1868 Mr. Plumb removed to Shelton and became much 
interested in the building and success ot the Ousatonic dam, 
investing largely of his fortune in the enterprise. He was for 
some time president of the Ansonia Bank, also treasurer and 
secretary of the Ansonia Savings Bank. He represented Derby 
in the lower House in 1838, 1852, 1862 and 1864, and was sena- 
tor from the fifth district in 1841. Being a good debater he was 
a useful and an influential member of the Legislature and has 
always been a firm opponent of the democracy. He is the only 
man who has represented Derby five times in the Connecticut 
Legislature, which shows the estimation in which he has been 
held by the community. 

For his first wife he married, in 1 841, Clarissa Allen of Derby, 
and for his second he married, in December, 1875, Louisa 
Wakelee of Huntington. 

REV. AMASA PORTER 

Was born in 1774, was graduated at Yale college in 1793, and 
settled in Derby in 1797. The records show an unusual anxiety 
on the part of the church to obtain him, and he was not induced 
to accept the invitation until this desire was well manifested. 
His first call was presented with a peculiarly graduated scale 
of salary: ^130 the first year, ^125 the second, ^120 the 
third, and so down to ;£^ioo, where it was to remain. The 
committee were directed to present this proposal to him, and if 
he was not suited, to see what would be agreeable. Mr. Porter 
asked for time to consider and consult the neighboring clergy. 
After this the salary was fixed at ;^ii5 per annum, and the call 
renewed, he being asked to supply in the meantime. The call 
was finally declined. 

The next step was to raise a fund of ;^500, the interest of 
which was to be applied to the support of the gospel, if Mr. 
Porter would come and preach. On this basis the call was 



638 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

renewed and accepted. The agreement was kept and the fund 
raised, which was probably the basis of the present fund of the 
church. He was ordained the 20th of June, 1797, and proved 
to be an excellent man for the place, and there is no evidence 
that the people were disappointed in him. 

In the year 1804, Mr. Porter being in too feeble health to 
supply the pulpit, the society passed a resolution asking that, 
as they were unable to pay his salary in full and supply the pul- 
pit, he should relinquish one-half of his salary, and they would 
furnish the supply. To this Mr. Porter seems to have agreed 
cordially, but, for some reason not given, after a lapse of six 
months, a committee was appointed to carry out a repeatedly 
expressed wish of his that he should be dismissed. This was 
effected March 20, 1805. After his dismissal he removed to 
New Haven, where he died in the year 1856, at the age of 
eighty-two.-'^ 

The late Rev. Charles Nichols writes of this devoted good 
man as follows : 

"I knew him well in my early boyhood, and though after his dis- 
missal he removed to New Haven, I knew him and visited in his family 
while pursuing my studies in the theological seminary. He was I 
should say a little taller than the average man ; well formed, possessed 
of a countenance gentle and mild, and distinguished excellence of 
character. I have no recollection of having heard him preach. My 
full impression is that he relinquished the ministry because of bodily 
weakness or chronic disease. 

'• His wife was a Miss Bliss of Columbia in Tolland county. Conn. 
They had two sons and two daughters, and both the sons were gradu- 
ates of Yale college. 

"Mr. Porter was beloved by the people of Derby, and long after he 
removed was spoken of by good people in terms of respect. Probably 
no person now living in the town remembers him more pleasantly, or 
with a more affectionate interest, than the writer of this article." 

LIEUT. JABEZ PRITCHARD 

Who enlisted in July, 1777, under Captain Carris, in the regi- 
ment of Colonel Enos, was in command of the guard at Horse- 
neck and afterwards under the command of Major Humphreys 
near Fort Independence. In the conflict at that place he, with 

-^Centennial discourse of Rev. J. H. Vorse. 



llIO(iRAPHIES. 639 

Others, was taken prisoner and confined first at King's Bridge, 
then in New York, and afterward on a prison ship on the North 
River. His commission was taken from him by his inhuman 
captors and he was so illy treated that, like most of the other 
prisoners on that infamous ship, he survived but a short time. 

His generous and honorable character may be inferred from 
the fact that he might have escaped being taken prisoner but 
that he would not abandon a wounded comrade ; and that he 
afterward divided his funds with a fellow prisoner, to which act 
of liberality Bradford Steele ascribed his own recovery, by 
means of the provisions and comforts he was thus enabled to 
procure.'-^ 

CAPTAIN LEWIS REMER, 

Father of Joseph H. Remer, was born in Derby, 1785, and was a 
resident of the town to the time of his death in December, 1841. 
He learned the trade of a shoemaker and carried on the manu- 
facture of shoes for years at Up Town on a large and lively 
scale, employing at times forty or fifty hands. He was a lead- 
ing man in the community, and wielded a strong moral and 
religious influence in the Congregational church, in which he 
was trained from boyhood. No man was more devoted to the 
sick or suftering than he, and when "undertaking" was less a 
business occupation than now he was called upon from far and 
near to prepare the dead for funeral obsequies. He said a few 
days before his death that he had performed this act to his fel- 
low townsmen ninety-six times, and he thought, as a Christian 
he had done his part in that direction. Mr. Remer was truly 
a man of God and abounded in good works. 

SIMON REMER 

Who died a few years ago was also a shoemaker and the oppo- 
site of his brother Lewis. He was perhaps the most ready and 
witty of all the men in town, and no one could get ahead of him 
for spice. He was a great bore to the doctors, always inquiring 
" Who's sick and what's the matter .' '" so much so that he was often 
avoided by them. On one occasion Dr. B was approach- 
ing his house on horseback about sunrise, and seeing Remer in 
the distance the Doctor thought he would be prepared for him. 

^*History of Seymour. 



640 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

The usual salutations over, Remer says, " Hold on, Doctor ; they 
tell me you have a very sick patient up the hill." 

" Yes, very sick. Staid all night with her," was the reply. 

'• Well, what the devil is the matter .'' " 

" Oh, doctors don't like to tell what ails their patients, but I 
don't suppose you will say anything about it if I tell you." 

" Oh, no ; but I should like to know, for the neighbors say so 
much," said Remer. 

" Well, she's got the Febris Intermittens Autwnnatis ! " 

"Good Lord, she hain't got that complaint" — 

" Yes she has, sure." 

""- What did you say, Doctor .^" 

" She's got the Febris Intermittens Autnmnatisy 

'' Yes, I understand. She will die. I never knew one get 
well with that complaint. If your medicines don't kill, the name 
of the disease is a dead shot." 

Esculapius enjoyed the repartee and hurried along, but never 
tried his Latin on Remer after that. 

COL. CHARLES L. RUSSELL 

Was born in the town of Litchfield, Conn., July 25, 1828. At 
a very early age he removed, with his father, Samuel S. Russell, 
to the village of Westville, in the town of New Haven, where he 
resided until twelve years of age, when he removed to Derby, 
and remained until the Rebellion broke out, when he entered 
the army. Unblessed with either a distinguished or wealthy 
parentage, young Russell, like most of the sons of New England, 
had to work his way in life by his own exertions. 

Fully convinced of the importance of self-reliance, he began 
early to seek physical, moral and mental improvement. Scarcely 
had he emerged from the narrow limits of the district school 
when he is found figuring in the village lyceum ; a zealous, 
working, influential member, although but a mere boy learning 
the humble trade of a tack-maker. Honest, industrious, con- 
fiding, affable in manner, modest in pretensions, ardent in friend- 
ship, identifying himself with every good work, he soon became 
a pattern for imitation, and a leader among his companions. 

He early displayed unusual fondness for military pursuits, 
and enlisted a private in a company called the Derby Blues, 



lUOCiKAPHIKS. 641 

under the state organization, while yet under twenty years of 
a^e, and soon rose to the rank of captain, and under his com- 
mand the company became one ot the best disci])]ined in the 
state. For his faithfuhicss and efficiency in military affairs he 
received the appointment of a regimental staff officer, which he 
held until the commencement of the Rebellion 

During the heated political campaign of i860, Captain Russell 
was fully impressed that the South would make war upon the 
government in case of the election of Mr. Lincoln. In reply to 
the question, "What will be the condition of things in 1864," he 
remarked, "Before that day, this country will run red with 
blood; I see it, believe it, and I tremble that the notes of prepa- 
ration are not already sounding in our ears." 

When the first gun was fired on the starving garrison of Fort 
Sumter, causing that mighty uprising of the people of the North, 
he hesitated not a moment what course to pursue. Like Putnam 
of old, he quit his humble avocation and hastened to the work 
of raising troops to defend his imperiled country. The com- 
pany which he had previously commanded, enlisted through his 
exertions and joined the second regiment under Colonel Terry. 
Captain Russell, from his well known ability and long acquaint- 
ance with the militia of the state, was commissioned adjutant 
of this regiment. How well and heroically he performed his 
duties in that brief, but trying and inglorious, campaign of ninety 
days the military records bear ample testimony. He was in the 
engagement ai Bull Run and acquitted himself with honor, re- 
ceiving from General Keyes, the commander of his division, a 
special commendation for his coolness and bravery on that oc- 
casion. 

After his discharge from the ninety days' service, Adjutant 
Russell returned to his work-shop in Derby much dejected and 
reduced in his physical powers from undue exposure in the open 
field during the hot weather. His desire to aid in sustaining 
the government was so strong that before his health had suffi- 
ciently improved he commenced raising another volunteer com- 
pany which was soon joined to the Eighth Regiment then form- 
ing in New Haven. While occupying the post of captain at this 
place the governor tendered him the position of lieutenant col- 
onel of the Tenth Regiment, then mustering at Hartford. 
81 



642 HISTOKV OF UEKHV. 

There was one serious obstacle in the way of this transfer. 
The members of his company being warmly attached to him 
manifested great reluctance at the thought of his leaving them, 
and offered to make up from their own funds the difference of 
pay between the two positions, provided he would remain in 
their company. He hesitated, and partially declined the offer 
of the lieutenant colonelcy, but finally a compromise was made 
by transferring his company to the Tenth. He then accepted 
the position, but was shortly afterwards promoted to be colonel 
of that regiment. 

At that time the famous expedition or fleet of seventy-two 
vessels under General Burnside was being fitted out, and to it 
the Tenth was attached. On the 9th of January, a day never 
to be forgotten in American annals, a dark and foggy morning, 
the expedition sailed for the coast of North Carolina. After a 
long and perilous voyage, amid storms and gales, and ship- 
wrecks and losses, our troops landed, and captured, on the 
8th of February, Roanoke Island. The difficulties encount- 
ered, the obstacles overcome, and the sufferings endured by the 
brave men under General Burnside in forcing their way into 
Pamlico Sound, and along a dangerous coast during the most 
inclement season of the year, are matters of wonder and honor, 
as well as history. In storming the entrenchments of the 
enemy the Connecticut Tenth bore a most conspicuous part. 
Here it was that the noble Russell met his death. At the head 
of his regiment, knowing no fear, he bravely led on his men, 
and in the very hour of victory his body was pierced by a rifle 
ball from a concealed sharpshooter, and without uttering a 
word, a groan, or losing a single drop of blood, the gallant sol- 
dier expired, and his comrades in arms bore him from the field. 

Thus fell in the pride of his manhood the first Connecticut 
colonel who volunteered his services in this terrible conflict be- 
tween loyalty and treason. 

As a son, a husband, a father, a citizen, a patriot, a soldier, 
New England rarely chronicles a better name. 

In the quiet cemetery at Birmingham, along the banks of the 
Ousatonic, he fills a hero's grave. 



BIOGRAPHIES. 643 

THE KE\'. JOSEPH SCOTT, 

A graduate of Washington, now Trinity College, Hartford, was 
rector of St. James's parish eight years, between the rectorships 
of Revs. Stephen Jewett and William Bliss Ashley. A terrible 
sickness, while in Derby, broke down his constitution and he 
was obliged to accept a smaller parish at Naugatuck, where he 
died much lamented, in the fifty-first year of his age. While 
rector of St. James he was noted for his urbanity of manners 
and his meek and consistent walk as a Christian minister. 

HON. HENRY S. SANFORD 

Was born in Woodbury in 1823, and came with his lather, C. 
Sanford, to Birmingham in 1836. Henry studied the classics 
lor a while with the Rev. Joseph Scott, then rector of St. James's 
church, and being an apt scholar was soon fitted at Cheshire 
Academy, and at an early age entered Washington, now Trinity 
College, Hartford ; but being afflicted with that terrible disease, 
the asthma, he was obliged to leave college before going through 
with his regular course and receiving the honors of graduation. 

After the death of his father in 1841, he made several sea 
voyages, which secured great relief from his malady. His phy- 
sician then sent him to the far West, among the Indians. 

In 1846, visiting Paris, he met Hon. Ralph I. Ingersoll and 
went to Russia with him where he remained one year as his 
attache to that court. He ^7\.% attache ^o Andrew J. Donelson at 
Berlin under Polk's administration. He then went to Heidel- 
berg, where he graduated at the university of that place. 
Returning home, he was appointed secretary to General Reeves, 
under General Taylor's administration. He served four years, 
and on the advent of the Pierce administration, was charge cT af- 
faires for a time at Paris, and during that time the Secretary of 
State at Washington issued his orders requesting all United 
Slates ministers to appear at all foreign courts, so far as possi- 
ble in black, citizen's dress. Mr. Sanford, we believe, was the 
only one who complied with the order. 

Mr. Sanford was appointed minister to Belgium in 1861, 
under Mr. Lincoln, and served eight years. During the Rebel- 
lion he disbursed for the United States government over $2,oco,- 



644 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

000 worth of munitions of war. Mr. Sanford is a man of 
versatile and popular talents and discharged his duties as a 
diplomatist with credit to himselfand satisfaction to his country. 
Thus Derby has the honor of being thrice represented in for- 
eign courts from our government ; once by General David 
Humphreys as minister to Spain, recently by Hon. H. S. San- 
ford, as above stated, and once by E. D. Bassett, minister to 
Hayti under General Grant's administration. 

LUGRAND SHARP, 

Son of Thomas and Mary Sharp, was born in Ridgefield, June 
I, 1797, being a great-grandson of Thomas Sharp of Newtown, 
who came from England to Stratford in 1700, and was a sur- 
veyor, and one of the original thirty-six proprietors of Newtown. 
Lugrand was left an orphan at an early age, yet, by industry 
and economy he saved money with which to pay his expenses 
while acquiring an education. 

In 182 1 he purchased the place in Southford on which the 
Abbott mansion now stands, and in 1823 married Olive M., 
daughter of Ebenezer Booth. He constructed the water-works 
and factory south-west of Southford, which was afterward occu- 
pied for the manufacture of cutlery, and was an earnest and effi- 
cient laborer in the Methodist society at Southford, it being 
chiefly due to his efforts that a church was there built. His 
house was always open to the hard-working itinerant preachers 
of those days, and he continued to be one of the most active 
members of the church in that place until 1843, when he sold 
his possessions there and removed to Humphreysville. In 1849 
he built the house on Maple street, which he occupied until his 
death. He was for several years superintendent of the M. E. 
Sunday-school, and a trustee of the church until the close of his 
life. He contributed liberally to such religious and benevolent 
causes as received his approval, giving over $1,500 to the mis- 
sionary cause during the last nine years of his life. He was 
always a self-denying laborer in the church of his choice ; his 
last years being literally devoted to the service of the Lord, 
and when his last illness came he felt that his work was done, 
and he waited in patience for the Master's call. He died May i, 
1876, aged seventy-eight years. 



iUUGKAPHlKS. 645 

CHARLES W. SHEFFREY, M D., 

Was born at Birkenhead, England, in 1834, and came to this 
country when quite young with his parents who settled at New 
Haven, Conn., where he obtained his early education, and after- 
wards attended the Holy Cross College, Worcester, Mass., finally 
graduating at Yale Medical School in 1861. During the war 
Doctor Sheffrey was assistant surgeon in Connecticut volun- 
teers, and in 1866 settled in Ansonia where he resided five years, 
during which time he enjoyed a large practice. In 1871 he 
removed to Bridgeport, Conn., where he is at present practicing 
his profession. 

EDWARD N. SHELTON 

Was born in Huntington in 1812, and received his early educa- 
tion in the common school, except one year at Captain Partridge's 
Scientific and Military Academy at Middletown, Conn. His 
general business has been that of manufacturing. He located 
in Birmingham in April, 1836, and engaged in the manufacture 
of tacks with his brother-in-law, N. C. Sanford, formerly of 
Woodbury. 

Mr. Shelton has been one of the most active, industrious, and 
influential citizens of Birmingham for forty-four years, having 
been largely interested in almost every important public enter- 
prise of the place ; as president of the National Bank since its 
organization, director in the Derby Savings Bank, capitalist in 
many of the trading corporations of the place, being always 
ready to forward any good work or public undertaking. That 
magnificent enterprise, the building of the Ousatonic Dam, is 
mostly indebted to his persevering, indefatigable efforts for its 
success ; and most properly the new village of Shelton, growing 
out of the water-power thus secured, has received its name after 
him. 

During the war of the Rebellion he contributed liberally to 
the comfort and support of the soldiers of the Union army, 
although he deprecated that war as a national calamity. 

A characteristic of his life has been that Vi'here there was re- 
sponsibility, he trusted not to others, but gave personal atten- 
tion to the matter that there might be no failure, and probably 
no man in the community has been more variously interested in 



646 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

business enterprises than he. He has had no political aspira- 
tions, but represented the fifth senatorial district in the Legisla- 
ture, when public enterprise seemed to demand a representative 
of influential character. In church matters he has been con- 
stant, always the firm undeviating friend of good morals, law 
and order. Charitably disposed, and liberal to the needy, he is 
held in the highest esteem by his fellow citizens. 

G. A. SHELTON, M. D., 

Although not a resident of Derby, has been so intimately asso- 
ciated with its citizens, a notice of his professional life properly 
belongs in this history. He was born at Huntington, Conn., 
August 19, 1841, and prepared for college at Easton Academy, 
Conn., and entered Yale in 1862, but left in the junior year 
to pursue the study of medicine under the preceptorship of 
Doct. G. W. Hall of Queen's county, N. Y.,and returning to the 
medical department of Yale in 1866, he received the degree of 
M. D. in June, 1869, since which time he has been located at 
Shelton, Conn. He has a large and lucrative practice both in 
his own town and also in Derby ; and has been a member of the 
school board of his town, and registrar of vital statistics three 
years. 

REV. JOHN D. SMITH 

Was born in Derby, February 12, 1804, being the son of Shel- 
don Smith, who was an industrious farmer but unable to give 
his son more than a common school education. John D. kept 
school winters and studied what time he could command, with 
Rev. Stephen Jewett, with whotn after obtaining a good knowl- 
edge of the classics he pursued his theological studies, and was 
ordained deacon, July 7, 1833, at Hartford, and advanced to the 
priesthood September 22, 1834, by Bishop Brownell. He took 
charge of Union church, now Trinity, at Humphreysville at 
Easter, 1834, and was its rector nearly until his death, Septem- 
ber 4, 1849, aged forty-five years. 

Mr. Smith was an original thinker and one of the active labor- 
ing ministers of his day. His salary for a while was inadequate 
to his support, and he was obliged to unite other pursuits with 
his ministerial labors. He was poor- master for some time and 
also kept a book-store. 



i;|()(tK.\|'}iies. 647 

horace m. shepard 
Was the first lawyer who located in Humphreysville, then a 
part of Derby. He was from Newtown and son of Col. Timothy 
Shepard, a prominent lawyer of the Fairfield county bar. He 
remained but a short period after Alfred Blackman located at 
that place. 

SHELDON SMITH. 

There were two Sheldon Smiths who lived at the Neck, neigh- 
bors, relatives by marriage, farmers, who have recently died. 
They were both conspicuous in town matters. Sheldon the sen- 
ior was many years selectman, and represented the town in the 
Legislature, and was instrumental in building the first Metho- 
dist church in Birmingham. He was the father of thirteen 
children including the late Rev. John D. Smith of the Episcopal 
church. He died in 1867, aged eighty-six years, after a well- 
spent, useful and Christian life. 

Sheldon the junior was for twenty years selectman and town 
agent of Derby, and perhaps no officer of the town was more 
watchful of its interests than he. Of an inquiring and logical 
mind, well-read in the statutes, it may be said that few lawyers 
in the state were better posted on the pauper laws than he, and 
in consequence of this he wa^ often consulted by selectmen of 
adjoining towns. Both these Smiths were highly influential, 
and their ancestors were interested in the early agricultural 
interests of the town. He died October 10, 1866, aged sixty- 
nine years. 

BRADFORD STEELE, 

Son of Capt. Bradford Steele, enlisted July 10, 1777, at the age 
of sixteen under Captain Con is, regiment of Colonel Enos, and 
was at first stationed at Horseneck but soon after ordered to join 
a branch of the Continental army under the command of Major 
Humphreys. They marched to Peekskill and there joined the 
army and marched to Westchester, about two thousand strong, 
having two pieces of artillery. At the battle of Fort Independ- 
ence Steele, with Lieutenant Pritchard and others, was taken 
prisoner. One of their number becoming deranged under his 
sufferings, the British soldiers beat him with their muskets, then 
tied him on a horse, took him to King's bridge and threw him 



648 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

over, leaving him with his head and shoulders buried in the mud. 
At night Steele and thirteen companions were placed in a small 
tent guarded by Hessian soldiers, and if any one pressed out the 
tent-cloth he was sure to feel the prick of the bayonet. Next 
day they were taken to the Sugar House, where most of the 
prisoners had nothing to eat for three or four days. They were 
then allowed four ounces each of wormy sea-biscuit and four 
ounces of Irish pork daily. 

About the first of December they were put on board a ship 
in the North river. After fifteen days the small-pox broke out, 
and Steele and twenty-five others were taken to the hospital 
where they had so little care that only four of the number sur- 
vived. Steele saw one man with his feet so frozen that alter a 
time they dropped off at the ankles. One day while he was im- 
prisoned in the Sugar House a well-known torycame along and 
was allowed by the guard to pass in, when the prisoners seizing 
him, dragged him to the pump and gave him a thorough drench- 
ing; he was then allowed to run, the prisoners saying good-by 
with a shower of brick. On the 8th of August, 1778, the few 
surviving prisoners received tidings that they were to be ex- 
changed. Said Steele: " On the next day we were all called 
out and paraded in the prison yard. To behold such a com- 
pany of living skeletons one might almost imagine that the 
prophecy concerning the dry bones had been fulfilled in us." 
On August 1 6th, they were landed at Elizabethtown Point and 
were marched to the meeting-house, where the exchange was 
made. Steele and three others who were too much reduced by 
their sufferings to be capable of any further military service 
were discharged and returned home. After some months he 
recovered his health, and was for many years a highly respected 
citizen of Humphreysville, and deacon of the Congregational 
church. He died December 24, 1841, aged eighty years.-'* 

MRS. ANN S. STEPHENS, 

A native of Humphreysville, was the daughter of John Winter- 
botham, a partner in the manufacturing company inaugurated 
by General David Humphreys. In 183 1 she married Edward 
Stephens, a young merchant of Portland, Maine, in which city 
^^History of Sevmour. 



15I0GRAPHIKS. 649 

they settled. Mr. Stephens was a native of Plymouth, Mass.. 
where his ancestor, Edward Stephens, settled among the earlier 
pilgrims. During six generations the eldest son had been bap- 
tized Edward without an initial, and that name has gone down 
to Mrs. Stephens's only son, Edward, who is the eighth of those 
who have so inherited it. 

Mrs. Stephens's opportunities for education having been 
good and well improved before her marriage, she continued for 
two years after that event to devote herself to study and such 
other duties as presented themselves. From her childhood she 
had been accustomed to write poetry, short sketches, and all 
sorts of literary ventures, only two of which were published, 
secretly, in newspapers, making only a confidant of her father. 

In 1834 she wrote her first complete story — " The Trades- 
man's daughter," and a complete poem, the " Polish Boy." 
These productions were published in the first number of the 
" Portland Magazine," which her husband published and she 
edited. This magazine was a success ; but two years of con- 
stant writing caused her health to fail, and the severe climate 
threatened a fatal disease of the lungs. The doctors advised a 
milder climate, and while hesitating over the difficulties of the 
case she received a proposition from William W. Trowdon, pub- 
lisher of the ''New York Lady's Companion," to accept the 
editorship of that work. This offer was accepted, the " Portland 
Magazine " sold, and in the autumn of 1837 she with her hus- 
band removed to New York, .where she became the sole editor of 
the " Companion," which doubled its circulation during the next 
year, and continued to increase rapidly until 1842, when she 
accepted a proposal from George R. Graham, proprietor of 
" Graham's Magazine," and became associate editor of that work 
with Mr. (jraham and Edgar A. Poe. 

When she had been connected with that periodical about two 
years she added to its duties a co-editorship with Charles J. 
Peterson of the magazine known so broadly to this day as 
" Peterson's Magazine ; " with which she has been associated 
continuously during thirty-seven years, making forty six years 
in which she has been an editor of some magazine, and written 
for one or more every month of the time, in one unbroken cur- 
rent of .literary labor. 



650 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

To this she added during two years, a magazine published by 
her husband, and the editorship of " The Brother Jonathan," a 
weekly journal, also published by him, and contributions to 
various other publications. 

In 1855, Bunce and Brothers of New York, published her 
first novel, " Fashion and Famine," which had an immense sale, 
and since then she has published through T. B. Peterson and 
Brother of Philadelphia, a library edition of twenty-four novels, 
which added to a " History of the War for the Union," and one or 
two other books not novels, make twenty-seven published books. 
To these may be added fifteen published serials, not yet in book 
form, poems that will make a volume, all of which will complete 
from torty-four to forty-six works. 

During the last twenty years she has commenced a novel in 
"Peterson's Magazine" on the first of January and completed it 
on the first of December. 

Her residence during all these years has been in the city of 
New York. Her husband died after a brief illness in 1862, leav- 
ing her with two children, a son and a daughter, with the mem- 
ory of thirty-one years of tranquil, happy married life 

In 1850 she went to Europe in company with Colonel George 
W. Pratt and his sister, Miss Julia Pratt of Prattsville, N. Y., 
now Mrs. Colen M. Ingersoll of New Haven. She remained 
abroad in company with these friends nearly two years, visiting 
all the countries of Europe except Sweden, Denmark and Nor- 
way, not hurriedly, but in a way that gave time to obtain a clear 
knowledge of all the places visited. 

As illustrative of the attention rendered to such travelers it 
may be stated that in all these countries Mrs. Stephens and her 
friends were received with great consideration by persons high 
in rank and the world of letters. Dickens, Thackeray, Shirley, 
Brooks and others, leading authors, called upon them immedi- 
ately upon their arrival in London. The Earl of Carlisle gave 
them a state dinner, where they were introduced to some of the 
first personages of the land, and an evening reception in which 
many leading authors mingled. Samuel Rogers the banker-poet 
gave them one of his celebrated breakfast parties every week 
during the month they staid in London; inviting new members 
of social and literary standing to meet them each time. Al- 



BIOGRAPHIES. 65 I 

though ninety years of age, he volunteered his escort and car- 
riage to take them on a visit to Joanna Baillie, who lived a short 
distance in the country, and on taking leave of the ladies gave 
each of them autograph volumes of his poems. 

At Venice they were entertained by the Duchess de Berry, 
mother of the Count de Chambord, and in Trieste by Don Carlos 
and his family. They attended the royal balls at Naples, were 
invited to those of Madrid, and received kindly attentions from 
several members of the imperial family in St. Petersburg. In 
Rome they were presented to the Pope, who afterwards sent 
Mrs. Stephens, by her friend Bishop Hughes, a prayer-book con- 
taining his autograph and blessing. 

They met Thiers in France, Humboldt in Berlin, and in the 
various countries they visited were so fortunate in their oppor- 
tunities that their travels were almost like a romance. 

Although residing in New York since 1837 Mrs. Stephens 
has spent many of her winters in Washington, where she has 
been personally acquainted with every president since Van 
Buren, and with Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, Calhoun, Bu- 
chanan, Filmore, and, in most instances, their wives and fami- 
ilies were among her friends. 

Mrs. Stephens's published works are as follows : Married in 
Haste, The Old Homestead, Wives and Widows, A Noble 
Woman, The Soldier's Orphans, Silent Struggles, Worstin's 
Rest, The Rejected Wife, Bertha's Engagement, Fashion and 
Famine, Bellehood in Bondage, The Wife's Secret, Ruby Gray's 
Strategy, Doubly False, Mabel's Mistake, Lord Hope's Choice, 
The Old Countess, The Gold Brick, Curse of Gold, Palaces and 
Prisons, Mary Derwent, The Reigning Belle, The Heiress, 
Phound F^rost's Experiences, The History of the War for the 
Union, 2 vols. 

ABIRAM STODDARD, M. D., 

Was born in Watertown, January 27, 1777, and was an industri- 
ous boy with peculiar characteristics, and after his preparatory 
studies entered Yale College and was graduated in 1800. He 
attended medical lectures in company with Doct. Eli Ives of New 
Haven, at the Medical University of Philadelphia, where he 
received his degree of M. D. He was also the private pupil of 
the eminent Doct. Rush. When attending lectures he often 



652 



HISTORY OF DEKBV. 



rode from Watertown to Philadelphia and returned on horse- 
back. 

On the death of Doct. Samuel Sanford, the first physician 
of Chusetown, Doct. Stoddard located at that place, in 1804. 
He soon succeeded to a large and lucrative practice and became 
an Esculapian oracle among the people. He was a bold practi- 
tioner in the methods of his day, — the lancet, calomel and jalap 




ABIRAM STODDARP, M. n. 



being his king remedies. Full of eccentricities, yet having the 
confidence of his patients, he could do and say what would be 
ruinous to other physicians. So he was often peculiar in his 
prescriptions. One day he was sent for to see an hysterical 
woman in Watertown. All the noted doctors had tried in vain 
to cure her. After a thorough examination he said to the hus- 



I!U)GKAI-H1ES. 653 

band, " Have you any raccoons in this vicinity ? " "Plenty of 
them, Doctor," was the reply. " Well, tell the boys to kill four 
or five, skin them and make a jacket of them, and skin to skin 
let her wear it two weeks, and in the meantime you may amuse 
her with the music of a fiddle, — no medicine — then come down 
and let me know how she is getting along." This was some- 
thing new, but at the end of two weeks the jacket had become 
very unpleasant to the olfactories. The disconsolate husband 
sent the boy to report. Meeting the doctor he said, " Mother 
is no better." " Did you make the jacket.'" "Yes." "Has 
she worn it .' " "Yes." " And is no better .' " "None," "Did 
you cut the tails off.'" "Yes." "There it is; I didn't tell 
you to do that ; the whole curative virtue was in the tails." 

He was odd among his fellow physicians and delighted, seem- 
ingly, in an opposite opinion. (3n a certain occasion Doctor 
A. Beardsley had a patient in whom the community had a deep 
interest in the recovery. This patient was not a particular fa- 
vorite of Doctor Stoddard. Partly by appointment and partly 
by accident, a consultation was held. Doctor Charles Hooker, 
the eminent Doctor Knight, and the then young Doctor P. A. 
Jewett from New Haven, Doctor Joseph Tomlinson of Hunt- 
ington, Doctor E. Middlebrook of Trumbull, Doctor Stoddard 
and the attending physician, were present. After the examina- 
tion of the patient, the medical advisers retired to the council- 
room. Doctor Hooker, who had seen much of the case, stated 
that his "diagnosis was that the disease was chronic pleurites, 
with copious effusion of serum water, — at least seven pints in 
the left cavity of the thorax." Doctor Stoddard, then the oldest 
of the council, standing in one corner of the room leaning upon 

his staff, replied, "Not a d n drop." The doctors looked a 

little confused. Doctor Knight expressed his views, that he 
was not in the habit of measuring water in the living body, 

but the amount must be considerable. "Not ad ndrop." 

Doctor Jewett said he was sure there was " a large collection 
of water in the chest." "Not a d n drop." Doctor Mid- 
dlebrook said that he " agreed with the physicians, and unless 
the accumulation of water could be removed the patient must 

die." "Not ad n drop ; I disagree with you all," replied 

Doctor Stoddard. " Then what is the matter ? " was the in- 



654 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

quiry. "Let us have your views." "Nothing but sap run 
down from his head into his chest, and he will get well." This 
closed the council, and that worthy patient is still living. 

Doctor Stoddard had a wide reputation and was deemed a 
skillful practitioner. He was rough, and peculiarly eccentric 
in his manners ; was strong-minded, and in his way quite influ- 
ential. He accumulated a handsome fortune from his practice, 
and departed this life December 23, 1855, aged 79 years. 

THOMAS STODDARD, M. D., 

Son of Doctor Abiram Stoddard, M. D., was graduated at Yale 
Medical School, and after several years' practice since 1836, re- 
tired to farming and has nearly given up his profession. 

LEMAN STONE 

Was born in Litchfield, Conn., in 175 1, where he was engaged 
as a farmer some years. He sold his possession there about 
1785 and came to Derby soon after, where he engaged as a 
merchant. At that time and during the Revolution the Land- 
ing was the centre of mercantile operations, and during its 
days of prosperity, from about 1790, no man is referred to more 
than Leman Stbne as an enterprising business man. With 
great energy and expense to himself he pursued different pub- 
lic enterprises with a view to the general good of the commu- 
nity, especially the building of a store-house and wharf, and the 
New Haven turnpike ; but the turn which the drift of trade 
took was against his financial plans, whereupon he turned his 
attention to the raising of garden seeds with Benjamin Hodge, 
a cooper by trade, as his assistant, which resulted more to his 
benefit than mercantile trading had done. He was a conscien- 
tious, upright, public spirited man ; sacrificed much for the 
early prosperity of the town, and no man was more highly re- 
spected than he as a Christian gentleman. He died May 10, 
1847, aged ninety-six years, and the place where his remains 
lie in the old Episcopal church-yard had no headstone until 
within a few years since, when some grateful friends erected a 
suitable slab to his memory. 



BIOGRAPHIES. 655 

DOCT. NOAH STONE 

Was a physician in active practice in Oxford many years ; held 
many offices of trust : judge of probate, justice of the peace, 
town clerk and treasurer ; and was a respected and honored 
citizen. 

His daughter Martha Stone was a well educated lady and 
married Rev. Stephen Hubbell, a Congregational minister, 
October 30, 1832, and became the authoress of a book called 
" Shady Side " which had a sale of forty thousand copies, and was 
said to have had a greater influence to increase the salaries of 
ministers throughout New England, and to have awakened a 
more just consideration for ministers' families, than any one 
thing that had transpired. She afterwards wrote other works, 
and her manuscripts were in great demand by publishers. 

Mrs. Hubbell's health gradually declined and her useful 
career was brought to a close at life's high noon, at the age of 
two score and two years. 

JOHN W. STORRS 

Was born in Woodbridge, February 9, 1824. His father, 
John Rogers Storrs, was a lineal descendant of the original 
Pilgrims, and his mother, Sarah A. Clark, was a granddaughter 
of Parson Woodbridge, one of the original founders of the town 
of Woodbridge, and from whom it took its name. His early 
education was obtained in the village schools of that day. In 
1833 he settled in Humphreysville, where later he engaged in 
business, and also held the appointment of postmaster for four 
years. He removed to Birmingham in 1857, and subsequently 
engaged in the photograph business which he continued several 
years. He has held the office of justice of the peace for ten 
years, and the principal trial justice at Birmingham, and has 
gained for himself the reputation of being "just as well as 
merciful." I le has always been a vigorous advocate of temper- 
ance and all other moral movements ; has been connected 
with the press at various times as correspondent, and as a 
writer of verse he has gained quite a reputation, his writings hav- 
ing always taught the largest and broadest charity. It would 
be gratifying if he would put his poems into book form, for as 
such they would be a credit to himself and the community. 



656 HISTORY OF DER15Y. 

The following verses are gleaned from his many poetic effu- 
sions : 

" What shall vou say of me ? This, if you can, 
That he loved like a child, and he lived like a man. 
That, with head that was bended, he reverent stood 
In the presence of all that he knew to be good ; 
That he strove as he might with pen and with tongue, 
To cherish the right, and to banish the wrong ; 
That the world was to him as he went on his way, 
As the bud to the flower ; as the dawn to the day 
That he knew was to come. E'en, say if you can. 
That he labored and prayed for the crowning of man 
As king of himself; that the God that he knew 
Was the God of the many as well as the few — 
The Father of all. Write, then, if you must. 
Of the errors that came with the clay and the dust ; 
But add — as you may perhaps — to the verse, 
For his having lived in it, the world was no worse." 

,stephp:n n. summers, 

A native of Trumbull, Conn., and one of the first settlers in 
Birmingham, began the journey of life with no equipments ex- 
cept his head and hands. When only fifteen years of age he 
hired to a farmer for $6.00 per month, and at the end of seven 
months took the farmer's note for $40.00. He then earned 
$12.00 and used them for expenses during the winter while at- 
tending school. The next spring he hired to another farmer 
for $10.00 per month, which in time amounted to $70.00, $60.00 
of which he placed at interest, and then, having $100.00 at inter- 
est, he claims to have been "the richest day of his life." 

Soon after he went to Bridgeport and learned his trade, keep- 
ing his $100.00 at interest until he was twenty-one. At the 
age of twent)-three he came to Derby with a capital of about 
$400.00, and after being here six or eight months a kind farmer 
from Huntington advised him to build such buildings as he 
needed, and offered to lend him the amount of money he might 
desire in so doing, which offer was accepted, and a dwelling, 
warehouse and shop were erected in the autumn of 1835, into 
which he removed from Derby Narrows in the spring of 1836, 
His dwelling-house was the sixth put up in Birmingham. 

When these buildings were completed he had drawn on the 
farmer Perry for $70000, for which he offered security on the 
property, but this Mr. Perry declined, saying, he preferred 



lilOGKAPHTES. 



657 



security in a man rather than a house. This act of friendliness 
is spoken of by Mr. Summers with great appreciation, and the 
princij^le of security advocated by farmer P'erry commends 
itself to all classes of persons. 

Mr. .Summers was married in the autumn of 1835, '^"-'t his 
wife remained at her father's house in Fairheld until the spring 
of 1836, when he brought her to the new home in l^irmingham. 




STEPHEN \. SUNfMERS. 



For several Sabbaths his new warehouse was used for the 
preaching of the gospel and Sunday-school purposes. 

His habits have been uniform and strictly temperate, not 
having been confined to his house more than forty-four days 
during forty-four years. He has never bought a dollar's worth 
of ardent spirits, never smoked a cigar, and never had a law- 
suit since he came into the town. There is only one man who 

has resided in Birmingham as many successive years as him- 
83 



658 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

self. He was here in time to help select the site for the M. E. 
church, where it now stands, to which he has given a liberal 
support up to the present time. Strict honesty, economy, indus- 
try and temperance always bring a good and honorable harvest. 

REV. ZEPHANIAH SWIFT, 

Son of Chipman Swift, Esq., was born in Wilmington, Ver- 
mont, in 1 77 1 ; graduated at Dartmouth College in 1798 ; studied 
theology with Rev. Job Swift, D. D., of Bennington, Vermont, 
and was installed in Roxbury, Connecticut, where he con- 
tinued in successful pastoral labor until 1812, when he was 
dismissed. He was settled in Derby November 17, 18 13, find- 
ing the church in a scattered and discouraged state. His pas- 
torate was long and successful. His cheerful spirit of labor 
stimulated an interest throughout the parish in religious things, 
and the people began to talk about the doctrines and teachings 
of the gospel instead of their fears and difficulties in the world. 
The result was revivals of religious interests in the community, 
which continued to be joyful features of his ministry. He de- 
voted himself with untiring energy to the labor consequent 
upon the office he had accepted, with, apparently, but one pur- 
pose, that whatever else occurred his duty must be done. It 
was not so much what he might acquire as what he might do 
for the good of the people, and therefore instead of complain- 
ing at the greatness of the work, he was always seeking and 
planning more work, and this almost to the close of his life. 
There are peculiarities in regard to the salaries of other minis- 
ters, but that concerning Mr. Swift's was that it seems to have 
been whatever the people felt able to make it, varying much 
according to times and circumstances. He sometimes relin- 
quished a large part of it, at others he would take notes from 
the society's committee and extend the time for payment, and 
thus favor the people for whose cause he labored. In the year 
Mr. Swift was settled, a plan was adopted to secure a fund for 
the society, to aid in sustaining a minister among them, to which 
he gave his cordial efforts. He was not only interested in his 
own parish, but in the progress of the churches throughout the 
county, and his labors to promote revivals and the prosperity 
of the churches were unceasing and of acknowledged benefit. 



r,i()(;KAi'HiES. 



659 



Of him the late Rev. Charles Nichols wrote in 1876: 
"There is no minister whom I have been accustomed to account so 
emphatically my minister ; whom I so often referred to as my old pas- 
tor, as Mr Swift. His image is before me while I write ; — his serious 
look, his smile, and his whole manner, are before me as if I saw him 
but last week. Having lived several years very near him, and having 
been for a time a member of tlie family of one of his daughters, Mrs. 
Lucy (Swift) Holbrook, I knew him well. For a time I went to him 




REV. ZKPUAKIAH SWII I. 



on Sabbath afternoons with other boys to repeat the catechism ; and 
occasionally worked in his fields. Mr. Swift was a rather uncommonly 
tail man, somewhat muscular, well proportioned and quite erect. His 
movements were moderate, neither dull and heavy on the one hand, 
nor nervous and excited on the other. His gait was evidently un- 
studied, natural and graceful. His temperament, I should say, was 
meek, calm and quiet. There was sunshine in his smile, but the loud, 



66o HISTORY OF DERBY. 

boisterous laugh he never, so far as I observed, indulged in. He was 
sufficiently emotional, and yet on the most hilarious occasions, and 
also on occasions most sad and mournful he showed remarkable self- 
control. The light mindedness, the boyishness, which is seen in some 
ministers of the present day, formed no part of the character of my 
venerable pastor. 

" To human weakness, as he saw it everywhere, Mr. Swift was emi- 
nently condescending, but against human wickedness in all forms he 
was firm as the hills themselves. He was prudent without being time- 
serving ; generous without ostentation ; earnest and zealous in the 
Master's work without being extravagant. 

" 'I' he preaching of Mr. Swift was scriptural and methodical. His 
sermons were easily understood, and were so prepared and presented 
under a few well stated and numerical divisions, that they could be 
understood, taken to our homes and made the topic of thought through 
the week if we chose. 

" Mr. Swift's manner in the desk was always serious, such as is in- 
spired by a sense of the divine presence and by a holy fear of His 
name. His countenance in the desk was calm, betraying no excite- 
ment. His voice was full, not loud or rotund, but such as could be 
easily heard by all who wished. His prayers were rich and copious, 
always expressive of deep piety of heart, great reverence for God, and 
a tender sympathy for sinning and suffering man. When he left the 
desk and descended and mingled with his neighbors and fellow citi- 
zens, he was the same serious man that he appeared in the desk. He 
was social without lightness ; exemplary in all respects ; and in all his 
walk and conversation a model minister of the blessed gospel of Christ. 

"Of the flippancy that we sometimes painfully notice in ministers in 
the desk, and the pertness of speech exciting wonder and perhaps 
laughter, that are sometimes heard, he had not a particle. His dignity 
would have disdained them. His whole heart and soul would have 
revolted at the bare thought of them. 

" Having thus given utterance to facts as pertaining to my former 
beloved pastor, I will add my full conviction that the town of Derby is 
to this day feeling, and will for years to come feel, the good effects of 
his uniform Christian example, and the good influences of his loving, 
tender and yet fearless enunciations of God's truth." 

The pastorate of Mr. Swift closed only at his death, v^hich 
occurred February 7, 1848 ; but during the latter part of his 
life he had colleagues in his office. These were Rev. Lewis D. 
Howell, Rev. Hollis Read and Rev. George Thatcher ; the last 



BIOGRAPHIES. 66l 

of whom was laboring here at the thiie of Mr. Swift's death. 
Mr. Swift is the fourth pastor of this church whose remains lie 
buried in the old cemetery. 

WILLIAM TERRY, M. D., 

Was born at Enfield, Conn., in 1822. His early education was 
obtained in the public and private schools of his native town, 
and at Amherst College one year.. He graduated from the med- 
ical department of the Pennsylvania College, Philadelphia, Penn., 
in 1846, and was for a number of years located at Sutton, Mass., 
and came to Ansonia in i860. During the Rebellion Doctor 
Terry was assistant surgeon of the U. S. military hospital at 
Alexandria, Va. He has been a member of the town school 
committee and registrar of vital statistics. Naturally of a mod- 
est disposition he has declined accepting public offices, and given 
his attention to the practice of his profession, thereby estab- 
lishing a lucrative business and a high standing as a physician. 

REV. GEORGE THATCHER, D. D., 

Son of Peter and Anne (Parks) Thatcher, was born in Hartford, 
Conn., July 25, 181 7. Prepared for college at Hopkins Gram- 
mar School, Hartford; was graduated at Yale College in 1840, 
and at Yale Divinity School in 1843. ^^ came to Derby in 
June, 1843; was ordained here January 4, 1844, and dismissed 
October 10, 1848. He was installed at Nantucket, Mass., No- 
vember 14, 1848, dismissed May 14, 1850; installed in Allen 
Street Presbyterian church, New York city. May 26, 1850, dis- 
missed October 9, 1854; installed in First church, Meriden, 
Conn., November 16, 1854, dismissed September 18, i860; in- 
stalled at Keokuk, Iowa, October 30, i860, dismissed April 8, 
1867. After spending some months in pAirope he supplied the 
Mercer Street church for a time, and then became the acting 
jDastor at Waterloo, Iowa, where he continued three years. He 
was president of the State University of Iowa from 1871 to 
1877; then acting pastor in Iowa City one year; received the 
honorary degree of D. D. from Iowa and Knox Colleges in 
1 87 1. He died in Hartford, Conn., of disease of the brain and 
heart, December 27, 1878, aged 61 years. ''^'' 

^''Cong. Year Book, fSjg. 



662 HISTORY OF DERHV. 



JOHN L. TOMLINSON 

Was born in Derby, and read law with Dudley. His office was 
in one of the chambers of the ancient house now occupied by 
Miss Rachel Smith and her two sisters. He succeeded Josiah 
Dudley ; the latter, as near as can be ascertained, was the first 
educated lawyer located in Derby Narrows. He is represented 
as being a man of talent, but died early from amputation of the 
leg. During the shipwreck of the Derby Fishing Company, 
when many of the people were mortgaging their property to 
secure the company their negotiable notes, it is said he had a 
lively business day and night. Tomlinson was in the war of 
1812, being first lieutenant in a company from Derby stationed 
at New London. Well read, and of a discriminating mind, he 
was not a very successful advocate at the bar. The latter years 
of his life were under the shadow of a great cloud, by his un- 
fortunate connection with the Derby Bank, which failed in 1825 
through the legerdemain of Wall street brokers. The popular 
belief awards Mr. Tomlinson the credit of being honest in his 
transactions with the bank. Prior to his leaving Derby in 1832 
his spirits were enlivened by brighter hopes of the future, for 
he entered the ministry of the Congregational church, in which 
he labored with much zeal ; went west, where he died, aged 
about 70 years. 

HON. DAVID TORRANCE. 

Few public men of to-day enjoy a wider popularity than Hon. 
David Torrance. He was born at Edinburgh, Scotland, March 
30, 1840, and came early to this country with his mother and 
located at Greenville, Conn., where he found employment as an 
apprentice in a paper mill, in which he continued until his en- 
listment. 

He entered the Union army in 1862, as a member of the 
1 8th Regiment, C. V., but his intelligence and aptitude for com- 
mand led to his speedy promotion to the lieutenant-colonelcy 
of the 29th Regiment (colored), in which he served until the 
close of the rebellion. 

On his return from the war he came to Birmingham and 
studied law with Col. William B. Wooster, and was admitted 



BIOGRAPHIES. 663 

to the bar in 1868, and since then, being associated with Col. 
Wooster in the practice of his profession, he has worked 
his way to an enviable position at the bar. In 1871 and 72 he 
represented Derby in the Legislature at a time when the town 
had but one representative, and distinguished himself by a num- 
ber of able speeches and conscientious work as a legislator — 
notably in the preparation of the schedule for railroad returns 
adopted at the session of 1872. 

Col. Torrance was elected by the republicans in 1879 ^o the 
office of secretary of state, and has proved himself an able and 
efficient officer in that position. 

IRA I.. UFFORD, 

Third lawyer of Derby, was born in Trumbull, Conn., and after 
his father removed to Huntington Landing, and after receiving 
a common school education, he studied law with John L. Tom- 
linson, and was admitted to the bar in Fairfield county. In 
1836 he opened an office in Birmingham, where he practiced 
until his death. 

REV. J. HOWE VORSE 

Was born at Crown Point, N. Y.; fitted for college at Newtown 
Academy at Shoreham, Vt., and was graduated at Middlebury 
College, Vt. He was ordained and settled at South Meriden 
October, 1870, and remained there until April, 1873; was act- 
ing pastor at Essex, Conn., from July, 1873, to March, 1875 ; 
and the same at Derby from April, 1875, to August, 1879, when 
he accepted the position of acting pastor at Kent, Conn., where 
he is successfully laboring. 

THOMAS WALLACE 

Was born in Manchester, England, November 15, 1797. His 
father was an officer in the regular British army, and conse- 
quently could give his son little attention ; and the only advice 
the son remembered to have received from the father was : 
"Thomas, earn your clothes by honest industry, and they will 
wear like iron." This remark was never forgotten. Thomas's 
mother possessed a strong, cultured mind and gave him all the 
early education he received. She was the first to start a Sun- 
day-school in Manchester, it being in her own house. 



664 IlISTC^KV OF ni'KI'.V. 

When fourteen years of age Thomas bound himself to learn 
the trade of a wire drawer for pin makin<;'. During his seven 
years apprenticeship lie toiuul time to improxe his mind, ami 
developed strong radical views, rather obnoxious to some of the 
luiglish laws touching workingmen. In 1S32, determined to 
breathe the free air of republican institutions, he came with his 
family to America ami workctl at his trade, making his resi- 
dence at Providence, K. 1., Ihncrslraw on the Hudson, and 
Bloomingdale, N. j., until iS:;;, when he removed to Peekskill, 
N. \'., where he built a tactor\' and carried on his business 
nearly six years, but owing to the dishonest\' of his jxirtner 
failetl in business and became deeply involved in obligations, 
which he alterwards paid in lull. 

in 1 84 1 he came with his wife and nine children to Birming- 
ham, and w'orked about ten years for the Howq Manufacturing 
Compau)', at his tratle. In 1850 he commenced operations for 
his factory in Ansonia. 

The advent of the Wallace famih' has proved a valuable ac- 
quisition to the town. Eleven marriages among the first chil- 
dren ha\"e taken i>lace, and all that now survive reside in the 
community, ami together with the grandchildren, with one or 
two exceptions, are interested in the business which Mr. Wal- 
lace establishetl umler the name of " Wallace and Sons." show- 
ing that in union and harmony there is strength. 

Mr. Wallace was not easih' discouraged at prominent tlilTicul- 
ties, but possessed great powers of mental endurance and perse- 
verance, a mind replete with useful knowledge, and few men 
had greater powers for di\-ersified conversation. Added to a 
fine physique, his personal habits were a model for others. 
Temperate in all things he despised all sorts of shams, "slunldy 
professions " and low tricks of pretended cunning. 

He represented Derby in the Legislature ; was for many 
years a most efficient mcmbci" of the School Committee Board, 
w'arden ot the b(M-ough, besides filling manv other pcKsitions oi 
trust. 

His life was a success, and when his head was silvered over 
\vith age he was gathered to his fathers, April 30, 1875, with 
many friends to mourn and no enemies to reproach. 



I'.IOGKAl'llIES. 665 

Ri:\'. josi;i'ii w I'.i-.r. 

Preached in Dcrb}', probably as a licentiate, two or three 
years, bein<;' town clerk one )'ear of that time. The record 
says "married h'lizabeth Nichols of Stratford at Stratford, by 
Capt. William C'urtiss, on the Sth chi\- of July, 1691." He was 
ordained pastor at h'airfield in AnL;ust, i'^'94, and died Sep- 
tember, 1732, ha\ini;' ]ir()babl}' su[)[)lied that pulpit during that 
time. He took a very active part in establishing;" \'ale College, 
and in sustaining the Congregational churches, and his own 
church at Fairfield, at the time the church of luigland began 
to establish societies in Connecticut, it is ])robable he was 
not college bred, but was a much better scholar than some of 
that class in his day ; much better than his ])redecessors at 
Derby, Mr. Bowers, or Mr. James. II is penmanship was very 
beautiful, and all that he did indicates an energetic, classic 
mind, and a stable conscientious character, worthy of being a 
minister of the gospel. 

Ki:\'. CVKUS HAXTKK WIIIICOMH, 

Son of James and Fliza romero)'i\Vhitcoml), was born July 2, 
1839, ^^ Otisco, Onondaga county, N. V. His early education 
was obtained at Kasthampton, New Salem, antl other places in 
Massachusetts, and as a private pupil in the famil)' of the late 
Rev. David F^astman of New Salem, Mass. 

His professional training was received at the Hartford Insti- 
tute one year (1866-67), and 'It Union Theological Seminary, 
New York city, two years, where he graduated in May, 1869, 
and finally at Vale Divinity School two years, graduating in 
1872. He received the University degree of Bachelor of Di\in- 
ity from Yale College, in June, 1874. 

Before entering upon professional studies, and jH'exious to 
being licensed to preach, he was commissioned by and served 
the American Missionary Association for a time ; was also in 
the employ of the American Sunday-school Union one year, 
and the St. Lawrence Sunday-school Association, N. Y., two 
years. He was respectively superintendent of the Morgan 
Street Mission of Hartford, and of a Presbyterian Mission in 
New York, during his studies at Hartford and Union Seminary. 
84 



666 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

After being- licensed to preach Mr. Whitcomb was commis- 
sioned by the Presbyterian Home Missionary Society as acting- 
pastor of the Presbyterian church, Somers, N. Y., where he 
labored twenty months from March, 1869. He was the acting 
pastor of the First Congregational church of Bethany, Conn., 
ten months from March, 1871 ; was the acting pastor of the 
First Congregational church of Derby sixteen months from 
December, 1871 ; and the acting pastor of the Second Congre- 
gational church at Chester, Mass., sixteen months from June, 
1874, where he was ordained, and which place he left to accept 
a call to the pastorate of the Congregational church of Shel- 
burne Falls, Mass., November, 1875, where he remained two 
years, resigning at the close of 1877. Since that time he has 
been occupied in literary work, and in supplying pastorless 
churches as occasion required. Mr. Whitcomb married July 2, 
1873, Miss Jennie M. Sawyer, daughter of Mr. Henry S. and 
Jane A. Sawyer of Derby, where he resides. 

N. J. WILCOX.SON 

Came to Oxford November 30, 1825, and engaged in teaching 
the public school, in which he continued one year. He was 
then engaged as teacher of a select school in the same village 
which he continued to teach two years. A select school has 
been taught several seasons since that time in Oxford, but no 
regular academy has been maintained. 

Mr. Wilcoxson has been a prominent man in the town, hold- 
ing various offices such as town clerk and judge of probate, 
many years. 

SAMUEL WIRE, 

Born at Greenfield Hills, P^airfield county, February 8, 1789, 
came to Humphreysville when thirteen years of age (in 1802) 
to learn the clothing business under General Humphreys. At 
the age of twenty-three he married the sister of the late Gen. 
Clark Wooster, who died after several years of happy mar- 
ried life, without children. Mr. Wire soon after commenced 
the manufacture of satin warps in the south part of Oxford, and 
married his second wife, who was the daughter of David Candee. 
He represented that town at several sessions of the assembly, 
and held other important offices of trust, being at one time the 



hio(;rapjiies. 667 

most influential politician in the town. In 1847 ^""6 removed to 
New Haven, where he was constable several years and then city 
sheriff. He was one of the oldest Freemasons of the state, and 
a member of Franklin Chapter and Harmony Council. He was 
of genial disposition, faithful and upright, and died May 3, 1874, 
aged eighty-six years.-^ 

GENERAL DAVID WOOSTER 

Was born March 2, 17 10, being the son of Abraham, and grand- 
son of Edward Wooster one of the first three or four settlers of 
Derby. Abraham Wooster, father of the general, removed 
from Derby about 1706, to Stratford, in the south-east corner 
of what is now Huntington, where he remained until about 1720, 
wdien he settled in Quaker's Farm, in Derby, where he resided 
until his decease. Several deeds recorded in Derby prove 
these statements, and in which he is said to be a mason (/. e., 
a stone-mason). He was living as late as 1743. David was 
therefore born in Stratfcrd, and was ten or eleven years old 
when he removed with his father to Quaker's Farm. He was 
graduated at Yale College in 1738. Something more would 
probably have been known of his early life but for the burning 
of all his famil)' papers by the British when they pillaged New 
Haven in 1779. 

When the Spanish war broke out in 1739, he was employed 
as first lieutenant, and in 1745, as captain of a coast guard. In 
1746 he married, in New Haven, the beautiful and accomplished 
daughter of Thomas Clapp, who was president of Yale College ; 
but neither the society of a charming companion, his love of 
classic lore, nor his youthful inclination for a learned profession 
could restrain his devotion to the interests of his country. He 
continued in the service, and was appointed captain in Colonel 
JJurr's regiment which formed a part of the troops sent by 
Connecticut in the celebrated expedition against Louisburg in 

1745- 

He there proved himself an active, spirited officer, and bore 
a distinguished part in the siege and capture of that strong 
fortress. He was retained among the colonial troops to keep 
possession of the conquest he had assisted in effecting, and he 

^■'History of Seymour. 



^ 



668 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

was soon after selected among the American officers to take 
charge of a cartel ship for France and England. He was not 
permitted to land in France, but was received in England with 
distinguished honor. The young American officer, as he was 
called, was presented to the King and became the favorite of 
the court and the people. The King admitted him in the regu- 
lar service and presented him with a captaincy in Sir William 
Pepperell's regiment, with half pay for life. His likeness at 
full length was taken and transferred to the periodicals of that 
day. The peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, which took place in 1748, 
restored Louisburg to France, and the young American officer 
to private life and to his family. 

He was not, however, permitted to remain long in this situa- 
tion, for the attempts at settling the boundaries between the 
French and the English North American possessions having 
proved vain, the war of 1756 followed ; and in this great contest 
Gen. Wooster was soon thought of as a man qualified for a 
higher sphere, and was appointed colonel of a regiment raised 
in Connecticut, and afterwards to the command of a brigade, 
in which station he remained until the peace of 1763, when he 
returned again to his family, bearing many marks of his valor 
and intrepidity. 

Soon after the close of this war he engaged in mercantile 
business in New Haven, and held the office of his majesty's 
collector of the customs for that port. He was highly respected 
both in his private and public character. 

In the great contest between England and the North Ameri- 
can colonies, Gen. Wooster took no doubtful part ; and although 
an officer in the British regular establishment, entitled to half 
pay for life, he did not hesitate to take sides with his native 
country, and his pen and his sword were actively employed in 
the defense of its rights. 

After the battle of Lexington he was fully aware that the 
sword alone must decide the contest. Under these circum- 
stances he, as well as other military men of experience, saw at 
once how important it was for the Americans to get possession 
of the fortresses of the country, together with the cannon, arms 
and military stores there deposited. The peculiar situation of 
the fort at Ticonderoga, commanding the great pass between 



niOGRAPHIES. 669 

the North Atlantic colonies and Canada, did not escape his no- 
tice. He, therefore, with a few others of a kindred spirit while 
engaged in the General Assembly in May, 1775, planned the 
expedition from Connecticut to seize upon and retain that fort- 
ress ; and to enable them to carry their plans into execution, 
they privately obtained a loan of eighteen hundred dollars from 
the treasury of the state, for which they became personally re- 
sponsible. Such was the secrecy and dispatch in planning 
and executing this measure that on the loth of May, as is well 
known, this fort was surprised and delivered up to Allen and 
Arnold, and their brave followers. This step, one of the bold- 
est taken at that period of the contest, was at the sole risk and 
responsibility of Gen. VVooster and other individuals. Con- 
gress, when informed of this transaction, recommended that 
an inventory of the cannon and military stores found in the 
fort should be taken, " in order as they say, that they may be 
safely returned when the restoration of the former harmony 
between Great Britain and these colonies, so ardently wished 
for by the latter, shall render it prudent and consistent with 
the overruling care of self-preservation." 

The military experience, as well as the daring spirit of Gen. 
Wooster, recommended him to Congress when raising an 
army of defense, and among the eight brigadier-generals ap- 
pointed by that body on the 22d of June, 1775, he was the third 
in rank. The operations of that year were principally con- 
fined to the vicinity of Boston, and to an expedition against 
Canada and Quebec, under the command of Gen. Montgom- 
ery, who held the second rank among the brigadier-generals. 
The death of their distinguished leader under the walls of 
Quebec was severely felt by the Americans. 

During the campaign of 1776 Gen. Wooster was employed 
principally in Canada, and at one time had the conuuand of the 
Continental troops in that quarter. 

After this expedition he returned home and was then ap- 
pointed first major-general of the militia of his state. During 
the whole winter of 1776-77 he was employed in protecting 
Connecticut against the enemy, and particularly the neighbor- 
hood of Danbury, where large magazines of provisions and 
other articles had been collected by Americans. He had just 



6/0 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

returned to New Haven from one of his tours when he heard 
on Friday, the 15th of April, 1777, that a body of two thou- 
sand men, sent from New York on the preceding day, had 
effected a landing at Norwalk and Fairfield for the purpose of 
destroying the magazines at Danbury, which object they ac- 
complished the next day, having found little or no obstacle on 
their way. 

Immediately on hearing this news Gens. Wooster and Arnold 
set off from New Haven to join the militia hastily collected by 
Gen. Silliman. In consequence of heavy rain the militia they 
had ordered to be sent to them from New Haven did not arrive 
until the 20th in the evening in the vicinity of Danbury. The 
number of the militia thus collected was about six hundred men, 
and with this small force it was determined to attack the enemy 
on the following morning in their retreat, and for this purpose 
a part of the men were put under the command of Gen. Woos- 
ter, and a part under Gen. Arnold. With his handful of men 
Gen. Wooster the next morning pursued the enemy, regardless 
of the inequality of numbers. But being inexperienced militia, 
and the enemy having several field-pieces, our men, after doing 
considerable execution, were broken and gave way. The Gen- 
eral was rallying them when he received a mortal wound. A 
musket ball took him obliquely, broke his back-bone, lodged 
within him and could not be extracted. He was removed from 
the field, had his wound dressed by Doct. Turner, and was then 
conveyed to Danbury, where all possible care was taken of him. 
The surgeons were from the first aware of the danger of the 
case, and informed the General of their apprehensions, which 
he heard with the greatest composure. His wife and son had 
been sent for, and arrived soon enough to receive his parting 
benediction. He told them that he was dying, but with strong 
hope and persuasion that his country would gain its indepen- 
dence. How gloriously his presentiment has been verified ! 

The symptoms soon became alarming, and on the second day 
of May he died, at the age of sixty-seven. His remains were 
deposited in the church-yard of that village, which he had thus 
volunteered to protect. 

The historian of that day (Gordon), in relating this transac- 
tion, says of him : " The General behaved with great valor, and 



lilOdRAl'IllES. 671 

lost his life gloriously in defending the liberties of America, at 
the advanced age of seventy." 

Duly sensible of the loss the country had sustained in the 
death of Gen. Wooster, and justly appreciating his merits and 
services, the lower House of Congress passed a resolution 
in 1822, to erect a monument to Gen. Wooster, and that five 
hundred dollars should be approj^riated for that end, but the 
Senate did not concur, because of so many bills of that kind 
being presented at that time.-^ 

Although neglect is certainly involved in the long delay in 
suitably marking the resting-place of the remains of Gen. 
Wooster, it is yet a subject of congratulation that it has re- 
sulted in the planting of a more beautiful and appropriate shaft 
than would have been done by the comparatively small sum 
proposed by Congress. This satisfaction is increased by the 
reflection that the citizens of his native state, and especially of 
the town he lost his life in defending, united in the final con- 
summation of the act of justice. 

Of generous imjjulses, 

"Large was his hountv and his soul sincere," 

calm and unruffled under great or minor public difficulties, of 
tall, fine, commanding j^ersonal appearance, those who knew 
him best have likened him to our beloved Washington. Tra- 
duced, libeled, and even insulted by jealous, designing officers, 
especially the traitorous Arnold, his name and virtues now 
stand out in beautiful and shining contrast with the deeds of 
those who maligned him while living. We must not forget 
that General Wooster was a high toned Christian, and one of 
the few who occasionally ofificiated as chaplain as well as chief 
of his army, praying to the God of battles for success in a cause 
which has shed its blessings upon untold millions. 

The following sketch of the family of General David Wooster 
was left in the hand-writing of Mrs. Maria Clapp Turner, grand- 
daughter of General Wooster. 

"Mrs Mary Clapf Wt)osTtR was the widow of Gen. David Woos- 
ter, who fell in defense of his country between Danbury and Ridgefield. 
She was the daugliter and only surviving child of David Clap, Presi- 

^''Benson J. Lossing's " Field Rook of the Revolution." 



6/2 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

dent of Yale College. She married at the age of sixteen, and was the 
mother of three children, two daughters and one son, the eldest, a daugh- 
ter, died when not quite a year old. 

" The properties of this lady's understanding and of her heart were 
such, as are rarely found in the same person. The powers of her mind 
were strong, active and firm. These were awakened, enlightened and 
enlarged by an early, uniform and well regulated education. Her un- 
derstanding was enriched by a great variety of useful information. 
Her knowledge of New England, particularly Connecticut was exten- 
sive and minute. She was conversant with all the historical and natu- 
ral curiosities of this country. Her society was much sought, and her 
conversation much enjoyed by persons of literature. The pleasure in 
noting these characteristics would be much less than it is were we 
obliged to stop here. What most distinguished, most adorned and 
most ennobled her was the gospel of the Son of God. This she pro 
fessed in early life, and from that period to the day of her decease, 
lived steadily under its influence. Though fervent and animated on all 
topics, whenever she opened her lips on the subject of religion, her fer- 
vor seemed to glow, and her animation kindled in proportion to the 
magnitude of the subject. She was charitable to the poor, sympathetic 
to the afflicted, and benevolent to all. She passed through many 
scenes. Her early days were strewed with flowers, but the later part 
of her life was full of disappointments and afflictions. But all these 
troubles she bore with rare equanimity and fortitude. As she ap- 
proached the close of her life, her relish for religion increased, and her 
relish for everything else abated. Her conversation was principally 
about heaven and heavenly things. It was the result of choice, not of 
necessity. While her body was a prey to disease, her soul seemed 
more and more above this world. Her exhibition of the realities of 
religion during the last days of her life, made those who conversed with 
her forget all her former greatness, and proficiency in other things. 
In the character of the Christian we are willing to forget every other 
conspicuous trait which justly and singularly belonged to her. Her 
light seemed to be truly that of the just, which shineth more and more 
until the perfect day. She was born in 1726, and died in New Haven 
at the age of seventy-eight. 

'' Her son, Thomas Wooster, was sent to Europe. On his return he 
married Lydia Sheldon, by whom he had five sons and one daughter. 
He served as a colonel in the Revolutionary war. Alter the war he 
went with his family to New Orleans. Business rendered it necessary 
for him to go to New Haven, and on his return to New Orleans the 
ship was lost and he was never heard of. His widow with her family 



r.KXlKAI'HlKS. (^'J-}^ 

returned to New York. Four of her sons went to sea, and two were 
lo<t. The fifth son, Charles Whitney Wooster, married Fanny Steb- 
bins, daughter of Simon, who was the son of Theophilus, who was the 
son of Boni (Benoni), who built the house now standing in Ridgefield, 
between 1708 and 1761 (who was the son of "Thomas of Deerfield, 
Mass., who was the son of Roland, who came to this country in 1628, 
who was the son of Sir Thomas of Suffolk county, in the west of Eng- 
land). The house in Ridgefield has holes over the door made by bul- 
lets which were fired when the battle was fought in which Gen. Wooster 
was wounded. 

"Charles W. Wooster had command of the forts around the harbor 
of New York, during the three years' war of 1812, under the title of 
Major of the Sea Fencibles. After the war he went to Chili, and was 
made admiral of their navy. He died at San Francisco in 1848. 

He had two sons ; one died in infancy, the second, Charles F. 
Wooster, was educated at West Point, served in the Florida war, and 
the war with Mexico. At the battle of Chihuahua, though Col Doni- 
phan had command, yet it was through his advice and counsel the vic- 
tory was gained ; he gave the directions of all the movements. To use 
the words of Major Porter, ' he didn't know what fear was.' His tal- 
ents were fine and he had all the qualities of an officer. He was cap- 
tain of the Fourth Artillery. He died at Fort Brown, Texas, on the 
14th of February, 1856, aged thirty-nine years. His remains were 
brought to Brooklyn, and are interred in the family lot in Green- 
wood Cemetery. His name and his mother's (whose remains are there 
also) are on one side of the monument and Stebbins on the other. By 
the foregoing it will be apparent that four generations in succession were 
in the service of their country." 

An incident without romance occurred under Gen. Woos- 
ter's command, which illustrates forcibly some of the characters 
that upheld the Revolution, for had there not been much of 
this decided and thorough character among the Americans, not- 
withstanding all that was exhibited to the contrary, the inde- 
pendence of the colonies would never have been gained. 

Caleb Tomlinson of Huntington, father of Charles Tomlin- 
son, not long since living in Huntington, aged nearly four 
score years, was sent by Gen. Wooster with a dispatch to Gen. 
Washington. Being from the same neighborhood as Gen. Woos- 
ter, young Tomlinson was selected because the General knew 
him to be a plucky Yankee, although a little uncultivated 
8; 



674 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

in his manners, and one to be trusted for the discharge of 
duty. 

Arriving at head-quarters he asked to see Gen. Washington, 
to which the guard replied : " You cannot see him." " But I 
must, I have a dispatch for him from Gen. Wooster." The 
guard reported to Gen. Washington, and returned answer 
that he could be admitted. Washington was seated at a rude 
table writing when Tomlinson handed him the dispatch, and 
Washington on reading it nodded assent and asked, " Anything 
more .''" " Nothing but an answer direct from you," said Tom- 
linson. " Do you presume to tell me what I must do," inquired 
the General. " No, General, but I '11 be damned if I leave these 
quarters without something to show that I have discharged my 
duty as a soldier." Rising from his seat Washington remarked, 
"You are from Connecticut, I perceive." " I am, sir," was the 
reply. Tapping him on the shoulder the General said, "Young 
man, I wish to the God of battles I had more such soldiers as 
you. You shall be granted your request." 

COL. WILLIAM B. WOOSTER 

Was born in Oxford, Conn., August 22, 182 1, being the son of 
Russell Wooster, a thrifty farmer, who cultivated large fields 
of rocky land. In early life the son William worked on the farm 
summers, and taught the village school winters. Becoming 
tired of swinging the scythe and following the plow, he resolved 
to strike out for himself ; and, choosing for his calling the pro- 
fession of the law, he entered the Law School at New Haven 
and studied under Samuel Hitchcock, Isaac Townsend and the 
late Chief Justice Storrs, and was admitted to the bar in 1846. 
He located in Derby October i, 1846, and ever since has been 
a most successful and popular legal advocate. 

Although not an office-seeker, yet he has consented to serve 
the town in many places of trust ; twice representing Derby in 
the Legislature, — once in 1858 — and was senator from the fifth 
district in 1859. ^^^ labors in the House were very valuable in 
1 86 1, in connection with Judge Elisha Carpenter and other 
members of the military committee, when the act for the bene- 
fit of widows and children of the soldiers of the state was 



BIOGRAPHIES. 6/5 

passed, for which measure VVooster, who drafted the bill, re- 
ceived deservedly great commendation. 

Active in the campaign of 1856, he was more so in the one 
that elected the lamented Lincoln. On the outbreak of the 
Rebellion he was very earnest in taking steps to suppress it. 
One day a neighbor said to him in his office, " What is Derby to 
do in this war ? " He replied with earnestness, " I don't know 
what will be done, but I have resolved to close my office and 
enlist, for I think it is my duty." He at once issued a poster 
for a public meeting, which convened at Nathan's Hall, and 
about $3,000 were raised by subscription towards encouraging 
volunteers. He enlisted in 1862, and Governor Buckingham 
gave him the appointment of lieutenant colonel of the 20th 
Regiment and he served until the close of the war. He was in 
command of his regiment at the battle of Chancellorsville. He 
was captured with Capt. A. E. Beardsley of Derby, Capt W. W. 
Smith of Seymour and a few others, and sent to the dungeon of 
Libby prison. After being exchanged. Col. Wooster was again 
at the head of his broken regiment and participated in the 
famous battle of Gettysbin-g. In both of these engagements he 
showed himself a brave officer, and by his military skill endeared 
himself to his soldiers. In 1864 he was appointed to be colonel 
of the 29th Regiment, colored, which position he accepted. 
Leaving New Haven March, 1864, he was ordered south, and 
after some months' service there resigned his position a little 
before his regiment returned home. Under Gen. Joseph R. 
Hawley, Col. Wooster was paymaster general on his staff. 

Col. Wooster made a brilliant war record, and his services 
were an honor to Derby and the state. 

In reality a self-made man, possessing native talent, stern in- 
tegrity and resolute mind, yet kind and tender-hearted, he has 
elevated himself to his present position by his own exertions, 
yet so modest that it was difficult to secure his consent to 
placing his portrait in this book. 

As a lawyer he ranks among the first in the state, and main- 
tains an enviable reputation. 



6/6 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

WILLIAM T. BACON'^" 

Was born in Woodbury August 24, 1812 ; graduated at Yale 
College in 1837, at the Yale Theological Seminary in 1840, 
and was ordained pastor in Trumbull, Conn., in 1841. He was 
specially engaged in literary tastes, in addition to his pastoral 
work, for several years, and in broken health retired to the old 
Bacon homestead in Woodbury, from which he came to Derby, 
settling first on a farm called " Hillside." Afterwards, in view 
of occupation for his sons he established the Derby Trajiscript^ 
but his son James did not long continue to enjoy the opportuni- 
ties planned by a fond parent, and his early decease has left a 
shadow on the household that has beclouded specially all the 
joys of the father. 

The Transcript is a stirring, enterprising paper, which takes 
an honorable position among the soaring, bird-like flock, which, 
with stretching wings and eagle eyes, hover over the Naugatuck 
valley. Mr. Bacon also established, in connection with Thomas 
Woodward, the New Haven Courier. 

LEONIDAS BRADLEY BALDWIN 

Was born in New Haven, and fitted for college at the Hopkins 
Grammar School in that city. He graduated at Trinity College, 
Hartford, in i860, and pursued his theological studies at the 
Berkeley Divinity School, Middletown, Conn., and was ordained 
to the priesthood by the late Bishop Chase of New Hampshire, 
and afterwards was called to the rectorship of St. Mark's Church, 
New Britain, where he remained until his removal to Birming- 
ham in 1870, to the rectorship of St. James's Church, which re- 
lation was terminated in November, 1879, to accept a call to St. 
Mark's Church, Boston, Mass. 

Standing, as he did, fifteenth in the honored roll of rectors 
of this ancient parish from Dr. Mansfield, his rectorship was of 
longer continuance than any of the others. 

REV. AMOS BASSETT, D. D., 

Was born in Derby (the son of Dea. Amos Bassett of Great 
Hill Society) ; graduated at Yale College in 1784; licensed to 

'■^'*This and the following Biographies were completed too late to be placed in 
alphabetical order with the others. 



BIOGRAPHIES. f^JJ 

preach by the New Haven West Association in 1792 ; was pas- 
tor at Hebron, Conn., from 179410 1824; preached at Monroe, 
Conn., afterwards, and died in 1828. He succeeded Mr. Dag- 
gett in 1824 as principal in the Cornwall Mission School. He 
was a member of the corporation of Yale College from 18 10 to 
his decease. " He was an excellent scholar, a sensible and sol- 
emn preacher, and especially distinguished for the gravity of 
his deportment and for godly simplicity and sincerity." 

BENJAMIN BASSETT, M. D , 

Son of John and Nancy A. (Lee) Bassett, was born in Derby, 
January 23, 1827; graduated at Yale College in 1847; received 
the degree of M. D. at Yale College in 185 i. He practiced 
medicine a time in Brooklyn, when failing in health he removed 
to New Haven in 1874, where he died in 1879. 

EBENEZER D. BASSETT 

Was born in Litchfield, Conn., October 16, 1833, and came to 
Derby when an infant, so that he is essentially a Derby citizen. 
His early education was very meagre, and while an office boy 
forDoct. A. Beardsley he developed talents that courted encour- 
agement. He attended the High School in Birmingham, then 
went to the academy at Wilbraham, Mass.; graduated at the 
State Normal School in 1853 ; studied at Yale in 1854 and 1855, 
obtaining a good knowledge of the classics. He then devoted 
himself to teaching, continuing for sixteen years. If his skin 
was not white he was a good scholar and excelled in mathemat- 
ics. During the war he wrote many appeals, which appeared in 
the newspapers, to encourage the enlistment of colored soldiers. 
He has been minister to Hayti eight years, and is now stationed 
in New York city as consulate of the United States to Hayti, 
for which position he is largely indebted to Col. William B. 
Wooster and others of Birmingham, who encouraged and fur- 
nished him means to press forward in his ambition. In a note 
he makes the following acknowledgment : " My success in life 
I owe greatly to that American sense of fairness which was 
tendered me in old Derby, and which exacts that every man, 
whether white or black, shall have a fair chance to run his race 
in life and make the most of himself." 



6/8 HISTORY OF DERBY. 



DOCT. MARTIN BULL BASSETT 

Was born in Hebron May 14, 1802, being the son of Rev. Amos 
Bassett, D. D.; was fitted for college by his father; graduated 
at Yale College in 1823 ; studied medicine with Doct. Isaac 
Jennings of Derby, attending also Yale Medical College. He 
married Caroline Tomlinson of Huntington, Conn., and went 
to Ohio, practicing medicine only a short time owing to delicate 
health. Returning East, and inheriting a large farm near Bir- 
mingham, with other property, he spent his life in agricultural 
pursuits. He died May 15, 1879, aged 'j'j. 

REV. WILLIAM ELLIOTT BASSETT, 

Son of John and Nancy A. (Lee) Bassett, was born in Derby, 
May 24, 1829; graduated at Yale College in 1850 ; studied the- 
ology in Union Theological Seminary, in New York, and in the 
Divinity School, New Haven, and was ordained pastor of the 
Congregational church of Central Village, Conn., February 14, 
1856. He became acting pastor in North Manchester, Conn., 
January, i860, and was installed pastor at Warren, Conn , Octo- 
ber 12, 1864. His residence was in New Haven from 1876 to 
1879, and on May i, 1880, he became acting pastor in Bethle- 
hem, Conn. 

THADDEUS G. BIRDSEYE 

Was born in Huntington, September, 9, 1812, and came to Bir- 
mingham in the spring of of 1836, where he engaged in mercan- 
tile business with his brother Ephraim, several years on Main 
street. He was postmaster six years after Henry Atwater 
resigned ; was town clerk four years, and has been secretary and 
treasurer of the Derby Savings Bank for the last twenty years. 
He has filled all these offices with great credit and satisfaction 
to the public, especially the last mentioned. 

SAMUEL ORCUTT, 

Son of James and Celine (Crosby) Orcutt was born in Berne, 
Albany county, N. Y. His grandfather, Samuel Orcutt, a 
native of Connecticut, was a musician in Washington's army in 
the Revolution most of the time the war continued, and was 
killed by the falling of a tree when his twin sons, James and 



yiiocKAPiirKS. 679 

Ezra, were only five years of age. Samuel, the author of this 
book, and whose portrait is the second in the book, attended the 
district school winters until nineteen years of age, when he 
turned teacher instead of pupil. When he was about fourteen, 
that great institution, the district library, was established in the 
school district, and his father being the librarian, he made dili- 
gent improvement of the nearly 200 volumes secured, making 
many of them a regular study instead of simply reading books. 
While teaching he mastered the '• Elements of Algebra" and 
Chemistry without a teacher. He then took a two years' course 
of classical studies at Cazenovia (N. Y.) Seminary, and Owego 
Academy. Being licensed to preach, he supplied the pulpits of 
four churches in central New York while taking a course of four 
years' theological and historical studies under private but regu- 
lar and thorough recitation. He then took one year's course of 
study in Hebrew and Greek under Prof. James Strong of Flush- 
ing, L I. After this he preached at Greenport and Patchogue, 
L. I., (in the Congregational churches) four years ; then four 
years at William's Bridge, Westchester county, N. Y. Following 
this he preached with much success at Riverhead, L. L, fifteen 
months, and in the spring of 1872 removed to Wolcott, Conn., 
where he supplied the pulpit nearly two years and wrote the 
history of that town, which was published in 1874. While 
preaching at Torrington, Conn., in 1874 and 5, he collected 
largely the material for a history of that town, which was 
published early in 1878. 

While preaching several months at New Preston, Conn., in 
1876, he collected considerable material for another work (not 
local history) not yet published. He began as a licensed preacher 
in 1848, when twenty-four years of age; was ordained in 1851, 
and was regularly employed in his profession, with the excep- 
tion of a year and a half, until in 1875, a series of twenty-seven 
years ; and is now a member of the New Haven West Associa- 
tion. 



IN MEMORIAM. 



THE STORY OF THE YEARS.' 

As one that athirst in the desert, in the maze of some feverish dream 
May hear, as it were, in the distance the babble of broolilet and stream, 
So dimly the voice of the ages, comes rippling along to mine ears, 
As I gaze on, the mystical curtain, that hideth the vale of the years ; 
And I see — or in fact or in fancy — grim shadows but half-way defined, 
That crowd on the face of the canvas, from a world that is fading behind. 

Lo, I stand 'mid the tombs of my fathers ! before me a vision of green. 

With a glory of hill and of mountain, of meadow and river between ; 

And the rocks, that are storied, I question for the joys and the hopes and the fears, 

With the scheming and crowning ambitions, that lie in the vale of the years : — 

For the swaddling clothes of the infant, — the staff, and the finishing shroud. 
And again is the question repeated, "for what shall a mortal be proud?" 
True we talk of our valleys and hillsides, our fields with their cities besown ; 
But where are the deeds for defending the realms that we claim as our own? 

But yester their owners were ploughing the soil where their ashes now sleep ; 
And to-morrow shall others be sowing for others to come and to reap. 
From the past we but borrow the present ; for the future we hold it in trust ; 
And for us at the last there remaineth, at best, but a handful of dust 1 

And so, as I muse in the darkness, a hand on the dial appears. 

And slowly uprises tlie curtain that hideth the vale of the years. 

And from out of the world of the present, with eyes that are dewy and blind, 

I turn to the shadows in waiting from a world that is fading behind. 



II 
And quick, with a yell of defiance — a flourish of hatchet and knife, 
And a horde of wild demons are writhing in the wage of a terrible strife ; 
From the hedges of willow and alder, like panthers they spring on the foe ; 
From the shelter of rock and of thicket their flint-headed arrows they throw, — 

Till the sun goeth down on the battle, and the war-field is reddened with gore, 
And the squaw and pappoose are bewailing the hunter that cometh no more : 
The vanquished steal off in the shadows, to the depths of the forest away. 
With a scowl of defiance and warning for the deeds of a luckier day. 



IThis poem was prepared by Mr. Jcihii W. Storrs of Birmingham by special request of the authors 
of this work. 



IN MF.MORIAM. 68 1 

And the victors, with scalp-lock and trophy of hatchet and arrow and bow, 
Prepare for a savage thanksgiving for the valor that conquered the foe. 
The faggots are brought and are lighted, the sacrifice bound to the stake, 
And the shrieks of the victim and victor the depths of the forest awake. 

On the banks of the Paugasuck buried, in the sands of the Pootatuck shore, 
Is the skull and the arm and the arrow, but they startle with tei-ror flo more : 
For the arrow is broken and wasted ; the bowstring is severed in tWain ; 
And the smoke of the war-dance upcurleth no more from the forest or plain. 

Ill 

Lo, turning the rocks at the Narrows, the sail of a Wooster' appears. 
As a frontispiece quaintly engraven on the page of the book of the years ; 
The Riggses or Smiths with their axes, spring ashore and at once on the plains 
The wigwam gives place to the cabin, as the brute to the empire of brains. 

One by one are the chimneys uplifted ; and the smoke of the fireside upcurls 
Through the forests of green, like an incense, as the banner of progress unfurls. 
Till the voice of the genius of labor like an anthem is heard in the land ; 
And the young feet of commerce are planted on the marge of the Pootatuck strand. 

The years sweep along in their cycles ; the soldiers fall out by the way; 
And others step in their places for the fight of the ever to-day; 
And the back of the worker is bended to the cross of his wearying toil ; 
Till he goes, like a tale that is ended, to rest in his covering soil. 

Thus ever it is with the nations, as it is with the birth of men. 
With the throe and the pang of labor must the struggle of life begin ; 
Yet the laborer toward the surface — like the coral beneath the sea — 
Buildeth ever the deep foundations for the temple that is to be. 

In the depths of his inner nature, as indeed in its outward form, 
Man partakes of his near surroundings, of the sunshine or of the storm ; 
Of the mountain or of the valley, of the rocks and the savage wild ; 
As the rod of an angry father maketh forever an angry child : 

So it was with these early pilgrims ; they had cowered beneath the rod 
Of a church that was made by statute ; and which only revered a God 
Of vengeance and retribution, of the eye that must have the eye, 
Who spake from the top of Sinai, but not upon Calvary. 

And so, as from persecution they fled to the western wild. 

They prayed 'mid the howling tempests (to a God that had never smiled) 

For the sword of the sons of Levi, to smite the heretic crew ; — 

And the oppressed became the oppressor, as the tree of their fortune grew. 

Though a host of the Christian virtues with them came on the westward wind, 
Yet the greatest of all was Charity, and that they had left behind. 
As but useless to fight the forest. P'aith itself had not o'erthrown 
A single mountain ; as for Mercy, that belonged to the elect alone. 

[/ ZEdward Wooster was really the first man to seek a residence in the Derby wilderness; he desiring 
to raise hops on the meadow land in the valley below Ansonia. 

86 



682 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

On every side was a daily battle with the rock and the thorny fen ; 
With the wolf and the savage panther, or with still more savage men ; 
Where were the wonder then or marvel that their worship was force and fear ? 
That so little was found to soften, where so little was found to cheer ? 

And yet were they brave and noble ; in their manhood were even grand ! 
E'en their errors are scarce remembered, since they came with an honest hand 
That was daily upon the pages of the well thumbed law and word. 
And which — as did read the letter — was the law that the conscience heard. 

IV 

The woods have come down from the hillside at the sound of the woodmen's stroke ; 
And the shipwright hath deftly fashioned the boughs of the sturdy oak 
Into vessels of strength and beauty, that have battled with every breeze. 
From the home of the frost and the winter, to the realms of the tropical seas. 

And Gracie, and Humphreys, and Hopkins, on the wings of their gallant fleet, 
Have come from the Indian Islands with their fruits and their spices sweet; 
And Horsey, and Whiting and Sheffield, with hearts that were true and brave, 
With Nichols and Lewis and Keeney, have ploughed upon every wave ; 

And Whitney, and Stone, at the " Landing," hath fraternity's " corner^" laid. 
By the side of the temple of traffic, the mart of a busy trade. 
Yea, and where was the heathen council, and the stake with its savage rite, 
Stands the Church with its lifted finger, and the cot with its cheerful light; 

Where the voice of the sainted Mansfield, through his three-score years and ten, 
Tells the tale of the great redemption, for the lost of the sons of men ; 
And an Humphreys, with rugged doctrine — iron-clad, but true as steel — 
Standeth firm, like a giant statue, with the serpent beneath his heel ! 

And the sons of the plough and anvil lift their morning and evening prayer 
To their God for his daily bounty, and the arm of his daily care. 

V 

" The temple* " yet stands by the river, overhanging the waters sweet, 

A relic of days departed ; but where are the busy feet 

That thronged its open portals ? the lines of the country teams. 

In turn that awaited a " barter " ? Gone, like the airy dreams 

Of the maiden that pictured the glory of the " store " gown, gay and fine ! 
And the swain of his Sunday garment, from the looms that were over the brine. 
From the depths of the eastern valley comes the maidenly Paugasuck^ 
With as tender a kiss as ever, for the cheek of the Pootatuck; 

And together they take their journey, with its every-day ebb and flow. 
Hand in hand through the downward valley, as they did in the long ago. 
But the swain with his chosen maiden, that of old from the village kirk 
Hand in hand went into the forest, as the doves went into the ark, 

SKing Hiram Lodge. 

401d Leman Stone store. 

5Referring to the confluence of the Naugatuck and Housatonic at Derby Narrows, 



IN MEMORIAM. 683 

With the ebb have gone steadily downward to the arms of the waiting sea j 
Never again for aye returning from their journeying, — he or she ; — 
Yet they live in their deeds accomplished ; in the acres of tardy soil 
That were wrung from the sqrly wilderness by the hands of their early toil. 

Yea, they live in their children's glory; in the fruits of the rounded hills; 
In the beauty of spife and turret ; in the clack of the busy mills ; 
For the step in the upward journey that would enter within the gates 
Must forever remain untaken, while the first on the threshold waits. 



VI 

Men may talk of deeds of conquest on the land or upon the main, 
Yet behind the scene is woman with her hand on the guiding rein ; 
So my muse, with pen historic, never more forget to bless 
Ruth, Naomi, and their daughters — blossoms of the wilderness. 

Not a left-hand cypher, surely; whoso either made a bride, 
Ever on life's outward journey, found an unit by his side. 
Pure of heart, and sweet of purpose, best beloved of sire and son. 
Yet was theirs an endless struggle with the labor " never done." 

Few their wants indeed and simple ; once the year a gingham gown ; 
Costly silk and mantua makers, luxuries to them unknown ; 
What if on a Sabbath morning, o'er the meadow's dewy sod 
Went the maiden, dainty tripping, even to the house of God, 

Ere she donned the precious slipper.' Of the two that she possessed, 
Sole of art and sole of nature, nature's work would wear the best ; 
What — although the bare suggestion should some modern maiden shock; — 
What if at the church or party, she did wear the linsey frock.' 

It was hers, her hands had won it ! carded, aye, had spun the wool ! 
Wove the cloth and made the garment ! was not then her triumph full ? 
Held she not as high a station — self-reliant, brave and firm — 
As some helpless slave of fashion trembling at a mouse or worm ? 

There she stands ! go bow before her, proud New England's Mother Queen ! 
" Naked feet ! " Oh well, what matter, feet and hands and heart are clean ! 
Linsev dress, and home-made bonnet ? pockets, herb and fennel filled ? 
Ave, but in the time of trouble she was " herb " and wonder skilled. 

First to give new eyes a greeting, last to catch the fleeting breath ; 
First to bring hope's consolation, last to leave the house of death ; 
" Naught for self but all for others — " this her motto ; doing good — 
This her daily round of practice ! hers a life's beatitude. 

Children's pride, and manhood's treasure ! best beloved of all, I ween ; 
There she stands! go bow before her ! proud New England's Mother (^ucen ! 



684 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

VII 
It is night and, behold ! in the valley afar toward the blue of the sea, 
A white mist is rising in flashes over headland of crag and of tree ; 
And a sound, as if heavily breathing with lungs that were tireless and strong, 
Over rocks, through the brushland and wildwood, some monster were charging 
along ! 

Clickety click, clickety click, round the headlands ! Is that thunder which startles 

our ears ? 
Or an earthquake which shakes the foundations, as the gleam of the head-light 

appears ? 
Stand aside ! for his breath is a whirlwind, and his eye is an ogre of flame ! 
And his feet they are shod with the lightnings, which only a master can tame. 

Rings the bell ! like a flash we are speeding, as it were, on the wings of a dream ! 
Rings the bell ! and the earth hath been circled by the genius of progress and steam ! 
We have spun round the sides of the mountain, we have whirled through the cave 

at its base ; 
We have startled the wolf on the prairie, and have joined in the buffalo chase ! 

Yea, and e'en, as our journey we traveled, our life hath grown long on the way. 
For events have together been crowded, till an hour hath become as a day. 
The slow plodding coach hath departed on the tide of returnless years. 
And the echoing horn of its driver cometh never again to our ears. 

E'en there's many a ship that hath folded its wings by its desolate side, 
As the genius of Fulton went smoking his pipe in the teeth of the tide ; 
And the lightnings of Morse play in concert of flashes from pole unto pole ; 
And the world groweth wiser, and better, for the whisper of soul unto soul. 

VIII 

The brooks that for ages have wasted their strength as they glided along. 
In and out through the deeps and the shallows, to the notes of their rhythmical song, 
At the last have awoke to their mission, as their hands they have placed to the wheel, 
And the echoes have mingled their music with the clash of the hammer and steel. 

The castle hath sprung to the hillside, at the touch of the genii of gold : 
And the cottage hath grown in its shadows, like the vine of the prophet of old; 
And the churches that rise on the summit — with the story of mercy on high, 
And their back on the ancient traditions — point an easier road to the sky. 

The floors of the parlor and kitchen are bright with the fruits of the loom. 
Where a moment or two with the " sweeper " does the work of the tardier broom. 
And the sound of the pipe and the viol is heard at the cottager's door, 
In the place of the whirr of the spindle that furnished the music of yore. 

Hark ! along through thy valleys, Paugasuck, and thy hills, like the trill of a bird, 
The voice of a Kellogg'' re-echoes a sound that the nations have heard ! 
And long shall it live in thy story, how a maiden of beauty among 
Thy hills, first attuned unto nature the voice of an empress of song. 

UClara Louise Kellogg, born in New Hartford, Conn., but for many years a resident of Derby. 



IN MEMORIAM. 685 

The hero mav conquer a city, and the widow and orphan are sad ; 

But the songstress hath conquered a nation, and the hearts of its people are glad ; 

The hero shall sleep with his fathers, and his laurels decay on his breast. 

But the song shall re-echo forever, in a world that it brightened and blessed. 

From a brain that with genius is pregnant, in time comes a marvelous birth, 
And the hand of a Howe hath out-scattered his pins to the ends of the earth. 
Lo, one side is a roll of bright metal that looks like a thread of pure gold ! 
It is caught and is cut and is sharpened, it is headed and hammered and rolled, 

And is straightened and burnished and sorted, and "stuck " on a paper for sale, 
Almost in the time it has taken to tell you the wonderful tale ! 
O genius, how grand thy achievements, that can build from thy wonder domains 
A machine scarcely less than immortal, lacking only a handful of brains ! 

And now cometh one from the arctic, with its secret of light and of force, 
And a " horse shoe " is made that can " draw " more than all the rest of the horse ! 
Nay, Wallace," I would not speak lightly : by and by 'twill be seen at a glance 
How the thing that was hounded " a failure," was indeed but a step in advance. 

Lead on ! let the world have its doubting : there is ever in waiting a cheer, 
And " I told you," — when cometh the triumph — from the laggards that hang in the 
rear. 

A machine takes a bite at some lumber ; there's a whirr of a wheel and a band, 
And, as if by the magic enchanter, a church has gone up in the land. 
Where to do up our praises by proxy ; and to hear every Sabbath the Word, 
And to pin up our prayers on the pulpit, with a " them are my sentiments, Lord." 

Where old wine goeth into new bottles, but the new never into the old. 
For fear that the thing will go bursting, ere the wax on the stopper is cold : 
Wait ! the day is at hand when the " do.\ies " shall hamper no more or deceive ; 
When all men shall believe as they worship, and worship because they believe. 

Hark ! a voice that betokens of madness ! the gun of the traitor is heard ! 

And the drums beat to arms in our valleys, and the ploughman has put on his sword. 

The foe hath been met, and the bondmen from the lash and the shackle are free, 

And the pathway of freedom is open forever, from sea unto sea. 

The bones of the martyr are bleaching where his battles have come to an end; 

But unscathed in its glory and honor, is the flag that he fought to defend. 

E'en the muses have dwelt in our borders ; there is Croffut^ a favorite son, 
That for sharp-cutting quatrain or couplet, ranks ever as second to none ; 
And a voice there was once of a " Nydia,^" as sweet as the notes of a dove ! 
And a "Linwoodi*" whose lyrical numbers were tuned to th<e music of love. 



7Wm. Wallace the electrician, who was the constructor of a horse shoe magnet for Yale College, 
having power to lift two thousand pounds, also the inventor of an electric light. 

SW. k. Croifut of the New York Tribune, well known in the politicaj world as a satirical writer of 
ability, also as the writer of many beautiful poems. 

9Mrs. Kellogg, a poetess of thirty years ago (mother of the famous song.'jtrcss), a lady of rare genius 
and accomplishments, both in literature and the arts. 

lOMrs. H. M. Cooke, well known as Lottie Linwood and author of a volume of poems entitled 
'• Gold (Tliread." 



686 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

And back of all these was a Humphrey, that sang from the mountains of Spain^i, 
In behalf of the land of his fathers a bright and prophetical strain. 

For our Press we have Newson, and Bacon, the Alpha and Omega, between 
Whom are printed some names ad interim in appropriate shading of green ; 
Poor souls, that of course were mistaken — but they dreamed that an editor's stool 
Was the place on the earth, of all others, to be filled by the average fool. 
Yet each in his way had a mission — though harassed and misunderstood, — 
Picking up the " down threads " in life's story, doing ever the best that they could. 

And the Doctor — be careful now, muses — 'tis a question of life or of death! 
Yet surely our good village Doctor should have place in our memory wreath ; 
Who for two score of years hath done battle with the demons of weakness untold 1 
That hath stood with his hand. on our pulses, day and night, without asking for gold. 

To strive, in a moment of freedom, for a " nap " but to hear the " alarm," 
And to fly at its beck and its bidding, through the night and the pitiless storm, — 
O Beardsley ! thy life, though but humble, sheweth more of the hero and true, 
Than is back of full many a laurel that is wreathed on the conqueror's brow. 



IX 

The school-house of old, with its benches of slabs, where the fathers were taught, 
Hath grown in the soil of the present to a temple of science and thought ; 
And the knight of the rod, and the ferrule, for his stipend that " boarded around," 
Giveth place to the high-toned professor with his head full of matters profound. 

We miss the old hat in the window, and the writing bench whereon our name 
Was cut with some hieroglyphics that had put an Egyptian to shame ; 
And the " box-stove " so guileless of blacking, and the desk in the midst of the floor 
Where the " contraband " top and the whistles were shelved by the dozen or more. 

Through the door comes a fair little maiden that once in my boyhood I knew, 

And I stop in my story to wonder if ever that " fortune " came true, 

That the old gypsy told her one morning, — how a tall man would come from the 

sea. 
With a ship and cargo of treasures for the bride it was hers yet to be ? 

T think that she half did believe it, for the thought oft is child of the wish ; 
And how did she know but the ocean had, for her, just that kind of a fish ? 
Dear little, brown little maiden ! wherever thy lot hath been cast. 
If thy " ship " hath come in yet, I know not : if nay, it 'mHI come at the last :, 

For the " tall man," indeed was the angel that leads from mortality forth ; 

And the " sea " was the Vi\\^\X\ forroer, and the " treasure " — it was not of the earth. 



UGen. David Humphreys's poem on the future glory of America. 



IN MEMORIAM. GSy 

There was Uayboll, and Munay,and Webster, with the "boy" and the man with the 

"grass," 
And the " cat in the meal " and the " milkmaid " that dreamed of her beautiful dress ; 
But the Dayboll hath forty successors,, and the Murray as many more still ; 
And our spelling books now go in numbers, like the homeopathical pill ; 
For every year comes y^ book agent, and he gives to y^ teacher y« wink. 
And y« old books are voted insipid, and y^ agent — he taketh the "jink." 

In the old time, 'twas " three months of schooling " and nine to " gymnast " with the 

hoe, 
Or the axe, or the flail, or the barrow, to plant or to reap , or to mow. 
But in these days our boys go to college as soon as home training will do ; 
To study for — " batter " or " pitcher " or to paddle some college canoe. 

In the old time the girls with their mothers learned to spin, and to weave and to sew ; 
Or to send from the throne of the kitchen the roast and the savory stew; 
But in these days, they too go to college — to Vassar, or Harvard, may be — 
To study whatever comes handy, and to take, more or less, of " degree." 

To talk of the world of dynamics, or the latest Darwinian doubt. 

Or — their word for 't — to be "dying " or "crazy " to know how that story " came out." 

If our boys know too little of labor, it is theirs in the future to learn 

That the seeds that are sown without struggle bring seldom the noblest return. 

And our girls who may dream of a "mission " outside in the world of to-day. 
May find that their mothers, for ages, have not traveled far out of the way, 
In finding their " sphere " at the fireside, in the sweets and delights of the home ; 
Leaving man with his ruggeder nature, in the world of ambition to roam. 

Some mistakes there may be to be righted. The pendulum swings to extremes ; 
The dew-drop that forms in the darkness, a gem in the orient gleams ; 
So by and by, when we are older, and our " notions " have softened away, 
Our daughters shall shine as the dew-drop in the light of the orient day. 

That cannot be long in the coming ; — indeed, there be some that I know 
Already like blossoms of beauty, that sweeten wherever they go, — 
That have come, as it were, on a " mission " to man from some happier realm : 
His equal ! yea, more than his equal, the angel that holdeth the helm ; 

Pure souls, with whom life is no bubble, to sparkle and break into tears ; 
Brave hearts that with face to the sunlight move on through the vale of the years. 
For such, O my brother, be thankful, the gem is more precious if rare ; 
But the poorest of all in creation is the soul that has "nothing to wear." 

Let our children be taught that an idler, is debtor to air and to soil ; 

That the glory of man or of woman, is the hand that is hardened by toil ; 

And that who to his face in the waters throws the crust of his worshiping bread, 

Findeth never a current returning, and the shadow, it never is fed. 

So that, as we write out our story, on the future of history's page, 

We may keep, with the beauty of progress, the wisdom and glory of age. 



HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Fair Paugasuck, Queen of the Valley! the footprints have scarce been erased 
From the sod underlying thy pavements, where Reynard but lately was chased ; 
Still wet are thy feet with the morning ! and yet with thy gables and spires, 
Thou had'st e'en have been counted a marvel, in the days of our patriot sires. 

Doth it need then the ken of the prophet, to read in the palm of thy hand, 
In the strong lines by nature engraven, the tale of a destiny grand ? 
The muse may be never a prophet, yet the child hath been born that shall hail 
Thy sceptre for beauty unquestioned, the queen of the hill and the vale, 

Though the river a moment flow backward, with forces upgathered and strong. 
O'er the rocks in its way that impeded, it goes with a shout and a song ! 
And so in the stream in the future, I see for our beautiful hills 
A history bright with the glory, that the soul of the patriot fills. 

For the virtues of old are not buried; the puritan liveth to-day; 

But the rock that impeded his nature, by the stream hath been fretted away. 

Till the current flows broader and deeper, and the growth of the reed, and the fern 

Giveth place on our banks to the blossom, — prophetic of fruit in its turn — 

That shall grow to millennial graces, in the dawn of some happier morn. 



GENEALOGIES 



S7 



Preface to the Genealogies. 

The Genealogies are not as complete as it was intended they 
should be, but the work has grown to such extended jiropor- 
tions that it is inexpedient to add to the material thus far 
obtained. Much time has been given to this department of the 
work, but the material was so scattered, and the families, mostly, 
have been so indifferent to the subject, that more than is given, 
has not been obtained. Eleven volumes of land records of the 
town have been searched, leaf by leaf, and every date of birth, 
marriage or death, copied carefully, although many dates had 
to be deciphered by the aid of a high magnifying glass. Dur- 
ing the Revolution, and for some time after, there was great 
indifference entertained to the making of records of birth in 
the town books, and hence many of the families seem to end at 
that period. Also the records of baptisms in the First Con- 
gregational church ends at that period, although those in the 
Episcopal church are continued. 

Every name and date recorded before 1800, that could be 
found, is printed. 

In consequence of the largeness of the work it is necessary 
to omit the index to the Genealogies, but the family genealo- 
gies are not lengthy, and being in alphabetic order can easily 
be glanced over ; and also, there are but very few surnames in 
the Genealogies that are not in the index. 



GENEALOGIES. 



ADEE, John, m. Hannah Johnson, Mar. 22, 1775. Children : 
2. Sarah, b. Aug. 6, 1775, m. John Craw- 3. William, b. Jan. 2, 1780. 
ford, Dec. 13, 1795. 4- Dorcas, b. Mar. 13, 1785. 

ALLEN, David, m. Eleanor Smiih, Dec. 27, 1769. Children: 

1. Hannah, b. Mar. S, 1771. 4. Eleanor, b. Sept. 20, [7S0. 

2. Elizabeth, b. Aug. 11, 1773. 5. David, d. Feb, 12, 1789. 

3. Ephraim, b. Dec. 25, 1775. 

ALLEN, Samuel, m. Susannah . Child: 

I. Fitch, b. Sept. 25, 17S2. 

ANDRUS, Ephraim, m. Sarah Humphrey, Mar. 21, 1745. Children : 
I. Hannah, b. June 22, 1745. 2. Desire, b. Mar. iS, 1747. 

I. BALDWIN, Serg. Richard, of Milford was the son of Sylvester 
Baldwin, who died June 21, 1638, on the passage from England in the 
ship Martin, and his wife Sarah (Bryan) Baldwin. He was baptized in 
the Parish Aston Clinton, Buckinghamshire, England, August 25, 1622, 
and, perhaps, came with his father. Among the names of the planters 
at New Haven in 1643, appears Widow Baldwin, five in the family, 
estate ^800. Richard evidently had a good education for the times, and 
possessed much energy and enterprise of character but precarious 
health, of which he complained to the Court as a reason why he had 
not made greater progress in settling Paugassett. He married, Feb- 
ruary 5, 1642-3, Elizabeth Alsop, sister of Joseph of New Haven, and 
died July 23, 1665, and his estate was presented at Hartford, Septem- 
ber 23, 1665. His eldest son received a double portion ; his youngest 
child, born after his death, being omitted altogether. His widow m. 
in 1670, William Fowler, son of William the first in Milford. Rich- 
ard Baldwin was the leading man of the ten who purchased land, and 
began the settlement of Derby. 

2. Elizabeth.bapt. Sept., 1644, in Milford; 6. Mary, bapt. Nov. 6, 1653; m. Daniel 
m. Zachariah Burvvell. Comstock. 

3. Sylvanus, bapt. Nov. 20, 1646. 7. Theophilus, bapt. Apr. 26, 1659. 
•-4. Sarah, bapt. Apr., 1649; m. Samuel 8. Zachariah, Sept. 22, 1660. 

Riggs. 9, Martha, bapt. Apr. i, 1663, 

5. Temperance, bapt. June 29, 1651 ; m. 10. Barnabus, 1665. 
Nathan Burvvell. 

BALDWIN, JosiAH, came to Derby and m. Mary Pierson, Sept. 19, 
1700. The first grant of land made to him by the town seems to have 
been in Jan., 1712-13. Children: 

1. Josiah, b. Sept. 7, 1701. 5. Hezekiah, b. Jan. 15, 1711 ; d. March 

2. Mary, b. Oct. II [out]; d. Oct. 28, 1704. 12,1713. 

3. Hezekiah, b. Aug. 20 [out]; d. Aug. 6. Mary, b. Jan. 10, 171.I. 

29, 1705. 7. Abigail, b June 5, 1716. 

4. Jared, b. Mar. 23, 1707 ; d. Nov. 11, 

1707. 



694 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

BALDWIN, DocT Silas, m. Mrs. Mary Plumb, Feb. 12, 1755. Chil- 
dren : 

1. Zuriel, b. Jan. 6, 175S. 6. Sarah; d. Jan. i, 1774. 

2. James, b. Dec. i, 1763. 7. Silas, b. Aug. 25, 1774. 

3. Hannah, b. Mar. 10, 1766. S. Sarah, b. P"eb. 4, 1780. 

4. Eunice, b. Nov. 12, 176S. 9. Deborah, b. Aug. 22, 17S2. 

5. Je'sse, b. Feb. 15, 1771. 

BALDWIN, Isaac, m. Philena . He died Jan. 4, 1799. Chil- 
dren : 

1. Lewis, b. Nov. 17, 17S0. 3. Lyman, b. Aug. i, 17S6. 

2. Eliphalet, b. Jan. 3, 17S5. 4. Rachel; d. Aug. 27, 1790. 

BALDWIN, Mr. James, died Dec 27, 1760. 

BALDWIN, Sylvanus, m. Mary French, Apr. 18, 1734. Children : 

1. Mary, b. Oct. 16, 1735. 5- Hezekiah, b. Jan. 21, 1747; d. March 

2. Dorcas, b. Aug. 18, 1738. 2, 1747. 

3. Elisha, b. Mar. i, 1741. 6. Sarah, b. Feb. i, 1748. 

4. Sarah, b. Mar. 16, 1744; d. Jan. 23, 7. Charles, b. Mar. 8, 1751. 

1746. 8. Hezekiah, b. Aug. 24, 1756. 

BALDWIN, Timothy, m. Sarah Beecher, Jan. 15. 1745. Children : 

1. Sarah, b. April 11, 1746. 3. Anne, b. Feb. 24, 1757. 

2. Thaddeus, b. June 22, 1751. 

BALDWIN. Sarah. Child: 
I. Julia Ann, b. Sept. 3, 1S02. 

BARTHELMK, Claudius, was born in France in 1737, and was 
the son of a merchant In 1750 he engaged in the regiment of Royal 
Rolison and shortly after was sent to America with Montcalm A 
copy of a letter is still in the possession of the family which was writ- 
ten by Claudius to his brother in France, which contains a detailed 
account of his voyage to Canada, and of the several battles in which he 
participated against the English, among which was the nine days' siege 
at Fort George and the massacre. 

He came to Derby in the year 1760, and soon after m. Susanna, 
daughter of Samuel Plumb. He built a house on the opposite side of 
the street from the "Jewett house"' at Up Town. After settling in 
Derby he engaged in trade with the West Indies, and was three times 
a large ship owner. He and his son Jerrod were sea captains, and, as 
a result of Bonaparte's celebrated " Milan Decree " in 1808, lost three 
merchantmen by confiscation by the French government. In his relig- 
ious views he was a devout Roman Catholic and for several years was 
the only one in Derby. In politics he took an independent stand, and 
for several years his was the only vote cast against the Whigs of Derby. 
His wife, Susanna, died January 26, 1818. He died October 10, 1S24, 
aged 87. Children : 

1. Anne, b. Oct. 20, 1762; d. Oct. 5, 1776. 6. Sarah, b. June 20, 1776. 

2. Mary, b. Oct. 2^, 1766. 7. Anne, b. Aug. 28, 177S. 

3. Jerrod, b. Jan. 6, 1769. 8. Henrietta, b. Dec. 15, 1780; d. Dec. 

4. Susanna, (twins, b. Oct. 26, 1773; d. 31, 1799. 

5. Joseph, S same day. 9. Claudius, b. Aug. 20, 1783. 

3. Jerrod, son of Claudius and Susanna (I'lumb) Barthelme, m. 



<iKN'I-:AL(JGlES. 695 

Aug. 17, 1793, Mary, dau. of Samuel and Mary (Perry) Wooster, 
who was born Dec 10. 1771. She died Feb. 23, 18 13 

10. Annie, b. July 24, 1795 ; m. Benjamin 13. Tabitha Eliza, b. Aug. i, iSoi ; m. 

Hodge of Derby, and had children. Mar. 15, 1820, Hon. Franklin P. Am- 

11. Hannah, b. July 31, 1797; m. Abijah blcr of J'rumbull, Conn., and d. JMar. 

Hawkins. 20,1853, leavingsons Charles, George, 

12. Jerrod, b. .Sept. 26, 1799; ni. Franklin 1\ and dau. Mary. 

Livingstone of N. \'. 14. Mary Louisa ; m. Solomon V. Ed- 

wards of Trumbull; had son George, 
who m. Anna Sisson of Derby. 

BARTUS, John, m. Mary . 



I. John, b. June 24, 1761. 2. Samuel, b. < )ct. 19, 1763. 

1. BASSETT, John, of New Havin, in 1647. died Feb. 1653, leav- 
ing son Robert, and probably Samuel and other children 

2. Robert, son of John Bassett of New Haven, born in England, 
was in New Haven in 1643, and was shoemaker and town drummer ; 
removed to Stratford and had family of several ciiildren. 

It was probably the wife of this Robert Bassett who was executed at 
Stratford in 165 1 or soon after, as a witch, as is confirmed by the Col- 
onial Records of New Haven, vol. H. 81. The records of Connecticut 
show under date of May, 165 1, that "Governor Haynes, Mr. CuUick 
and Mr. Clarke were desired to go down to Stratford, to keep court 
upon the trial of Goody Bassett for her life." After Mrs. Bassett was 
executed the witch mania continued and eventuated in the execution, 
also, of Goodwife Knapp in 1654. Soon after this Goodwife Staplies 
was reported to be a witch ; upon which her husband prosecuted cer- 
tain parties in court for defaming his wife. This turn of matters soon 
ended the complaints about witches. The pity is that Robert Bassett 
did not sue for slander the defamers of his wife, and the court for mur- 
dering her. It was after his wife's execution that this same Robert 
Bassett as a leader, with others, in 1653. made considerable stir in 
Stratford and Stamford against the government of the plantation which 
would not allow a man to vote unless he was a member of the church, 
and was tried for the offense at New Haven, but was excused upon 
some acknowledgments of error. This was the grandfather of Capt. 
Samuel Bassett of Derby, one of the most reliable and honorable men 
of which the old town can boast. Children : 

3. Robert. 5. Sarah (error as to name); ni. Henrv 

4. Sarah ; m. jacol) Walker I )ec. 10, 1670. Tiff, Nov. 8, 1673. 

3. Serg. Robert, son of Robert Bassett, sen., m. Elizabeth 

resided in Stratford, and died Aug. 5, 1720. He bought a pari of the 
Hawley Purchase in Derby and gave it to his son Samuel. He had a 
brother or son Ephraim whose wife died Aug. 18. 1726. Children: 

6. John. b. June 23, 1689. 9. Robert, 1). July ri, 1699. 

7. Samuel, b. Nov. 28, 1692. ro. Elizabeth, b. Dec. 15, 1701. 

8. Jonadab, b. July 20, 1695. u. Ebenezer, b. Jan. 31, 1707. 

7. Samuel, son of Serg. Robert and Elizabeth Bassett, came to 
Derby a young man in 17 16, — 17. to occupy the farm given him by 
his father ; deed dated May 22. 1716 " Know y*' that I, Robert Bas- 
sett of Stratford, county Fairfield, in consideration of the entire love and 
parental affection that 1 have to my loving and dutiful son Samuel 



696 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Bassett, have freely given . . . several parcels of land." One parcel 
was at the foot of Great Hill, still known as the Old Bassett place ; 
three or more pieces were on Great Hill. He married Mrs. Deborah 
Bennett " from near Newtown " January i, 1719 ; was commissioned 
ensign in 1722, lieutenant in 1732, and captain in 1735, '"'^^ justice of 
the peace many years, and held many and responsible offices, and was 
a man of large influence beyond the limits of, as well as in his own 
town. The date of his death could not be ascertained from his grave- 
stone, although the stone is still standing and his name on it preserved 
very clearly, but the date is beneath the ground Two of his sons died 
in the Revolutionary war. 
, 12. Samuel, b. Nov. 29, 1719; m. 18 Ebenezer, b. June 19, 1731 ; m. 

13. John, b. Feb. 15, 1721 ; m. 19. Amos, b. Jan. 7, 1734; m. 

14. [oseph, b. Aug. 31, 1722; m. 20. Mary, b. Nov. 21, 1736; m. Dr. 

15. Abraham, b. Feb. 27, 1725; m. Samuel Canfield. 

16. Deborah, b. March 22, 1726; m. John 21. Ephraim, b. Feb. 7,1738; d. young. 
\Tom1inson., 22. Benjamin, b. 1740; m. 

17. JElizabeth, b. March 15, 1728; m. 

Abraham Hawkins. 

12 Samuel, Jr., son of Samuel and Deborah (Bennett) Bassett ; m. 
Sarah Botsford Oct. 26, 1748, and settled on Great Hill. Children : 

23. David, b. Nov. 14, 1749. 27. Eunice, b. Jan. 9, 1759. 

24. John, b. Nov. 25, 1751. 28. Sarah, b. Feb. 14, 1761. 

25. Abraham, b. Mar. 21, 1753. 29. Molly Camp, b. July 28, 1764. 

26. Hannah, b. June 30, 1756. X30. Isaac, b. Dec. 16, 1767. 

13. John, sonofCapt Samuel and Deborah (Bennett) Bassett j m 
Naomi Wposter, Dec. 15, 1746. Children : 

31. Elizabeth, b. Mar. 3, 1750; d. prob- 35. Abigail. 

ably. 36. Ebenezer, b. Dec. 12, 1760. 

32. Esther, b. June 17, 1753. 37- Edward. 
3;'y Hannah; m. Ebenezer Plant, 1774. 38. John. 
34. Maria. 39. Truman. 

14. Joseph, son of Capt. Samuel and Deborah (Bennett) Bassett ; 
m. Sarah Hawkins Nov. 16, 1748. Children : 

40. Joseph. 44. Sarah, b. Feb. 12, 1769; m. Beers 

41. Samuel, b. June 25, i7Sr. Tomlinson. 

42. Taphene, b. Jan. 12, 1762. 45. Anna, m. Steele. 

42. Rhoda or Deborah, b. Feb. 12, 1764 ; 

m. Dan. Tomlinson. 

15. Abraham, son of Capt. Samuel and Deborah (Bennett) Bassett ; 
m. Mary Miles ; settled in Bungay, near Oxford. Mary Bassett died 
Dec. 25, 1849, aged 90.^ Children : 

46. Abraham, d. 51 Glover. 

47. Samuel. 52. Grace. 

48. Abel. 53. Eucinda. 

49. Jared. 54. Harvey. 

50. Marcus or Miles. 55. Abijah. 

18. Ebenezer. son of Capt. Samuel and Deborah (Bennett) Bassett, 
m. Rebecca Hinman of Woodbury, Feb. 10, 1756; resided on Great 
Hill. His wife's name is recorded once as Hannah. He died May 
24, 1760. Children : 



^History of Sevmour. 



GENEALOGIF.S. 69/ 

56. James, b. SejH. 16, 1757 ; m. ances- 5S. Warren. 

tor of Royal M. 59. William. 

57. Josiah. 

19. Deacon Amos, son of Capt. Samuel and Deborah (Bennett) Bas- 
sett ; m. Olive Glover of Newtown ; was a deacon in Great Hill Con- 
gregational church. Children : 

60. A dan.; d. an infant. 62. Amos, D. D. 

61. John (rlover ; d. aged 2S, not m. 63. Fhilo ; d. not m. at the age of 76. 

22. Benjamin', son of Capt. Samuel and Deborah (Bennett) Bassett ; 
m. Mary Hinman of Soulhbury. Children : 

64. Archibald, Rev. 67. Betsey, b. 1779; m. Asa Barrett. 

65. Polly, b. 1774; m. 6S. Benjamin, M. D., b. 17S2. 

66. John, b. Sept. 22, 176-. 69. Hannah, b. 1785. 

23. David, son of Samuel. Jr., and Sarah (Botsford) Bassett; m. 
'' Mabe " Toml'inson, Oct. 2, 1773. Children: 

70. John. 72. David. 

71. Asa. Two daughters. 

\ 30. Isaac, son of Samuel, Jr., and Sarah (Botsford) Bassett; m. 
Betsey who died Apr. 13, 1839. He died June 8, 1850. Children : 

73. Samuel, b. Jan. 31, 17S9. 78. Eunice, b. July 10, 1798; m. 

74. Hepzibah, b June 14, 1790; m. Moulthrop; d. 1864. 

Lake ; -d. Nov. 9, 1875. 79. Isaac, b. Dec. 7, 1800. 

75. Ira, b. Oct. 24, 1792; d. Feb., 1845. 80. Amos, b. Mar. 1803. 

76. Sally, b. Aug. 24, 1794 ; m. Gil- Si. Susan, b. Aug. 22, 1S05. 

lett ; d. June 2, 1S65. 82. Caroline, b. Feb. 11, iSoS; m. 

77. Betsey, b. Aug. 4, 1796; d. .Sept. 12, Wooster, and d. .Sept. 30, 1851. 

1864. 83. Amos ()., b. May 25, iSii. 

40. Joseph. Jr., son of Joseph and Sarah (Hawkins) Bassett; m. 
Molly Hinman Mar. 18, 1779. Children : 

84. Sheldon, b. Feb. 14, 1780. 86. Laura, b. Mar. 13, 17S4. 

85. Nancy, b. Mar. 22, 1782. 

56. James, son of Ebenezer Bassett ; m. Betsey Canfield Mar. 28, 
1780, and died aged 90 years. Children : 

87. William, b. Jan. 18, 1781. 90. Aurelia. 

88. Eben. 91. Josiah. 

89. James J. 

62. Amos, D. D., son of Dea. Amos and Olive (Glover) Bassett ; m. 

ist Miss of Colchester ; 2d Sophia Bull of Farmino;ton ; 3d 

Eunice Pomeroy. Dr. Bassett died in 1828. (See Biog.) Children : 

87. Daughter. 8g. Eunice Pomeroy. 

88. Martin liull, b. May 11, 1802, in He- 
bron ; m. Caroline Tomlinson ; d. 
in Birmingham May 1 5, 1879, aged 77. 

64. Rev. Archibald, son of Benjamin and Mary (Hinman) Bas- 
sett ; m. Keziah Curtiss of Torringford, Conn. Children : 

90. Mary ; m. Rev. — Clarke. Benjamin J. 

91. Emily ; m. Rev. — Smith. George W., Rev. 

92. Elizabeth, not m. 

66. John, son of Benjamin Bassett ; m. Oct. 1809, Nancy A., dau. 
of Dr. Daniel Lee of Westerly, R. I., and died Aug. 16, 1858. Chil- 
dren : 

88 



698 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

93. Catharine E., m. Isaac Brush, 1834. 98. Charlotte L.; d. in 1849, aged 27. 

94. Daniel L.; d. 1819, aged 7. 99. Jane P. 

95. Hannah H.; m. J. M. Hayes. 100. Benjamin F., M. D.; d. 1875. 

96. Benjamin S.; d. 1819, aged 4. loi. Wm. Elliott, b. May 24, 1S29. 

97. Elizabeth ; d. in 1849, aged 29. 

lot. Wm. Elliott. Rev., son of Benjamin Bassett ; m. Mary, dau. 
of Elizur Doud of Norfolk, Oct. 22, 1856. (See Biog.) Children : 
102. fohn D. 103. Rebecca A. 

68 Benjamin, Jr., son of Benjamin Bassett ; m. Sally Hanly, and 
died in 1858. Cnildren : 
104. Joseph. 105. Benjamin. 

69. Hannah, dau. of Benjamin Bassett ; m. Salmon Read. Chil- 
dren : 

106. Mary Hinman; d. in 1850. loS. Frederick; has a family. 

107. Benjamin B.; d. in 1S66, leaving a 
family. 

BASSETT, Thomas ; m. Sarah Pierson Aug. 24, 1727. Children: 
I. Eliphaz, b. Jan. 11, 1730. 2. Joel, b. Oct. 15, 1734. 

BASSETT, Ebenezer ; m. Sarah Tomlinson, Feb. 2, 1743. 

BASSETT, Samuel ; m. Mary, dau. of Jonathan Lyman of Oxford, 
in 1809. 

87 William, son of James and Betsey (Canfield) Bassett. Child: 

107. Sheldon. 

88. Eben, son of James and Betsey (Canfield) Bassett. Children: 

108. Jennett; d. 109. Laura. 

89. James J., son of James and Betsey (Canfield) Bassett; was 
tavern keeper at Derby Narrows 25 years. Children : 

no. Charles H. 113. Amanda. 

111. William L. 114. David. 

1 12. James. 

91. Josiah, son of James and Betsey (Canfield j Bassett; m. 

Children : 

115. Elliott. 117. Minerva. 

1 16. Amanda. 

107. Sheldon, son of Wm. Bassett; m. Harriet Hull, niece to Gen. 
Wm. Hull. He was merchant many years ; town clerk ; justice of the 
peace, and finally engaged in manufacturing ; was a prominent and 
influential citizen. Children: 

1x8. Helen; d. 121. Lavinna ; d. 

119. William. 122. Lucy; d. 

120. Royal M. 123. Theodore S. 

1 10. Charles H., son of James J. Bassett ; m. C. Allen. Child : 

124. Ella A. 

111. William L, son of James J. Bassett; m. Elizabeth Stewart. 
Children : 

125. Elizabeth. 126. Augustus. 

112. James, son of James J. Bassett. Children : 

127. Emily. 1 28. Charles. 



GENEALOGIES. 699 

114. DAvrD, son of James J. Bassett ; m. Jacobus. Child : 

129. William. 

120. KoYAL M , son of Sheldon and Harriet (Hull) Bassett ; m. 
Jennie Hubbell. Children : 

130. Lulu; d. Feb. 4, 1879. 132. Sheldon H. 

131. Royal ; d. 

123. Theodore S., son of Sheldon and Harriet (Hull) Bassett ; m. 
Carri- Wells. Children: 

133. Meimon. 134. Theodore. 

BATES, BfcNjAMiN, m. Abigail Hine, Apr. 2, 1751. Children : 

1. Elihu, b. May 2, 1752. 3. Bella, b. Oct. 10, 1757. 

2. Sarah, b. Apr. 26, 1754. 

BEACH — Genealogists have been somewhat divided and in doubt 
regarding the earliest families of this name. The probabilities seem to 
indicate that Joim. Benjamin and Richard, who all appear in Stratford, 
and Thomas of Mil ford were brothers. The latter had a home lot in 
Milford in 1648. He m. Sarah, dau. of Dea. Richard Piatt of Mil- 
ford, about 1653, and may have resided a short time in New Haven 
where the birth of his dau. Sarah was recorded, it being the first of the 
name recorded in that place. He died in 1662, and his widow m. 
Miles Murwin and died in 1670. Children : 

1. Sarah, b. Mar. i, 1654. 3. Mary, b. Dec. 27, 1657. 

2. John, b. Oct. ig, 1655, at Milford; 4. Samuel, b. June 5, 1660. 

settled in Wallingford, and the de- 5. Zopher, b. May 27, 1662. 
scendants of his son Samuel are said 
to have settled in Goshen. 

4 Samuel, son of Thomas and Sarah Beach is said to have settled 
at New Haven, probably that part which became North Haven. All 
information of him given is that he had one son : 

6. Thomas. 

6. Thomas, son of Samuel Beach, m. ist, Sarah Sanford, Feb., 1703, 
by Mr. Street of Wallingford. She died and he m. widow Lydia Pot- 
ter, July 31, 1736. Children: 

7. Benjamin, b. Jan. 29, 1704. 11. Mary, b. fune, 1716. 

8. Ephraim, h. June, 1707, d. young. 12. Fiphiaini, b. May, 1719. 

9. Sarah, b. Sept., 170S. 13. Thomas, b. July, 1721. 
10. John, b. Dec, 1713. 14 Samuel, b. Aug., 1724. 

7. Benjamin, son of Thomas Beach, m Lydia Potter, dau. of his 
father's second wife, July 31, 1736, and resided in North Haven. The 
birth of four of his children and all of his father's are recorded in New 
Haven. Children : 

15. Benjamin, b. Apr. 15, 1737. 20. Martha; m. Blakeslec. 

16. Ephraim, b. Jan. i, 1739, d. young. 21. Patience; m. Ford. 

17. Lydia, b. Aug. i, 1740. 22. .Susiin ; m. 'I'urner. 

18. Nathaniel,) . , , , , 23. Chloe ; n<. Driggs. 

19. Elias, S ^^'"^' °- ^ ^'^- '•^' '■^- 24. Mabel; m. Stacey. 

15. Rev. Benjamin, son of Benjamin Beach, Sr.. m. Mercy Blatch- 
ley, who was born in Nov., 1737, and died in 1812, aged 75 years. 
He died at Cornwall, July 12, 1816, aged 79 years. (See liiog.) Chil- 
dren : 



700 IIISTORV OF DERBY. 

25. Job; d. young. 30. Meicy; m. Levi Blakeslee. 

26. Giles, b. Jan. 13, 1765. 31. David; lived and died in Oxford. 

27. Benjamin; d. young. 32. Titus, b. May 4, 1776. 

28. Lydia ; m. Keeney. 23- Simeon, b. Sept. 6, 17S0. 

29. Temperance. 34- Joel ; lived and died at North Haven. 

26. GiLts, son of Rev. Benjamin PJeach, ni. May 3, 1789, Mary. dau. 
of Jonathan Dayton, born Sept. 4, 1765. He resided in his father's 
home in North Haven. Children : 

35. Beda, b. Apr. i, 1790; m. Samuel 42. Mary, b. Jan. i, 1,800; d. Apr., 1809. 

Hemmingway of East Haven. 43. Abraham, b. Dec. 24, 1801. 

36. Ancy, b. Mar. 5, 1792; d. young. 44. Ancy, 2d, b. June i, 1805; m. George 

37. Joseph Dayton, b. Jan. 8, 1794. A. Miner of Newtown. 

38. Ormelia, b. Oct. 6, 1795 » ^- same day. 45. Sharon Yale, b. May 21, 1809. 

39. Benjamin Hubbard, b. Sept. 24, 1796. 

40. (^ile^, j, twins, b. Feb. 11, 1799. 

41. Jonathan, ) ^ ' yy 

31. David, son of Rev. Benjamin Beacli, m Mrs. Patty Davis of 
Oxtord July 6, 1805 ; and lived and died in that town. Children : 

46. Marv Angelina, b. Sept. 7, 1806. 47. Benjamin Bela ?Iubbard, b. July 28, 

1S08. 

32. Titus Hall, son of Rev. Benjamin Beach, bought land on 
Bladen's Brook and erected in 1799 the first fulling mill on it where Mr. 
Sharon Y. Beach's paper mill now is. He soon after removed to 
Pennsylvania, and afterwards to Clymei-, N. Y, whete he died Sept. 
26, 1855, aged 79 ; and his widow d. Mar. 4, i^JS- ^g^"^' S9. He m. 
Ellen Haynor in July, 1803. 

48. Titus H., b. July 31, 1804; m. and 53. Caroline, b. Apr. 11, 1816; m. Nicho- 

died ; his widow lives in Danbury, las P. Verbank. 

Conn. 54- James B , b. Apr. 22, 1819 ; m. Corde- 

49. Benjamin H., b. May 19, 1806. lia Cleaveland. 

50. Nathan S., b. Feb. 4, 1809; m. Louisa 55. Reuben J., b. June i, 1S22 ; m. Pa- 
J. C. Verbank ; four children. tience Russell. 

51. Sarah, b. Apr. 19, 181 1 ; m. George 56. Arnold W., b. ALiy 11, 1826; d. not m. 
Lathrop. 57. Mary, b. Apr. 29, 1S29; m. David 

52. Eleanor, b. Mar. 4, 1814; m. John Lathrop. 

P. Verbank. " 58. Elias V., b. Jan. 17, 1832 ; m. 

33. Simeon, son of Rev Benjamin Beach, m. Mary Benedict, Feb. 
7, 1808. She was born Jan. 27, 1791. He died Jan 26, 1849. Chil- 
dren: 

59. Smith, b. Apr. 10, 1809. 61. Sarah L., b. Jan. 8, 1832 ; m. Ammon 

60. Azariah,b. July 20, 1822 ; m. enlisted, Johnson, Sept. 8, 1853. 
and died Dec. 8, 1864, at Bryan 

Court House, Ga., in Sherman's 
army. 

45. Sharon Yale, son of Giles and Mary (Dayton) Beach ; m. ist 
Adaline, dau. of Asa Sperry of Orange, Oct. 4, 1832. She was born 
Sept. 4. 1812, and died Feb. 18. 1871. He m. 2d Julia L Kine of 
Orange, Apr. 2 I, 1872. Children: 

62. George Wells. 65. Theodore B. 

63. Andrew Yale. 66. Emeline E. 

64. Sharon D. 

49 Benjamin H., son of Titus H. Beach ; m. Abigail Briggs. Chil- 
dren : 

67. Jane Ann ; m. D. E. Colvvell. 68. George \V. ; m. I'hcbe L. Briggs. 



(IKNKALCXilES. 701 

59. Smith, son of Simeon and Mary Benedict Beach ; ni. Lucia , 

Nov. I, 1832, who was born Sept. 19. 1813. 

69. Lucv A., b. Sept. 10, 1S37 ; m. Allen 72. Daniel L., b. Aug;. 2r, 1S48; m. Mary 

I. Blakeslee, June 23, 1S67. S. Pratt, Mar. 16, 1S70. 

70. Henry O., b. Mar. 31, 1840 ; m. Eliza 73. Martha L., b. Mar. 24, 1S52 ; m. 

Tuttle, Nov. 28, 1861. Henry S. Judd, May 25, 1870, and d. 

71. Sarah M., b. July 8, 1845; "''• M'lriin Sept. 30, 1876. 
Johnson, Feb. 4, 1866. 

62. George W.. son of Sharon Y. and Adaline (Sperry) Beach ; m 
Sarah, dau of Hiram Upson of Seymour ; r'esides in Waterbury ; is 
superintendent of the Naugatuck raihoad. (See liiog. p. 326.) Chil- 
dren : 

74. Henry Dayton. 75. Edward Anderson. 

63. Andrew Y . son of Sharon Y. and Adahne (Sperry) Beach ; m. 
Mary, dau of B B Woodford, Springfield, Mass. In 1851 Mr. Wood- 
ford was agent for the Naugatuci< railroad at Derby, but afterwards re- 
moved to Springfield. Child : 

76. Emeline E. 

64. Sharon D., son of Sharon Y. and Adaline (Sperry) Beach ; m. 
Elizabeth, dau. of Stephen R. Rider. 

65. Theodore B., son of Sharon Y. and Adaline (Sperry) Beach ; m. 

BEACH John, received a grant of land in Derby, Jan. 29, 1679. and 
was among the early settlers on Sentinel Hill, where he received another 
grant the next year. He probably removed to VVallingford with Doct. 
John Hull. 

BEACH, Jesse, m. in Derby, Sally Wheeler, July 30, 1792. Chil- 
dren : 
I. Lucy Maria, b. Feb. 2^, 1794. 2. Sally Keziah, b. Sept. 9, 1796. 

BEACH, Abigail, wife of Rev. John Beach of Newtown, d. Feb. 7, 
•, aged 75. 

BEARD, Mr. James, m. Mrs. Ruth Holbrook, Oct. 31, 1754, who 
died He married 2d Mrs. Hobart of Guilford, Dec. 29, 1781. 

1. Amelia, b. Mar. 21, 1756. 5. James, bapt. July 21, 1765. 

2. Samuel, b. Oct., 1757 ; d. Jan. 7, 1758. 6. David, liapt. June 17, 1770. 

3. Ruth, bapt. Julv 22, 1759. 7. Elizabeth, bapt. May 9, 1772. 

4. Lucy, bapt. Oct. 24, 1762. 8. William, bajjt. May 2(3, 1775. 

BEARDSLEY, Elihu, son of Elisha and Mabel (Hurd) Beardsley, 
m. Priscilla. dau of Deodatus Silliman, Esq., who died Sept. 9, 1803, 
aged 25, leaving no children. He m. 2d Ruth Edwards, Sept. i. 1805, 
the sister to his brother Elisha's wife. He died Feb. 29, 1844, and 
his widow survived him twenty years, dying Mar. 30, 1864. He was 
descended in regular line from VVilliam Beardsley, the first of the name 
at Stratford, thus: William, Joseph, Thomas, Israel, Elisha, Elihu. 
Children : 

1. Priscilla. 5. Sylvia, m. Luciu.s P. Burroughs. 

2. Eben Edwards, n.. Matthews. 6. ]\'ul'us, d. Sept. 20, 1863, leaving a 

3. Agur, m. Elizabeth l-e\vis. widow. 

4. Ambrose, m. Mary Rassett. 



702 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

4. Ambrose, M. D., son of Elihu and Priscilla (Sllliman) Beardsley ; 
m Mary, only dau. of Samuel Bassett. Apr. 30, 1837. Children: 

7. Ambrose E., b. Dec. 17, 1S39. Mary E. Jewett, b. July 13, 1876; d. 

8. Mary E., b. July 15, 1849; m. T. B. Apr. 11, 1S79, and Ambrose B. Jew- 

Jewett, M. D., Nov. 10, 1873; d. ett. 

Mar. 24, 187S, leaving children : 

7. Ambrose E., son of Ambrose and Mary (Bassett) Beardsley ; m. 
Fanny M. Riggs, July 3. 187 1. Children : 

I. Ruth E., b. Dec. 15, 1872. 2. Fannv Jay, b. Oct. 16, 1875; ^- ^^^Y 

7, 18S0. 

BEERS, Jonathan, m. Dorcas Wiseburybrook. Apr. 26, 1768, in 
Derby. 

BEEMAN. Gkorge, received a grant of land and was accepted an 

inhabitant of Derby in 1672 ; m. Mary of Stratford. Aug., 1679. 

He was among the first settlers, and held some responsible offices. In 
the division of his estate in 1710, his widow and dau Martha, and John 
and Mary VVeed are mentioned Children : 

1. Mary, b. [date gone] ; m. John Weed, 3. [Out] b. Feb. 11, 16S5. 

Dec. 1702. 4. Martha, b. July 16, 1695. 

2. George, b. June i, 16S3 ; d. in 1692. 

BEEMAN, Hall, m. Hannah Davis, Nov, 11, 1679. 

BENJAMIN, Samuel, son of widow Mary Benjamin, died Dec. 29, 
1684. 

BLACKLY, Benjamin of Norvvalk, m. Mrs. Lydia Deplank, Sept. 
15. 1757- 

BL.ACKMAN. Gershom, son of Ann Chatfield, died Sept. 14,1751. 

BLAKE, Jeremiah, m. Mary. Child : 
I. David, b. Apr. 9, 1759. 

BOTSFORD, Samuel, m. Hannah Smith, July 27. 1726, in Derby. 
He received from his father Samuel of Milford 80 acres of land in 
Camp's Mortgage Purchase Henry Botsford, one of the first propri- 
etors of Derby, was probably father to the first Samuel. Children : 

1. Nehemiah, b. Mar. 2, 1727; m. Mary; 6. John, b. Apr. 23, 1734; m. Rachel 

ch. Eunice b. Dec. 2, 176S. Murray, Sept. i, 1774. 

2. Sarah, b. July 7, 1728. 7. Gamaliel, b. May 13, 1736. 

3. Mary, b. Jan. 10, 1729. 8. Esther, b. Jan. 7, 1738. 

4. Hannah, b. Apr. 19, 1731, 9. Eunice, b. Apr. 26, 1739. 

5. Samuel, b. Jan. 2, 1733. 10. Ruth, b. May 16, 1742. 

5. S.\muel, son of Samuel and Hannah (Smith) Botsford, m. Eliza- 
beth. Children : 

10. Ezra, b. Oct. 20, 1762. 12. Samuel, b. Oct. 30, 1768. 

11. Ruth, b. July 22, 1766. 

I. BOTSFORD, Samuki. and Rutm. Children : 

2. Ebenezer, b. July 30, 1764. 

I. BOWERS, Rev John, son of George Bowers of Scitu ite, Mass., 
in 1637. John was a school teacher in Plymouth and New Haven, and 
settled as the first minister in Derby. He m. Bridget dau. of An- 
thony Thompson of New Haven, and died June 14, 1687 (See Biog). 



GENEALOGIES. 7O3 

His widow continued to reside in Derby, wliere she died May 19, 1720. 
Children : 

2. Ruth, bapt. Dec. 20, 1657; ni. John 7. Ann; m. P'rancis French of Derby, 

Frisbee of Branford. ^ept. 2, 1703. 

3. Nathaniel. 8. James (mentioned by Mrs. Bridget 

4. Mary ; m. in 1682 to Samuel Nichols. Bowers, but may have been a grand- 

5. Samuel, b. Nov. 5, 1665. son). 

6. John, b. Dec. 3. 1667, at Guilford. 

3. Rev. NTathaniel, son of Rev John and Bridget Bowers, was 
minister at Rye. N. Y., and to tlie first church in Greenwich in 1700 ; 
succeeded Mr. Wakeman at Newark, N. J. His heirs are last reported 
in East New Jersey. His wife's name was Barbara, who appears to 
have m. Samuel Moss of Derby, Dec. 3. 17 13, and was living in 1727. 

5. Samuel, son of Rev. John and Bridget Bowers, m. ist Ruth, dau. 
of Edward Wooster of Derby ; 2d Lydia, dau. of Francis French. He 
was constable some years, and was an active man in the enterprises of 
the town. Children : 

9. Lydia, b. Aug. i, 1692. 12. Keziah, b. Mar. 2, 1699; m. Isaac 

10. Rebecca, b. Alar. 9, 1694. Moss, and settled in Cheshire, Conn. 

11. Jeremiah, b. Nov. 30, 1696. 13. Miriam, b. Apr. 5, 1703. 

14. Samuel, b. Dec. 22, [out]. 

6. John, son of Rev. John Bowers, m. probably. He received a 
grant of land from the town in 1693 ! began to take an active part in 
the town business soon after ; was surveyor in 1705, collector in 1706, 
deputy to the legislature in 1708, and died Dec. 23, 1708. 

BOWERS, John, but who is not known, received a deed of land 
Sept 12, 1713, of Samuel Nichols and his wife Mary, who say '• for the 
love we bear to our kinsman John Bowers." This was after the Rev. 
John and his son John were deceased, and this 3d John was now over 
2 I years of age. 

BOWERS, John, m. Sarah, dau. of Capt. John Riggs, Nov. 22, 1732. 
He died Jan. 26, 1738, and she m. the Rev. Daniel Humphreys. Apr, 
18, 1739. Whose son this John Bowers was is not known. Children : 

1. Nathaniel, d. May 6, 1738. 2. Sarah, b. Aug. rS, 1736; d. Dec. 3, 173S. 

BOWERS. Debora, died Dec 7, 17 12. 
BOWERS, Nathaniel, died Dec. 14, 1712. 
BOWERS, JosiAH, died Dec. 14. 1712. 

1. BRADLEY, William, landed at Saybrook, Conn., in 1637 ; took 
the freeman's oath at New Haven in 1644 ; m. Alice, dau. of Roger 
Pritchard in 1645. Children : 

2. Abraham, b. Oct. 24, 1650. 5. Esther, b. Sept. 9, 1659. 

3. Mary, b. Apr. 30, 1653. 6. Nathaniel, b. Feb. 26, 1660. 

4. Benjamin, b. Apr. 8, 1657. 7. Sarah, b. June 21, 1665. 

2. Dea. Abraham, son of William and Alice Bradley, m. Hannah, 
dau. of John Thompson, Dec. 25, 1673 ; lived in New Haven. Chil- 
dren : 

8. John, b. Oct. 12, 1674. 11. Ebenezer, b. Nov. 9, 16S9. 

9. Hannah, b. Nov. 8, 16S2. 12. Abraham, b. .A.pr. 9, 1693. 
10. Lydia, b. Nov. 28, 1685. 13. P^sther, b. Mar. 14, 1696. 



704 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

8, John, son of Dea. Abraham and Hannah Bradley, m. Sarah, dau. 
of Ebenezer Holt, Sept. 22, 1698. She died Mar. 29, 1743. Children : 

14. Enos, b. Dec. 28, 1701. 17. Jason, b. Aiig. 10, 1708. 

15. John, b. Sept. 10, 1702. 18. Jehiell, b. Sept. 19, 1710. 

16. Dorcas, b. Nov. 4, 1704. 19. " Phinehas," b. Sept. 28, 1714. 

14. Ends, son of John and Sarah Bradley, m. Ellen Skidmore, Dec. 
2, 1721 ; lived in N^w Haven, Conn. Children: 

20. Sibyl, b. Nov. 8, 1722. 24. Kllen, b. Nov. 4, 1731. 

21. Griffin, b. Nov. 9, 1724. 25. Gamaliel, b. Feb. 19, 1734. 

22. Enos, b. Dec. 20, 1726. 26. Oliver, b. Nov. i, 1736. 

23. Ariel, b. Mar. 8, 1729. 

2 2. Enos, son of Enos and Ellen Bradley, came from Westville to 
Derby in 1748, and m. Hannah, dau. of Thomas Pierson of Hunting- 
ton, Nov. 9, 1751 ; bought a house and lot of Ebenezer Durand on 
Town street, opposite Cyrus Chamberlin's present residence. Children : 

25. Sarah, b. July 27, 1752; m., ist, Pal- 30. Elisha, b. Nov. 13, 1760; m. Ann 

atine Baird, had two sons ; 2d she Blackman ; lived in South Britain ; 

m. Levi Chatfield, May 27, 1781 ; d. aged 72, leaving widow, two sons, 

lived and d. in New Milford. one dau. 

26. Hannah, b. Jan. 14, 1754; not m. ; 31. Eunice, b. Nov. 21, 1762; not m. ; d. 



d. aged 44. 

27. Ruth, b. Oct. 3, 1755; m. Jonathan 32. Samuel, b. Jan. 23, 1765; m. Levina 
Jackson, had one son; d. aged 70, Lewis, had four sons and four daus. ; 
in Derby.' d. aged 58, in Huntington. 

28. Anna, b. May 12, 1757; m. Abijah 33. Nathan, b. May 15, 1767; not m. ; d. 
Penny, had one son, one dau. ; d. aged 44. 

aged 44; lived and d. in Huntington. 34. Abijah, b. Mar. 23, 1769; m. 

29. Enos, b. Jan. 14, 1759; was killed 35. David, b. Feb. 25, 177 1 ; d. young, 
when the British took New Haven 

in 1779. 

34- Abijah, son of Enos and Hannah ('Pierson) Bradley, m. Polly, 
dau. of David Bassett, in 1802, and built the house Cyrus Chamberlin 
now resides in. Children : 

36. David, b. in 1803 ; m. 40. Henry b. in 1810; lives in South Brit- 

37. Ira, b. in 1805; resides in South ain. 

Britain. 41. Charles, b. in 181 2 ; lives in Seymour. 

38. Abijah, b. in 1806; lived and d. in 42. Maria, b. in 1814; m. in 1834, Dan. 

New Haven. Fenn ; d. in Milford. 

39. George, b. in 1S08 ; d. in Milford. 43. Edward, b. in 1817. 

36. David, son of Abijah and Polly Bradley, m. Susan C. dau. of 
Elias Clark of Milford Children : 

44. Frederick N., b. in 1835; m. Louisa, 45. Sarah Fransania, b. in 1S38; not m. 
dau. of Hemy PL Hooper of An- 
sonia. 

43. Edward, son of Abijah and Polly Bradley, m. Grace, dau. of 
Anson Tucker, in 1838. Children : 

46. Leonard B., b. in 1S39; m. Alice, 47. Louisa, b. in 1S41 ; not m. 
dau. of James Stone of Woodbridge, 48. Charles E., b. in 1856; not m. 
in 1S62. 

BRADY, Enos, m. Hannah Pierson, Nov. 7, 1751. Children : 
I. Sarah, b. July 27, 1752. 2. Hannah, b. Jan. 14,1754. 

BRINSMADE, John, m. Abigail Wheeler, July 28, 1703. Child : 
I. Lemuel, b. Jan. 15, 1704. 



GENEALOGIES. 705 

BRINSMADE, Paul, was in Derby a short time, his land being near 
the present Ousatonic dam. Child : 
I. Ann, b. Oct. 16, 1679. 

BRISTOL, Moses m. Rachel . Children : 

I. Sarah, b. June 26, 17 51. 2. Moses, b. Sept. 3, 1753. 

BROWNE, Jesse J., carriage-maker, was born in Hempstead, N. H., 
in 1809 ; m Catharine, dau of Hon. Wm. Strong of Milford, in 1834. 
She was born in 1811. Children: 

1. William Strong. 2. Mary Pond. 

1. William S , son of Jesse J. and Catharine (Strong) Browne, m. 
Abbie Gillette Chamberlin of Derby, formerly of New Haven, in 1862, 
and has been employed from 1854 to the present time in the Birming- 
ham National Bank, formerly the Manufacturers' Bank, as teller and 
book-keeper. He has also been the organist in the First Congrega- 
tional church, Derby, from 1856 to the present time. He has also 
been the superintendent of the Sunday-school of the same church a 
long series of years, in which position he is most heartily received and 
highly esteemed, and in all work the church would scarcely know how 
to move on without him. 

2. Mary Pond, dau. of Jesse J. and Catharine (Strong) Browne, m. 
in 1864, Benjamin F. Culver, son of Stephen H. Culver of Seymour. 
Her husband was a teacher in Derby for many years ; is at present 
secretary and assistant treasurer of the Derby Silver Company. 

BRONSON, Rev. David, first pastor in O.xford Society ; m. Mrs. 
Anna Camp of New Milford, June 4, 1765. He died in i8c6. Chil- 
dren : 

I.David, b. Mar. 22, 1766; d. Nov. 29, 4. Polly, b. Aug. 4, 1772; d. Nov. 27, 
1776. 1776. 

2. Samuel, b. Mar. 13, 176S. 5. Billy Augustus, b. Sept. 25, 1776. 

3. Martha, b. April 4, 1770; d. Nov. 29, 6. David, b" Mar. 23, 1779. 

1776. 

BUCKINGHAM, Jared, m. Eunice Brook, May i, 1764. Chil- 
dren : 

1. Eunice, b. Mar. i, 1765. 3. Samuel, b. Nov. 25, 1768. 

2. Isaac, b. June 23, 1766. 

BUNNELL, Benjamin, Sr., m Mehitable. Children : 

1. Luke, d. Oct., 1756. at Canaan, in the by the enemv between Fort Edward 

king's service (the French war). and Lake George, in the 20th year 

2. Charles, d. July 26, 1758, being killed of his age, in the king's service. 

3. Benjamin, Jr., son of Benjamin Bunnell, m. Ruth Smith, Oct. 10, 
1752, and died in Waterbury, Nov 5, 1770. Children : 

1. Charles, b. Jan. ig, 1759. 3. Reuben, b. Dec. 24, 1765. 

2. Benjamin, b. July 19, 1763. 4. Elizabeth, b. April 12, 1771. 

BUNNELL, Isaac, m Ann Children : 

1. Luke, b. Feb. 28, i75S;m. Betty Bates, 3. William, b. Dec. 16, 1761. 

Mar. 3L 1785. 4. Mehitable, b. F"eb. 6, 1765. 

2. Isaac, b. May n, 1759. 5. Philemon, b. Sept. 27, 1767. 

^''BURRITT, William, m. Mary French, Apr. 22, 1762, who died 
Mar. 7, 1783. He m. 2d Sarah Baldwin, Apr. 24, 1784. Children: 



o6 HISTORY OF DERBY. 



1. Sarah, b. Jan. 3, 1763. 6. Isaac, b. Dec. 15, 1775. 

2. William, b. Oct. 24, 1764. 7. Abel, b. June 17, 1777. 

3. Fatty, b. Apr. 15, 1766. 8. Samuel, b. Apr. 8, 1780. 

4. Lewis, b. Aug. 6, 1772. 9. John, b. Sept. 'iS, 1782. 

5. Eunice, b. Mar. 13, 1773; d. Aug. 17, 10. Mary, b. July 16, 1785. 

1794. II. Becca, b. June9, 17S9; d. Aug.4, T790. 

BURRETT, Lewis, died May 17, 1776, aged 30. 

BURTON, JuDSON, Sr., m. Eunice Lewis, Jan 9, 1722 ; lived in 
Stratford Children : 

1. Susan, b. Feb. 11, 1723. 3. Judson, b. Sept. 14, 1730. 

2. Ephraim, b. Nov. i, 1727. 

3. Judson, Jr., son of Judson and Eunice (Lewis) Burton, m Com- 
fort, clau. of Ebenezer Keeney, Nov 23, 1758, who died May 2, 1771. 
Children : 

4. Nathaniel, b. May 15, 1760; d. June 6. Judson, b. Jan. 5, 1764; d. Apr. 12, 

27, 1764. " 1765. 

;. Lewis, b. Apr. 14, 1762. 7. Nathaniel, b. Jan. 18, 1766. 

S. Comfort, b. July 3, 176S. 

BURWELL, Stephen, m. '• Sibbillah " (Sibyl) Tomlinson, Aug. 12, 
1754. Children: 

1. Sibbillah, b. Mar. 10, 1756. 4. Eunice, b. Jan. 28, 1765. 

2. Stephen, b. Dec. 31, 1760. 5. Samuel, b. Apr. 28, 1767. 

3. Lucy, b. Feb. 28, 1763. 

CANDEE, Nehemiah, m. Content Woodruff, Dec. 6, 1780. 

CANDEE, Gideon, m. Amy Andrus. May 14, r772. Children: 

1. Sarah, b. Dec. 16, 1773. 3. Gideon, b. July 7, 17S4. 

2. Huldah, b. May 16, 1782. 4. Cyrene, b. Aug. 17, 1786. 

CxA.NDEE, Samuel, m. Mabel Bradley, Mar. 20, 1777. Children: 

I. Amos, b. Oct. 18, 1777. 2. Benjamin, b. Feb. 19, 1779. 

CANFIELD, Thomas, Sr., of Milford, was not one of the first set- 
tlers at Milford, Conn., but was probably there in 1647, from New 
Haven, where he received a home lot of three acres, and purchased 
other pieces of land. He also received four acres of the town for 
supporting a gate at Newfreld. He was sergeant of the train band, 
and represented the town of Milford in the General Court in Oct , 
1674, and in Oct. 1676. He was admitted into the church at Milford 
in 1657 ; was taxed in 1686 on ^154. Inventory of his estate, dated 
Aug. 22, 1689, was ;^482 is. 2d. He was the ancestor of the Mil- 
ford, Derby, New Milford and Sharon families, and a part of those of 
the name in Newark, N. J. His wife's name was Phebe. Children . 

1. Phebe. 6. Mary, b. Jan. i, 1656-7. 

2. Sarah; m. Josiah Piatt, Dec. 2, 1669. 7- Hannah, b. Nov. 20, 1657. 

3. Abigail. 8. Elizabeth, b. Feb. 14, 1659-60. 

4. Jeremiah. 9. Elias, a dau. b. Dec. 16, 1667. 

5. Thomas, b. Oct. 14, 1654, in Milford. 10. Mehitable, b. July 2, 1671. 

5. Thomas Jr., son of Thomas Sr ; m. had issue. He owned 
land in Derby, and removed to Durham before 1734 (deed). Chil- 
dren : 

11. Rebecca, b. Jan. 28, 16S2. 13. Abiram. 

12. Israel, b. Mar. 24, 16S4, settled in 14. Thomas. 
Newark, N. J. 



C.ENEAI.OGIKS. 707 

13. Abiram, son of rhoinas Cantield, Jr, came to Derby a young- 
man and was admitted an inhabitant in 171 1, and m. Ruth Washborn 
Sept. 12, 1717. His will was proved in New Haven, June, 1772. His 
widow Ruth died Sept 24, 1784, aged 88 years. Children : 
1 q. Joseph, b. Oct. i, 1719. ?o. Josiah, b. Dec. 22, 1729; d. Jan. i,-^ 

16. John, b. Mar. 31, 1721. i737- 

17. Abiel, b. Afay 30, 1723; d. Mar. 13, 21. David, b. Feb. 5, 1734; d. Nov. 23, 

1741. ■ 1741. 

iS. William, Oct. 29, 1725. 22. Josiah, Doct. b. Dec. 31, 1739. _ 

ig. Samuel, Doct., b. Dec. 26, 1727. 

15. Dea. Joseph, son of Abiram and Ruth (Washborn) Canfield ; 
m. Sarah, dau. of Moses Stilson, Sept. 3, 1746, and resided on Great 
Hill, and died July 14. 1784, and his widow died Jan. 25, 1793, aged 
67 years. Children : 

23. Ruth, b. Feb. 6, 1748; d. Oct. 3f, 1749. 28. Charity, b. Feb. i, 1758; d. Feb. 2, 

24. Ruth, b. Feb. 20, 1750. •75''^- 

25. Anne, b. Oct. 17, 1751. 29. Abraham, b. June 20, 1759. 

26. Abiel, b. Apr. 6, 1753. 30. Daniel, b. May i, 1761. 

27. Sarah, b. May 19, 1755. 

16. John, son of Abiram Canfield ; m. ist, in Mar. 1751, Elizabeth 
Johnson, who died Sept. 8, 17S1; 2d, Mrs. Martha Judd, Nov. 20, 
1753; m 3d, Sarah . Children: 

31. David, b. Nov. 6, 1754. 33. Molly, b. June i, 1758. 

32. Betty, b. Mar. 26, 1756. 34. Eunice, b. Nov. 17, 1760. 

18. William, son of Abiram and Ruth (Washborn) Canfield ; m. 
Hannah Lum, May 6, 1754- He died Sept. 30, 176 1. Children : 

35. Abel, b. May 29, 1755. 37. Levi. 

36. Hannah, b. May 30, 1756. 38. Reuben. 

19. Doct. Samuel, son of Abiram and Ruth (Washborn) Canfield; 
m. Mar}', dau, of Samuel Bassett, Esq, Apr 3, 1754, and practiced 
medicine in Derby. He died in 1766 Children : 

39. Samuel, b. July 13, 1756. 43. Samuel, b. Ajir. 7, 1764. 

40. Sabra, b. P'eb. 15, 175S: d. 44. Sally. 

41. Susv, b. Nov. 6, 1759. 4S. Silvia. 

42. Sabra, b. Jan. 2. 1762. 

22. Doct. Josiah, son of Abiram Canfield ; m Anne Nichols, Jan. 
I, 1767, who died, and he m Mrs. Naomi Davis, Feb. 28, 1768. Child : 

46. Abijah, b. Sept. 9, 1769. 46^. Sheldon. 

2(g'. Abiel, son of Joseph and Sarah Canfield ; m. Mary Barlow of 
Stratford, Dec. 23, 1779. (^See Biog.) He died Dec. 6, 1812, aged 
59 years'. Children : 

47. Abiel ; m. Eunice, dau. of Capt. 50. Lewis. 

Bradford Steele, removed to ()hio. 51. Betsey; m. Lewis IJroadwell ; d. in 

48. Samuel, b. 1797. 1821. 

49. Clark. 52. Lockwood, b. 1782; d. Feb. 18, 1803. 

29. Abraham, son of Joseph and Sarah Canfield; m. Mabel, dau. 
of Isaac Johnson, Oct 6. 1784. He died Nov. 24, 1789. Children: 
53. Ethelinda, b. Feb. 12, 178G. 54. Urania, b. Mar. 6, 1788. 

30. Daniel, son of Joseph and Sarah Canfield ; m. Anna. dau. of 
Zadock Hurd of Woodbury, Jan. u, 1789 She was born Aug. 13, 

■•^Hist. Sevmoui-, 126. 



yoS HISTOKV OF DERBV. 

1765, and died Jan. 21, 1827, aged 62. He lived at Bungay, in pres- 
ent town of Seymour and died l3ec. 25, 1818. Children": 

55. Esther, b. Mar. 5, 1790; m. Sheldon 60. Ahnira, h. Dec. 5, 1801 ; m. Charles 

Keener. Bradley. 

56. Charity, b. Oct. 24, 1792 ; d. Oct. i, 61. Sarah, b. Jan. 5, 1S04 ; d. single Aug. 

1793. ' 18, 1S41. 

57. William, b. Sept. 18, 1794; d. single 62. Caroline, b. Sept. 26, 1S06; m. Treat 
June 16, 1853. Botsford. 

58. Joseph, b. Sept. 29, 1796; ni. Frances 63. Judson, b. April 8, 1808; m. Sarah 

Eason. Stiles. 

59. Julia Ann, b. Apr. 10, 1799; d. unm. 

Dec. 8, 1856. 

31. David, son of John and Martha Canfield ; m. Patience Durand 
Children : 

64. John. 66. Anna; m. David Bradley ; d. Jan. 5, 

65. Susan. 1867, aged 84. 

46 Abijah, son of Doct. Josiah Canfield; m. Charity Smith, and 
died Aug 14, 1830. Children : 

6"'. Grace; m. Clark Wooster. 70. William; m. Minerva Nettleton ; d 

68. Jennett; m. Clark Lum ; d. Feb. 14, Feb. 27, 1845; ch : James, Leroy. 

1832, aged 26. 

69. Josiah; d. suddenly, Jan. 11, 1834, 

aged 40. 
464 Sheldon, son of Doct. Josiah Canfield ; m Betsey Pease. 
Children : 

71. Augusta B.; m. Frederick Botsford. 77. Elizabeth Ann ; m. Sidne*i' Downes. 

72. Naomi G. 7^ John J. 

73. William H. 79. Sheldon; m. Craig; 2d, Char- 

74. Josiah Benjamin ; m. Jane Davis. lotte Lum. 

75. Lucy Maria ; m. Charles Tomlinson ; 80. Joseph P., b. 1801 ; m. Maria M. 
2d, J. W. Flowers. Burs, had Theodore Benj., Mary 

76. Charlotte; m. Peter C. Tomlinson. Frances, Joseph Edward, b. [826. 

48. Samuel, M. D, son of Abiel and Mary Canfield; m. Mary 
Allen, who died Oct. 5, 1841, aged 38 years. Children^: 

81. Ann, d. Jan. 16. 1858, aged. 30 years. 86. Hattie ; m. Frank A. Cutter of Anso- 

82. John M., d. Apr. 14, 1858, aged 29 nia, Lottie E., and Mary. 

years. 87. Samuel H.; m. Harriet, dau. of Ray- 

83. Elsie, d. Sept. 10, 184S, aged 18 years. mond French, Esq. 

84. George, d. May 25, 1853, aged 18 88. Edwin U. 
years. 

85. Harriet; m. Henry T. Booth and had 
Alida. 

CHAMBERS, Jemima, died Dec 24, 1751. 

CHAPMAN, Rev. Benjamin, m. Mrs Abigail Riggs, Jan. 8, 1756, 
v>as pastor at Southington, Conn. 

CHAPMAN, Rachel, m John Murray, Feb. 17, 1776. 

CHAPMAN, Mariha, m. Samuel French, Dec. 17, 1733. ^^^ ^^^^ 
Oct 29, 1780, aged 66. 

" CH.ARLES, William, m. Margaret . Children : 

I. Mary, b. Feb. 17, 1766. 2. Betty, b. Nov. 6, 1771. 

^Hist of Seymour 196. 
"Ibid. 



4- 


Sarah, b. Dec. 5, 


16S6. 


5- 


Mary, b. Apr. 29, 


16S9. 


6. 


Abigail, b. Sept ] 


:6, 1693. 


7- 


John, b. ; d. 




8. 


Hannah, b. ; 


m. John Coe. 



(;kne.vl(jgies. 709 

CHATFIELD, Francis, one of the settlers in Guilford, in 1639, 
died about 1647, probably umarried. 

1'homas of Guilford, a brother of Francis removed to East Hamp- 
ton, Long Island, supposed to have had no children. 

George of Guilford, i(j4o, brother to Francis, m. Sarah, dau. of 
John Bishop, who died without children Sept. 20, 1657, and he m. 2d 
Isabel, dau. of Samuel N'ettleton, Ma-. 29, 1659. He died in Killiug- 
worth, June g, 167 i, whither he had removed in 1663. Children : 

1. John, b. Apr. S, 1661. 3. Mercy, b. Apr. 26, 1671. 

2. "George, b. Aug. iS, 166S. 

I. John, son of George and Isabel Chatfield, came to Derby a single 
man ; received his first grant of land, and engaged to occupy it, Oct. 
10, 1684. and m. Anna, dau. of Jabez Harger, Feb. 5, 1684, when she 
lacked eighteen days of fourteen years of age. He was admitted an 
inhabitant in 1687. Children : 

, 9.. John, b. Feb. 21, 1697. 

10. Samuel, b. Aug. 28, 1699. 

11. Ebenezer, b. July 4, 1703. 

12. .Solomon, b. Aug. 13, 1708. 

9. Lteut. John, son of John and Anna Chatfield, m. Elizabeth John- 
son, Dec. 12, 1721, who died June 8, 1751, and he m. 2d Obedi- 
ence . Children : 

-13. Sarah, b. Nov. 4, 1722. 18. Esther, b. Aug. 21, 173 — [out]. 

14. John, b. June 5, 1724. 19. Zerviah, b. Oct. 2, 1737. 

15. "Elizabeth, b. Mar. 9, 1728. 20. Sibyl, b. May 31, 1742. 

10. Oliver, b. July 23, 1730. 21. Obedience, b. Dec, 11, 1755. 

17. Anna, b. Apr. 10, 1732. 

10. Samuel, son of John and Anna Chatfield, apparently did not 

marry until advanced in life, then ni. ist Ann . He ni. 2d 

Joannah Children : 

22. Mary, b. Jan. iS, 1750; d. Sept. 8, 23. Abraham, h. Dec. 29, 1761. 
1751- 

II. Ebenezer, son of John and Anna Chatfield, ni Abigail, dau. of 
John Prindle, Nov. 20, 1728. Children : 

24. Ebenezer, b. Sept. 8, 1729; m. Su.san- 27. Lemuel, b. ; d. Sej)!. 30, 1758, 

nah Watrous, Mar. 23, 1768. at the cam)i at Lake George. 

25. Abigail, b. Jan. [out]. 28. Levi, b. Jan. 6, 1738; d. Oct. 15, 1758, \ 

26. Mindwell, b. Sejit. 9. 1735. '^^ home in Derby, but was in the 

war with his brother. 

12. Solomon, son of John and Anna Chatfield, m". Hannah, dau. of 
Abraham Pierson, June 12, 1734- Children : 

29. Joseph, b. Apr. 4, 1735; '"• I^i'i'^'i moral and religious philosopher, 

Peet of Stratford, Feb. 23, 1757. and as an author, and the father of 

30. Mary, b. Oct". II, 1736; m. Capt. John Miss Louisa M. Alcott one of the 
.\lcox of Wolcott, Aug. 28, 1755; most favorably known authoresses 
the grandmother of Mr. A. Bronson of America.^ 

.\lcott of Concord, Mass., exten- 31. Eunice, b. Feb. 6, 1743. 
sively and favorably known as a 

14 John, Jr., son of Lieut John and Elizabeth Chatfield; m. 



^History of Wolcott, Conn., 2T,}, 238, 262, 427. 



/lO HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Wizabeth Johnson. Mar. 1751, who died June 8, 1751, and he m., 2d, 
Sarah Chatfield. Child : 
32. Sarah, b. Oct. 2, 1757. 

16. Oliver, son of Lieut. John and Elizabeth Chatfield ; m. ist, 

Abiah . 2d, Zerviah. Children: 

^^. Patience, b. Mar. 2, 1765. 36. Joseph, b. June 29, 1772. 

34. Abijah, b. Oct. 8, 1767. S7- Oliver, b. Oct. 16, 1758. 

35. Elizabeth, b. Nov. 22, 1769. 38. Dan., b. Jan. 16, 1761. 

CHATFIELD, Levi, m. Sarah (Bradley) Beard, May 27, 1781 ; "had 
five children/' 

CHATFIELD, Eli, m. Lois Malory, Aug. 5, 1778. Children : 

1. Mary, b. Dec. i, 1778. 3. Lucinda, h. Oct. 10 [out]. 

2. Obedience, b. July 9, 1782. 

CHATFIELD. Levi, m. Abigail Harger, Jan. 30, 1755. Child : 
I. Levi, b. Aug. 26, 1756. 

CHATFIELD. Joel. m. Ruth Stoddard of Woodbury, Nov. 13, 
1785. Children : 

1. Isaac, b. Jan. 15, 1787. 3. Alinira, b. Jime 23, 1791. 

2. Leman, b. Feb. 18, 1789. 

CHEESEMAN, George W , son of George Weeks Cheeseman of 
New York, and grandson of Richard Cheeseman, was born in New 
York city, [an. 7. 1823. The Cheeseman family came from the west 
part of England and settled first on Long Island. George W. Cheese- 
man, Sr.. m. Mary Hegeman of a family of Dutch descent residing for 
many generations in New York city and on Long Island. George W. 
Cheeseman, Jr., came to Connecticut in 1832 ; lived in Stratford sev- 
eral years ; came to Birmingham in 1842 and m. Sarah, dau. of Samuel 
Durand in 1847. Children : 

1. Mary Wetmore. 3. Charles Durand. 

2. George Henry; d. in 1S76. 4. Willie Penfield ; d. in 1866. 

CHURCHILL. John, m. Rachel Davis, Nov. 30, 1769. Children : 

I. William, b. Nov. i, 1770. 2. Abel, b. Feb. 10, 1774. 

I. CLARK, William, with his wife Hannah came from Lyme, 
Conn., to Derby about 1735- ^" ^^""^ town records he is called in 1742, 
"merchant," and in 1748, "shop keeper," his store being at the old 
village of Derby. Children : 

2. Elizabeth,b. Sept. 24, 1732; m. Joseph 6. .Sarah, b. Jan. 22, 1742. 

Hull, May 3, 1750. , 7. Sheldon, b. Feb. 10, 1744. 

3. Susannah, b. Aug. 18, 1734; m. I'ritch- 8. Eunice, b. Apr. 15, 1746; m. Henry 

ard Watrous. ~^X ■ Whiuiey. 

4. Lucy, b. Dec. 13, 1736; m.V^— Smith. 9. William, b. Sept. 22,1749; d. Sept. 

5. Hannah, b. May 22, 1739; m. Oliver 17,1751. 

Curtiss. 10. Charity, b. ;\Iarch 26, 1752. 

7. Sheldon, son of William and Hannah Clark, m. Betty Keeney, 
Feb. 15, 1764 ; and was a merchant at Old Town until just before the 
Revolution, when he established his store at the Narrows, being ah 
influential man in the town some years. Children : 
u. William, b. Jan. 11. 1765. 14. Sheldon, b. May 17, 1772. 

12. Lucy, b. Feb. 12, 1767. 15. Watrous, b. June 20, 1774. 

13. Hannah, b. Mar. 5, 1769. 



(iF.XF.Ar.OGrES. /I I 

CLARK, Ens. Thomas, m. Susanna . He oame from Milford. 

Children : 

t. Thomas, b. Feb. 22, 1764. 4. Sherman. 

2. Hannah, b. Nov. 2, 1766. 

3. Sheldon, donated land to Vale Col- 

lege. (See Hist, of Seymour). 

CLARK, Moses, m. Abigail Brewster Johnson, Jan. 6, 1774. 
1. Levi, b. Dec. 17, 1774. 2. Abigail, b Dec. 24, 1776. 
CLARK. William, m. Mary . 

1. Eunice, b. Sept. 13, 1774. 4. Joseph, b. May 12, 1782. 

2. William, b. Aug. 30, 1777. 5. Chary, b. Sept. 25, 1784. 

3. Sheldon, b. Apr. 18, 1780. 6. Richard, b. July 6, 17S7. 

COE, Robert, Hon.. was born at Suffolkshire, England, in 1596. 
His wife, Anna, was born in 1591. He with his wife and three sons 
sailed from England April 10, 1634, in the ship Frances, John Cutting, 
master, and landed in Boston in June of the same year. He first settled 
in Watertown. Mass.. where he remained two years, when he removed 
to Wethersfield, Conn., where he remained about four years. Robert 
Coe's name is among the original purchasers of Stamlord. Here he 
remained until 1644, when with his family he removed to Hempstead, 
Long Island. At this time he was about 48 years of age, his son John, 
18 ; Robert, 17, and Benjamin, 15. He died in 1659. Children : 

1. John, b. about 1626, in England. 3. Benjamin, b. about 1629, in P'.ngland. 

2. Robert, b. about 1627, in England. 

2. Robert, son of Robert and Anna (or Hannah) Coe, removed to 
Stratford in 1654, where he died in 1659, aged 32. He married Su- 
sanna , and had three children : 

4. John, b. May 10, 1658, at Stratford. 6. Sarah. 

5. Susanna. 

4. John, only son of Robert, Jr., and Susanna Coe, m. Mary, dau. 
of Joseph Hawley of Stratford, Dec. 20. 1682. This was the Joseph 
Hawley who owned considerable land in Derby. John Coe's four eld- 
est sons settled in Durham, where they had families. He died Apr. 
19, 1741, aged 83. Children : 

7. Robert, b. Sept. 21, 16S4; the ancestor 11. John, b. Dec. 5, 1693. 
of the Coe families of Torrington 12. Sarah, b. Mar. 26, 1696. 
and Winchester. 13. Ephraim, b. Dec. iS, 1698. 

8. Joseph, b. Feb. 2, 1686. 14. Catharine, b. Sept. 23, 1700. 

9. Hannah, b. Apr. 14, 1689. 15. Abigail, b. Nov. 11, 1702. 
10. Mary, b. Aug. 11, 1691. . 16. Ebenezer, b. Aug. 18, 1704. 

16. Capt. Ebenezer, son of John and Mary Coe, m. Mary Black- 
man, June I, 1727. and died at Stratford in 1766. aged 63 years. This 
Ebenezer Coe commanded a company in the Revolution ; was wounded 
in the burning of Danbury, by which he was deprived of a part of his 
right ear and his right eye, but survived many years. Children : 

17. John, b. Sept 18, 1729. 19. Ebenezer, b. July 24, 1735. 

18. Zachariah, b. Sept. 29, 1732. 20. James, b. Feb. 3, 1741. 

17. John, son of Ebenezer and Mary Coe, came to Derby a young 
man, and m. Hannah, dau. of John Chatfield. Sept 8, 1755 ; and re- 
sided at the old village of Derby, where he died in 1783. and hence 



712 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

the record made that he was one of the first Methodists in the town is 
erroneous, it being his son John. Children : 

21. Mary, b. Oct. 20, 1756; m. Philo Hin- 24. John, b. Mar. 27, 1764. 
man. 25. Hannah, b. Mar. 16, 1769. 

22. Denman, b. May 26, 1759. 26. Elizabeth, b. Dec. 10, 1774. 

23. Sarah, b. Feb. 5, 1762. 

22. Denman, son of John and Hannah Coe, m. Mary Northrop of 
Milford, Feb. 20, 1781. 

24. John, Jr., son of John and Hannah Coe, m. Ruth, dau. of Isaac 
Johnson, Aug. 17, 1785. She was born Mar. 31, 1665. Children : 

27. Sally, b. Apr. 26, 1786, m. Miles War- 30. Hannah, b. July 18, 1790; m. Davis 
ren. Smith. 

28. Polly, b. Mar. 28, 1787 ; d. Jan. i, 1796. 31. John Allen, b. Sept. 8, 1792. 

29. Truman, b. Dec. 9, 1788. 32. Isaac, b. May 27, 1796. 

31. John Allen, son of John and Ruth Coe, m. Grace dau. of 
Joseph and Esther Smith. May 10. 1812. He died Sept. 23, 1849, aged 
57. His widow, Grace, died Jan. 21, 1869, aged 72. Children : 
23- John, b. Aug. iS, 1815. 38. George Washington, b. Aug. 26,1825. 

34. Ruth, b. Sept. 20, 1817 ; m. William 39. Grace, b. June 17, 1S34 ; m. Leviness 
Leavenworth Durand. Abbott, Nov. 28, 1852, and had Wil- 

35. Isaac, b. Mar. 28, 1819. ber Coe, b. July 6, 1858; George 

36. Robert, b. Feb. 3, 1821. Frederick, b. May 29, 1863. 

37. Wales, b. Oct. 28, 1823. 

SS- John, son of John Allen and Grace Coe, m. Mary Hoadley of 
Naugatuck. Sept. 3, 1837. Children : 

40. Julius Curtiss, b. Aug. 6, 183S. 43. Charles Hoadlev, b. Nov. 19, 1S49. 

41. Frances Augusta, b July 28, 1840; 44. George Albert,b. Aug. 5, 1854; d. Oct. 
m. Rev. Bennett Tyler Abbott, Sept. 13, 1S55, aged i year and 2 months. 
26, i860. 45. Benjamin Lee, b. Jan. 27, i860. 

42. John Allen, b. Nov. 18, 1844. 

35. Isaac, son of John Allen and Grace Coe, m. .Augusta Hoadley 
of Naugatuck, Apr. 18, 1841, who died Jan. 23, 1870. aged 50; and 
hem. 2d Lucy Grant, Feb. i, 1871. He died May 18, 1872. Chil- 
dren : 

46. Kate Grace, b. Nov. 6, 1842; m. Eu- 49. Charles Walter, b. Jan. 18, 1849; d. 
gene S. G. Wyman, June 15, 1864, Sept. 14, 1849. 

and had Mary Augusta, b. Sept. 3, 50. Arthur William, b. Mar. i, 1855; d. 
1865; Harry Coe, b. Oct. 19, 1866. Aug. 23, 1855. 

47. Isaac Harvey, ) b. May ) m. Georgia 

I ( Rogers. 

48. Irving Hiel, ) 12, 1847. ) 

36. Robert, son of John Allen and Grace Coe, m. Emily J. Horton 
of Straitsville, May 18, 1842. Children : 

51. Andrew Leet, | b. July 25, ) drowned in the Naugatuck July 6, 185S. 

52. Frank Lee, ( 1847. i 

37. Wales, son of John Allen and Grace Coe, m. Julia Elizabeth 
Beach of Milford, Sept. 17, 1845. He left Derby with his family in 
1854, and settled in Davenport, Iowa, and after three years removed to 
Crawfordsville in the same state, where he now resides. Children : 

53. Sterling Dennison, b. Mar. 31, 1847. 1870, and had Harold Irving, b.Sept. 

54. Nellie Julia, b. Mar. 9, 1852; m. 9, 1873; Nellie Grace, b. Aug. 31, 
James Braden Crawford, Apr. 28, 1875. 



(iENEALOGIES. /1 3 

38. George Washington, son of John Allen and Grace Coe, m. Sarah 
Brooks, Dec. 24, 1846. He died Feb. 27, 1854, aged 28 years. Chil- 
dren : 

55. Henry Brooks, b. Jan. 6, 184S. 57. George Frederick, h. June 12, 1S53. 

56. Frank William, b. Mar. 20, 1850. 

40. Julius Curtiss, son of John and Mary Coe, m. Elizabeth Dou- 
gal Wakelee, Oct. 8, i860. Children : 
58. Albert Chandler, b. June 21, 1S64. 59. RoUin Wakelee, b. Jan. 19, 1S67. 

42. John Allen, son of John and Mary Coe, m. Cornelia A. Wake- 
lee, Oct. 9, 1866. Children: 

60. John Allen, b. Aug. 23, 1868. 62. Edna Louise, b. .Aug. 11, 1873. 

61. Herbert Wakelee, b. Oct. 29, 1870. 63. Carlton Blakeman, b. Sept. 7, 1875. 

43. Charles Hoadley, son of John and Mary Coe, ni. Ida Mary 
Fields, Jan. 15. 1875. Child : 

64. Ida Jennett, b. Dec 16, 1875. 

48. Irving Hiel. son of Isaac and Augusta Coe, m. Addie M. Cate, 
May 6, 1868. Children : 

65. Theodore Irving, b. Aug. 19, 1872. 67. Eugene Wvman, b. Nov. 9, 1878. 

66. Imogene Augusta Cate, b. Dec. 2, 

1875- 

52. Frank Lee, son of Robert and Emily J. Coe, m. E. Justine 
Carrington of Bethany, Jan. 23, 1873. 

53. Sterling Dknnison. son of Wales and Julia E. Coe, tn. Mary 
Malinda Crawford of Crawfordsville, Iowa. Oct. 28, 1869. Child : 

68. 1-ewie Beach, b. Aug. 4, 1870. 

55. Henry Brooks, son of George W. and Sarah Coe, m. Elizabeth 
Wilson Mar. 28, 1868, who d-ied Nov. 21, 1870. Child: 

69. Charles Waterbury, b. Feb. 4, 1869; 
d. in 187 1. 

COLLINS, Daniel, 

1. Daniel, b. Feb. S, 167S. 2. Patience, b. Feb. g. 1679. 

1. CRAFTS. Lieut. Griffin, born about 1598, came with his wife, 
Alice, from near London, Eng., to America with Gov. Winthrop. 
They sailed in company with seven vessels in April, 1630, and he set- 
tled at Roxbury, Mass., where he was selectman and a member of the 
General Court. He died about 1690, as his will dated May 18, 1689, 
was presented for probate Nov. 9, 1690. His first wife was born in 
1600; died Mar. 20, 1673. He m. twice afterwards. Children : 

2. Hannah, b. in F.ng. about 1628; m. 5. Abigail, b. Mar. 28, 1634; m. 

Nathaniel Wi!son. 6. Samuel, b. Dec, 12, 1637; m. 

3. John, b. July to,, 1630, in Ro.xbury. 7. Moses, b. April 28, 1641 ; ni. 

4. Mary, b. Oct. 10, 1632 ; m. 

6. Samuel, son of Lieut. Griffin and Alice Crafts, m. Elizabeth Sea- 
ver, Oct 16, 1661 ; r-esided with his father ; occupied public positions 
in the town. In 1683 the General Court granted him with twelve 
others the township of Woodstock, Conn , and in 1687 the Connecti- 
cut Assembly granted him and thirteen others the township of Pom- 
fret, they buying the Indian title. I'his was known as the " Misham- 

''Taken in part from the family manuscript. 
90 



714 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

oquet Purchase." He died about i6go, soon after the death of his 
father, leaving a good estate. Children : 

8. Hannah, b. Dec. 14, 1662 ; m. 13. Mary, b. Oct. 15, 167 1 ; m. 

9. Samuel, b. May 24, 1664; d. June 5, 14. Abigail, b. Dec. i, 1673 ! "">• 

1664. 15. Nathaniel, b. Jan. 11, 1676; m. 

ro Elizabeth, b. Oct. 2, 1665; m. 16. Ebenezer, b. Nov. 8, 1679; Ji^- 

11. Samuel, b. June 16, 1667; m. 17. Alice, b. Dec. 19, 1681 ; m. 

12. Joseph, b, July 13, 1669. 18. Benjamin, b. Oct. 23, 1683. 

II. Samuel, son of Samuel, Sr. and Elizabeth (Seaver) Crafts; m 
Elizabeth Sharpe, and died Dec. 9, 1709, aged 42. Children : 

19. Joseph, b. October i, 1694; m. 23. Mary, b. April i, 1706; m. 

20. "Hannah, b. Mar, 15, 1697; m. 24. Aaron, b. Dec. 9, 170S; d. Dec. 30, 

21. Samuel, b. June 4, 1701 ; m. 1711. 

22. Moses, b. S'ept. 9, 1703 ; m. 

19. Capt. Joseph, son of Samuel 2d and Elizabeth (Sharpe) Crafts, 
m. Susannah Warren, and removed to Fomfret, Conn, about 172 1 ; 
received a lieutenant's commission, 1736, and a captain's in 1741. 
He died Jan 23,1754. Children: 

25. Susannah, b. Sept. 23, 1720; m. 32. Joseph, b. Mar. 8, 1732; m. 

26. Samuel, b. July 15, 1722; m. 33. Benjamin, b. Feb. 10, 1734; m. 

27. Joseph, b. July 24, 1724; d. Jan. 17, 34. Griffin, b. Feb. 21, 1736; d. 

1725. " 35. Griffin, July 9, 1738; d. 

28. Mary, b. Nov. 27, 1725; m. 36. F.benezer, b. Sept. 22, 1740; m. 

29. Elizabeth, b. Sept 12, 1727 ; m. 37. Frances, b. Jan. 27, 1742 ; m. 

30. Mehihible, b. Mar. 27, 1729; m. 38. Moses, b. April 15, 1744; not m. 

31. Hannah, b. Mar. 8, 1730; d. 39. Sarah, b. Jan. 25, 1746; d. 

26. Dea. Samuel, son of Capt. Joseph Crafts, m. P^eb. 19, 1746, 
Judith Payson of Fomfret, who was born Nov. 22, 1720, and died 
Feb. 13, 1813, aged 93. He died Nov 20, 1791, aged 69 Besides 
being deacon of the church he was prominent in places of trust in the 
town. Children : 

40. Griffin, b. July 18, 1748; m. 43. Samuel, b. May 19, 1754; d. June 23, 

41. Sarah, b. April 30, 1750; d. Sept. 8, i755- 

1754. 44. Sarah, b. April 29, 1756; m. 

42. Edward, b. April 19, 1752. 

42. Edward, M. D., son of Dea, Samuel and Judith (Payson") 
Crafts, came to Derby a little before 17S0, and m. ist Abigail Clark 
of Southington, Conn., Nov 23, 1780, who died Oct. 23, 1796, being 
the mother of all his children. He. m. 2d Ann, widow of Edward 
Clark and dau. of Doct. Silas Baldwin, who died June 8, 18 13, aged 
56, and he m 3d Melissa Holbrook Osborn, dau. of Daniel Holbrook, 
who died Jan. 19, 1841. He died Mar. 17, 1821, aged 68 years. 
Children : 

45. Julia, b. 17S1 ; d. Sept. 16, i8or. 49. Laura, b. 17S9; d. June 5, 1805. 

46. Samuel, b. 1783; d. June 5, 1810. 50. Edward b. 1790; d. Feb. 20, 1792. 

47. Pearl, b. 1785; cI. Dec. 29, 1821, aged 51. Edward, b. 1794; d. Nov. 1826. 
36 years. 52. Abba, b. 1796; d. Aug. 24, 181 1. 

48. Chauncey, b. June i, 1787 ; d. Oct. 

12, 1828. 

47. Pearl, M. D., son of Doct. Edward Crafts; m. Dec. 24, 18 12, 
Sarah Mansfield, dau of Rev. Edward and Sarah M. Blakeslee, and 
grand dau. of Dr. Mansfield Children : 



GENEALOGIES. 7^5 

53. Edward Blakeslcc, 1). Jan. 13, 1S14. 56. Samuel Pearl, h. July, 1820; d. July 

54. Elizabeth Mansfield, b. May 30, 1S16; 31, 1822. 
m. Edward S. Clark of Waterbury. 

55. Julia Maria, b. Jan. 1817; d. Oct. 14, 

1818. 

48. Chauncey, son of Doct. Edward Crafts ; m. Maria, dau. of 
Daniel Bacon of Woodbury, Conn., Sept. ii, 18 ii. Children: 

57. Julia Maria, b. Aug. 20, 1814 ; m. 61. Samuel Pearl b. Mar. 30, 1824; m. 

Rev. B. Y. Messenger, Feb. 7, 1838; Sarah A. Thompson, July 13, 1859; 

d. Aug. 25, 1S39. had Nellie. 

58. Charles Bacon, b. July i8, 1S17; m. 62. Fanny Augusta, b. June 4, 1826; m. 

Cornelia A. Trowbridge, Sept. 11, Samuel W. Andrew, Jan. 4, 1848; 

1868; d. Apr. 24, 1876. had Samuel W. By 2d, husband, 

59. Chauncey, b. Mar. 20, 1820; d. June Wm. S. Charnley, had Fanny Adele, 

18, 1841. Edith, George Bethune, Lydia 

60. Rebecca Bacon, b. Mav 7, 1S22 ; m. Thompson, an adopted dau. 
Wm. B. Hotchkiss, June 6, 1S43; 

had Lvdia Thompson, Wm. Josiah, 
Chauncey Craft.-, James Judson, 
Helen Maria, Bessie Brothwell. 

53. Edward B., son of Doct. Pearl Crafts ; m. Sarah A., dau of 
James Thompson, Oct. 9, 1846. Children : 

63. Elizabeth M., b. July 25, 1848. 65. T^^hn Young, b. June 8, 1S52 ; d. Sept. 

64. Edward T., M. D., b. Dec. 29, 1S50. '25, 1S52. 

CRAWFORD, Sarah. 
I. -Sarah, b. Jan 20, 1763. 

CRAWFORD, Benjamin, m. Olive Carpenter, Mar. 14, 1775. 

CRAWFORD, John, m. Sarah Adee, Dec. 13, 1795. Child : 

1. John, b. Sept. 26, 1796. 

1. CURTISS. Oliver, came to Derby and m. Hannah, dau. of \\'il- 
liani Clark, Apr. 2, 1754. He died Jan. 13, 1794. His widow Hannah 
died Oct. 3, 1803, aged 64. Children : 

2. Sheldon. 4. Sarah, b. Aug. 26, 1757. 

3. Elizabeth, b. Feb. 28, 1756. 5. Sarah, b. May 12, 1765. 

2. Sheldon, son of Oliver and Hannah (Clark) Curtiss, m. Lois 
Nichols, Nov. 11, 1781. She was born May 28. 1760. Children: 

6. Sally, b. May 28, 1783. 8. Henry, | ,^ . ^ . 

7. Sheldon, b. Aug. 31, 1788. 9. Harriet, ] ' • ■ ■*' 'y 

CURTISS, Kneeland, a prominent sea captain, was born in Strat- 
ford ; was in the war of 18 12 ; m. Anna A. J'ields, came to Derby in 
1832, and engaged in the West India trade. Children : 

1. Edward F., b. in 1820. 6. Kneeland; m. ; was killed on the 

2. Reuben ; d. young. railroad at New Haven in 1880, hav- 

3. Elizabeth. been a conductor on the road many 

4. Martha. years. 

5. Mary. 7- Robert. 

8. Henry. 

1. Capt. Edward F., son of Capt. Kneeland, m. Lucy Moshier, and 
is a sea captain. Children : 
9. Fanny. n. Kate Estelle. 

10. Edward H. 12. Kneeland; d. young. 



7i6 



HISTORY OF DERBY 



m. 2d Mrs. Mary Gunn, May 12, 



5. Elizabeth, b. July 21, 1707. 

6. Abigail, b. Apr. 28, 1709. 



1. DAVIS, John, m. Abigail 
i6gi. Children: 

2. John, b. 

3. "Nathaniel, b. Feb. 26, 169S. 

4. Jabez, b. July 24, 1703. 

2. John, Jr.. son of John and Abigail Davis, ni. Sarah Chatfield, 
July 15, 1706. who died Jan. 20, 1721. Children: 

7. Joseph, b. June 30, 1708. 10. Abigail, b. Nov. 20, 1713. 

8. Dan., b. Jan. 10, 1710. 11. Rachel, b. July 5, 1716. 

9. Mindwell, b. Feb. 4, 1712 ; d. Jan. 5, 12. Betty, b. Oct. 11, 1719; m. Ebenezer 

17 1 3. Keeney. 

7. Capt. Joseph, son of John, Jr , and Sarah (Chatfield) Davis, m. 
Mary Wheeler, Apr. 25, 1734, who died Jan 18, 1764, aged 49 and he 
m. 2d Mrs. Mary Foot of Newtown, Jan. 30, 1765. I'hey settled in 
Oxford. Children : 

13. Sarah, b. Nov. 26, 1735. 16. Joseph, b. July 10, 1743. 

14. Abigail, b. Apr. 12, 1738. 17. John, b. Feb. 2, 1749. 

15. Mary, b. Oct. 15, 1740. iS. Rachel, b. July 4, 1752. 

8. Dan., son of John, Jr., and Sarah (Chatfield), m. Ruth . 

Children : 



19. Naomi, b. Jan. i, 1743. 

2" Reuben, }b- Sept. 17, 1743. 



22. Sarah, b. Nov. i, 1747. 

23. Eliza, b. Feb. 20, 1753. 

24. Ithiel, b. Feb. 15, 1756. 



17. Col. John, son of Joseph and Mary (Wheeler) Davis, m. Mehit- 
able, dau. of Reuben Thomas of New Haven. Apr. 10, 1782, who died 
Dec. 27, 1852, aged 88 years. He is said to have died Nov. 27, 1848, 
aged 93 years. Children : 



32. Nabby, 1 b. Dec. 21, 1795; '^i. Har- 
vey Osborn of Oxford. 

33. Nancy, f- m. Cyrus Humphrey of 
Oxford, d. Aug. 25, 1828. 
Ch'n: Barnard, Nancy. 

34. Joseph Wheeler, b. Aug. 13, 1798. 

35. Sheldon, b. Sept. 3, 1800; d. May 30, 
1813. 

36. Lewis, b. Jan. 26, 1803. 

37. Burritt, b. July 12, 1806. 

38. Julia Maria, b. July 4, 1810; m. Eb- 

enezer Riggs of Oxford. 

26. Anson, son of Col. John and Mehitable Davis, m. Sally Pru- 
den of Milford. Children : 
39. Sheldon, b. Jan. i, 1S13 ; m. Mari- 44. Harpin, b. Feb. 24, 1825; m. Mary 



25. Sarah, b. Mar. 31, 1783; d. Dec. 6, 

1808. 

26. Anson, b. Sept. 5, 1785. 

27. Truman, b. Mar 13, 1787. 

28. John, b. Sept. 8, 1788. 

29. Lucretia, b. Sept. 22, 1790. 

30. Mary, b. May 28, 1792. 

31. Chary, b. Feb. 8, 1794. 



etta Church. 

40. Sarah Ann, b. Mar. 10, 1S15 ; m. 
Luman Chapman. 

41. Anson Riley, b. Mar. 30, 1818 ; m. 

Mary N. Ailing. 

42. Marcus, b. Oct. 9, 1S20; m. Sarah M. 

Green. 



Chatfield. 

45. Homer, b. Oct. 15, 1827 ; is living in 
Nevada. 

46. Samuel Pruden, b. Sept. i, 183 1. 

47. Martha Ellen, b. July 11, 1834; prin- 
cipal of St. Catharine's Hall, Au- 
gusta, Me. 



43. Delia Maria, b. Oct. 25, 1822; m. John 48. Victoria Sophia, b. Sept. 21, 1837; 
F. Coxhead. m. John F. Coxhead. 

27. Capt. Truman, son of Col. John and Mehitable Davis, m. ist 
Mary Allen of Woodbridge, Dec. 6, 1808, who died Feb. 13, 1832 ; 
m. 2d Statia Ball of Bethany, who died Apr. 24, 1854 ; m. 3d Sophia 



GENEALOGIES. /I/ 

Mallory of Milford. Oct 24, 1854 He died May 19, 1868, aged 8r 
years. Children : 

49. Emily, b. Aug. 19, iSio; m. C. Lock- 54. Emerette, b. Jan. 24, 1821 ; m. Ilar- 
wood Adams. rison Tomlinson. 

50. David Allen, b July 29, 1812 ; d. Mar. 55. John, b. Oct 7, 1S23 ; m. Jennctte G. 

20, 1847. Allen. 

51. Clark, b. Mar. 31, 1S15; m. Mary A. 56. Lvdia Perkins, b. Feb. 15, 1826; m. 

Toffey. John R. Tomlinson. 

52. Marietta, b. Aug. 22, 1817 ; m. Na- 57. Burr, b. Jan. 7, 1828; m. Mary J. 
than W. Morgan. Mallett. 

53. An infant, b. Sept. 25, i8ig; d. Dec. 58. Lucv, b. Feb. 19, 1830; m. Hart C. 

20, 1819. Hubbell. 

28 John, Jr.. son of Col John and Mehitable Davis, m. Laura, 
dau of Jolin Riggs. and died Aug 8, 1844. His widow, Laura, died 
Feb 20, 1855. Children : \ 

59. John; m Jennette Wheeler; lived 61. Otis; d. in 1842. 

in Oxford. 62. William Hart ; m. Francis Mallett. 

60. Isaac B. ; m. Ann Tucker; lives in 

Hartford. 

34. Joseph W.. son of Col John and Mehitable Davis, m. Henri- 
etta Newton of Woodbridge Children: 

63. Jonah N. ; m. Bassett ; removed 64. De Witt ; a lawyer of Milwaukee, Wis. 

West. 65. Joseph Burritt; d. Nov. 4, 1S54. 

36. Lewis, son of Col. John and Mehitable Davis, m. Lucinda Per- 
kins of Oxford. Children : 

66. Doct. Henry, of Wallingford ; m. 67. Mary; m. Charles M. Storrs of Sey- 

Beecher of Bethlehem. mour. 

68. Frank ; m. Lane of Oxford. 

37. Burritt. son of Col. John and Mehitable Davis, ni. Sarah Electa, 
dau. of Hiram Osborn of O.xford. Children all living in Owego, N. Y.: 

69. Jay; m. Anna Fairchild. 71. Bernard. 

70. Sarah ; m. Frederic Cable. 

DAVIS, Nathan, and Eunice had children : 

1. Rachel, b. Apr. 173S. 4. Daniel, 1 b. Mar. 20, 1746. 

2. Eunice, b. June 20, 1740. * 5. Joseph, I m. Obedience Sperry of 

3. Benjamin, b. Mar. i, 1743. | New Haven. Had Sarah, 

j b. Aug. 31, 1771. 
6. Sarah, b. Oct. 6, 1756. 

DAVIS, Elias, and Abigail, had child : 

I. Elizabeth, b. Jan. 12, 1749. 

Isaac son of Nathan and Martha Davis, died Oct. i, 1781, aged 
four years. 

DENMAN, Philip, of Derby, had wife Hasadink. He died Aug. 
20, 1698. Children : 

1. Mary, b. 1678. 4. Micah, b. 16S4. 

2. Elizabeth, b. 16S0. 5. Son. b. Feb. 11, 16S5. 

3. Sarah, b. 16S2. 6. Hannah, b. 169S. 

DEREMORE, Joseph, m. Sarah . Child : 

I. Eunice, b. Oct. 9, 1763. 

DE LAMARQUESIE, Bernard, ensign major in the Continental 



yi8 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

service, and m. Mary Anne De Lamarquesie. Child : 
I. Lewis, b. Mar. lo, 1779. 

DEPLANK, Nicholas. Child : 
I. Dorcas, b. Feb. 9, 1753. 

DORM AN, James m. Anna Harger, June 9, 1779. Children : 

1. Lucina, b. Aug. 29, 1780. 3. Joel, b. Aug. 3, 1784. 

2. " Mamere," b. Sept. 2, 17S2. 4. Alanson, b. Jan. 9, 1787. 

DOWNS, Abraham, m. Elizabeth . Child: 

I. Biah, b. Nov. 22, 1761. 

DUDLEY, JosiAH, m. Sabva Dudley, Jan. 20, 1798 ; came from 
Fail field county, about 1800, to Derby. Children : 

1. Henry, b. Apr. 13, 1799. 3. Sophia,' b. Mar. 27, 1804. 

2. Elizabeth, b. Apr. 4, 1801. 

1. DURAND, DocT. John, m. in Stratford Elizabeth, dau. of 
Richard Bryan, and grand dau. of Alexander Bryan, and came to Derby 
about 1685, his residence being near Edward Wooster's at Derby vil- 
lage. He possessed considerable property, and his wife inherited quite 
an estate from her father and grandfather. Children : 

2. John, b. Nov. 10, 1700; m. 7. Abigail, b. June 2, 1716; m. Abner 

3. Elizabeth, b. July 19, [out]; d. young. Johnson. 

4. Noah, b. Aug. 27, 1707 ; m. 8. Elizabeth, b, Feb. 6, 1719 ; m. Joseph 

5. Joseph, h. Dec. 20, 1709; m. Johnson, Jr. 

6. Samuel, b. July 7, 1713; m. 9. Ebenezer, b. Dec 7, 1724. 

2. John, son of Doct. John and Elizabeth (Bryan) Durand. m. Sarah 
Lum, Nov. 5, 1730, who died, and he m. 2d Sarah Chatfield, June 2, 
1747, and died Mar. 8, 1773. Children : 

10. Elijah, b. Mar. 17, 1731. 12. Hannah, b. Jan. 8, 1737. 

11. Sarah, b. June 3, 1733. 

By second wife. 

13. Jeremiah, b. Aug. 8, 1749; m. Hannah 16. Zerviah, b. Nov. 5. 1756. 

Trowbridge, Nov. 21, 1772. 17. John, b. Feb. 2, 1758., 

14. Elizabeth, b. Feb. 17, 1751. i8.- Susanna, b. Nov. 13, 1760. 
15 Nehemiah, b. Dec. 7, 1753- 19. Joseph, b. May 21, 1764 

4. Noah, son of Doct. John and Elizabeth (Bryan) Durand, m. 

Abigail Riggs, Nov. 9, 1732, who died, and he m. 2d Damaris . 

Children : 

20. Mercy, b. Dec. 21, i73-[out]; d. 21. Mercy, b. May S, 174S. 

5. Joseph, son of Doct. John and Elizabeth (Bryan) Durand. m. Ann 
Tomlinson, Apr. 25, 1734- She died Feb. 14, 1778, aged 64. He 
died Aug. 6, 1792, aged 81. Children : 

22. Samuel, b. Feb. 28, 1735. -5- Ann, b. Dec. 3, 1742. 

23. Joseph, b. Mar. 28, 1737. 26. Isaac, b. Aug. 14, 1745. 

24. Noah, b. May 12, 1740. 27. Eleazer, b. Oct. 5, 1754. 

6. Samuel, son of Doct. John and Elizabeth (Bryan) Durand, m. 
Mary' . Children : 

27. Elizabeth, b. July 29, 1743. 29. Ezra, b. Feb. 11, 174S. 

28. John, b. 16, 1745. 

9. Ebenezer, son of Doct. John and Elizabeth (Bryan) Durand, m. 
Hannah White, Dec. 17, 1754. Child : 
30. Ebenezer, b. Feb. 24, 1755. 



(.I'.XKAI.OC.IKS. 719 

24. Noah, son of Joseph and Ann (Tomlinson) Durand, m. Abigail, 
dau. of Caleb Tomlinson ; lived on Great Neck and died Apr. 12, 
1818. Abigail, his widow, died Nov. 2, 1831. Children : 

31. Anna, b. Jan. 4, 1772; m. Lewis 33. Joseph, b. July 17, 1778; m. 

Hawkins, and d. Nov. 18, 1840. 34. William, b. May 29, 1780; m. 

32. Polly, b. July 11, 1775; m. Samuel 35. Samuel, b. July 13, 1783; m. 
Yale, merchant of Sugar st., son of 36. David, b. May i, 1790; m. 
Rev. Mr. Yale. She d. Jan. 6, 1S41. 

33. Joseph, son of Noah and Ann (Tomlinson) Durand, m. Mar- 
garet Chamberlain of New York city ; was a tailor and worked at his 
trade some years, when he returned to his father's home and died, Oct. 
12, 1821. 

34. William, son of Noah and Ann (Tomlinson) Durand, m. Sarali 
Ambler of Bethlehem, Conn., a tailor in that town where they lived, 
and he died Feb., 181 3. 

35. Samuel, son of Noah and Ann (Tomlinson) Durand, m. ist 
Susan Hawkins ; 2d Sally Hawkins, sister of the first wife ; 3d Nancy 
Beers of Trumbull ; 4th Nancy Bourn of New Bedford. He was a 
farmer at Bare Plains. He died Feb. 18, 1852. Children : 

37. Charles. Twoothers, whose names are mislaid. 

38. Sarah; m. George W. Cheeseman. 

David, son of Noah and Ann (Tomlinson) Durand, m. Maria, dau. 
of Edmund Leavenworth of Huntington. He lived on his father's 
homestead on Derby Neck, and died Apr. 30, 1868. Children : 

39. William Leavenworth, b. Sept. 2, 1814. 42. Frederic, b. Dec. 19, 1824. 

40. Mary E., b. Mar. 19, 1816. 43. Martha A., b. July 23, 1827. 

41. Laura Ann, b. July 24, 1820; d. Sept. 44. Albert, b. Aug. 29, 1834; d. June 19, 

2, 1827. " 1S36. 

39. William L., son of David and Maria (Leavenworth) Durand, m. 
Ruth Coe, Oct. 7, 1838. Children : 

45. Mary, b. Jan. 19, 1840; d. Feb. 27, 47. Cynthia Jane, b. Apr. 22, 1846; d. 

1856, aged 16. Feb. 25, 1856, aged 9 years. 

46. David Leavenworth, b. Oct. 18,1841; 48. William Frederick, b. Mar. 5, 1859; 
m. Caroline S. Bishop of Waterbury, is in the U. S. Naval Academy, class 
Feb. 16, 1869. 1880. 

DURAND, NoAH 3d,m. Ruth Foot, Aug. 12, 1772. Child: 
I. Nabby, b. May 5, 1773. 

DURAND, John, Jr., m. Desire Andrews, Oct. 3, 1769. Child: 
I. Bryan, b. Apr. 26, 1770, 

ENGLISH, Clement, m. Ruth Wisebury. Oct. 26, 1752. Children: 

1. Naomi, b. June 28, 1753. 5. Benjamin, b. Sept. 24, 1760; d. Dec. 

2. Ruth, b. Oct. 22, 1754. 20, 1760. / 

3. Clement, b. June 25, 1756. 6. Bienjamin, b. Oct. 28, 1761. 

4. Henry, b. Dec. 7, 1757. 7. David, b. June 25, 1765. 

FAIRCHILD, Abiel and wife Lois, and probably some family came 
to Derby before 1750. It was probably he who m. Mrs. Mary Peck, 
May 10, 1757. Several of their children were' probably born before the 
family came to Derby. Children : 

1. Ebenezer, b. Mar. 10, 1747 ; d. Sept. 8, 3. Lois ; d. Dec. 9, 1755. 

1 75 1. 4- Agur; d. Nov. 26, 1755. 

2. David, b. July 14, 1750. 5. Nehemiah; d. Sept. 8, 17 51. 



720 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

FAIRCHILD, Nathan, may have been a son of Abiel. He m. ist 
Ruth, dau. of Capt. James Wheeler. July 23, 1761, who died Sept. 22, 
1764, aged 21 ; m. 2d Lois Bovvers, Apr. 28, 1765. 

1. Ruth, b. Aug. 24, 1764; d. Jan. 2, 1765. 3. Ruth, b. Feb. 6, 1768 

2. Nathan, b. July 5, 1766. 

FAJRCHILD, Abiel, perhaps son of Abiel and Lois Fairchild, m. 
Zerviah, dau. of Bennajah Johnson. Sept. 3, 1761, who died May 29, 
1816, aged 77. 

1. Hannah, b. Mar. 21, 1763. 3. Sarah, b. May 10, 1775. 

2. Molly. 1). Nov, g, 1770. 4. John, b. Apr. 11, 1777. 

FAIRCHILD, Abiel, m. Hannah Chatfield, F'eb. 23, 1757, who 
died Apr. 5, 1760. 

FAIRCHILD, Joseph, m. Hannah Wheeler, Nov. 9, 1780. 

1. Hilly, / 1 A o 

2. Chloe,r-^"g- ^3.1781. 

1. FRENCH, William, came in the Defence, from London, in 
1635, with his wife Elizabeth, his eldest child Francis, aged ten years, 
and three other children, down to the baby, four months old, all from 
Essex, England, as shown by the record in the Custom-House William 
French was one of the original settlers of the beautiful town of Bil- 
lerica, eighteen miles north of Boston, where he died aged 78, having 
had ten children born in America. He was the author of the famous 
tract entitled " Strength out of Weakness," published in London and 
re printed by the Boston Historical Society. He held many offices of 
trust, showing that much confidence was placed in him when to hold 
office was to bear great responsibility. 

2. Francis, son of William French, came to Milford, probably in 
1650, with Edward Wooster, who may have been his brother-in-law, 
and settled in Derby with Wooster in 1654, being then twenty nine 
years of age. Here he continued, working to establish his home in 
the wilderness, until 1661, when, on April loth, he married Lydia 
Bunnell, of Milford, and brought her to his home ; which constituted 
\\\& third ox Joiirth family in the plantation It is uncertain whether 
Thomas Langdon was at Paugasuck at that time ; the two who were 
there being Edward Wooster and Edward Kiggs. His house was lo- 
cated on the hill east of the old Jonathan Jackson farm, near Merritt 
Clark's, who now owns most of the old farm, which remained in the 
family until some time in the present century. Here on the hill he 
toiled to clear the forests to make the beautiful fields as they now ap- 
pear on that western slope. His almost solitary axe sounded over the 
spreading valley to the opposite hills, several years when scarcely 
another sound of the kind could be heard across the whole amphi- 
theatre, which is now become a marvelous wonder of life and business. 
How lonely then, yet how grand the mighty forests stood, covering all 
those beautiful hdls; but how magic-like the change to the present 
animated theatre of gayety, refinement, riches and enjoyment, as well 
as marvelous skill of toil and inaustry. No prophetic poet could have 
pictured to Francis French and his bride, in his new home, a hun- 
dredth part of the royalty of useful learning, art and skilled science 
that should, within two hundred years, sit in the valley at their feet 
and touch with the thrill of business life the utmost ends of the earth. 



(;;i:NK.\rx)(.n:s. 721 

The gold of India, China, Japan and the isLinds of the sea springs 
into life at the skilled movement of the ready hands of the people of 
this beautiful valley. 

Francis French did his work faithfully and manfully, without show 
or public notoriety, and left the stage of action Feb 14, 169 1, aged 
66 years. His widow Lydia continued some years the care of those 
committed to her love, and departed this life April i, 1708 Children : 

3. Lydia, b. Aug. 21, 1662; d. young. <S. Samuel, b. Jan. 6, 1672; d. Oct. 26, 

4. Elizabeth, b. June 20, 1664. 1677. 

5. Anna, b. Aug. 10, 1666. 9. Susan, b. June 6, 1675. 

6. Mary, b. Sejit. 7, 1668; d. Jan, 16SS. 10. Francis, 1). Feb. 11, 1677. 

7. Lydia, b. SejU. 2.S, 1670; m. Samuel ri. Hannah, b. Nuv. 18, 1679. 

Bowers. 

10. Francis, Jr., son of Francis French, m Anna Bowers Sept. 2, 
1703, who d. Jan. 11, 1744, and he d. April i r, T751, aged 74 years. 
He lived on his father's homestead ; was high sheriff of the town • was 
a man of positive character, and stood high as a Royal Arch Mason. 
Children : 

12. Samuel, b. July 23, 1704. t6. Mary, b. Feb. 6, 1712. 

13. Charles, b. Feb. 14, 1707; d Nov. 9, 17. Hannah, b. 1716; m. Abel Gunn 3d 

17S3, aged 76. for 2d wife. 

r4. Israel, b. Oct. 8, 1709. 18. Nathaniel, b. Oct. 28, 1717; d. Nov. 

15. Francis, b. 13, 1780 or '81. 

12. Samuel, son of Francis French, Jr., m. Martha Chapman, Dec. 
^7' 1733- who d. Oct. 29, 1789, a5ed 66. He d. Feb. 2, 1783, aged 
78 Children ; 

19. Noah, b. Jan. 15, 1734. 22. John, 1). April 15, 1741 ; d. Oct. 17, 

20. Mary, b. Oct. 31, 1736; d. July 25, 1761, at Crown Point, a soldier in 

1743. the French war. 

21. Sarah, b. Julv 16, 1738. 23. Mary, b. July 26, 1743. 

24. Martha, b. Oct. iS, 1747. 

14. Israel, son of Francis French, Jr.. m. Sarah Loveland, Sept. 11, 
1739, and was among the early settlers in Seymour. Children : 
25. Lois, b. June 11, 1740. 29. Sarah, b. Jan. 25, 174S; d. May 6, 

20. David, b. Jan. ^c, 1742. 1751- 

27. Israel, b. 30. Anna, b. June 21, 1752. 

28. Dorcas, b. Oct. 2, 1746; d. >Lay 8, 31. Bowers, born Julv 5, 1757. 

T75r. 32. Enoch, b. May 19, 1760. 

^T,. Charles, b. Dec. 19, 1765. 

19. NdAH, son of Samuel and Martha (Chapman) French, m. Han- 
nah Riggs, June 12, 1755 He d Jan. 7, 1781. Children: 

34. Francis, b. May 2r, 1757. 39. Noah, b. Jan 14, 1767. 

35. Betty, b. Feb. 14, 1759; d. May 5, 40. Lucy, b. July 4, 1769. 

1765. 41. ^arah, b. Oct. 24, 1771. 

36. Samuel, b. Oct. 26, 1760. 42. Joseph, b. Sept. 21, 1774. 

37. J'lhn, b. Sept. 17, 1762. .^3, Lewis, b. Feb. 12, T777. 

38. Hannah, b. Jan. 18, 1765. 4.^. Betty, b. P"eb. 19, 1778. 

26. Davii), son of Israel and Sarah (Loveland) French, m Lois 

Lines, of Bethany; resided on Nyumpji's Hill, but remo\ed into the 

north part of Woodbridge. Children : 

45. David. 51. ILannah. 

46. Adonijah. 52. Dorcas. 

47. Luther (of P>eacon Hill). 53. Hepzibah. 

48. Asaph. 54. Lydia. 

49. Harry. 55. Lois. 

50. Sarah. 

91 



722 HLSTOKV OF DERliV. 

32. Enoch, son of Israel and Sarah (Lovelaod) French, m. Comfort 
and d. Sept. 27, 1852. Children : 



51. William, b. Sept. 29, 1783; d. Oct. 54. Pamelia, b. Sept. 16, 1799; m. Isaac 

16, 1823. Bassett, Sept 8, 1822. 

52. Nancy, b. Dec. 22, 1785; m. William 55. Enoch, Ijorn Jan. 8, 1803; d. May 12, 

Bassett, Jan. 29, 1811. 1824. 

q-j. Bird, b. Oct, 1797, of Salisburv. 56. Israel, b. Jan. 29, 1805; m. Caroline 

Tolls, Feb. 8, 1S29. 

33. Charles, son of Israel and Sarah (Loveland) French, m. Anna 
Woodcock, of Milford, Feb. 25, 1784, who d. Dec. 24, 1859. He d. 
April 14, 1814 Children : 

57. Sally, b. Nov. 14, 1784; m. Erastus 62. Alfred, b. Aug. 22, 1794; m. Lydia 
Sperry. Hotchkiss. 

58. Polly, b. Oct. 26. 1786; d. Nov. 11, 63. Grant, b. July 28, 1796. 

1794. 64. Polly, b. Aug. 28, 179S; m. Joseph 

59. Wales, b. Oct. 12, 1788; m. Betsey Russell. 
Hitchcock. 65. Susan, b. July 28, 1800. 

60. Grant, b. Oct. 13, 1790; d. Sept. 29, 66. Harriet, b. Mar. 20, 1803; d. May 5, 

1794. 1804. 

61. Raymond, born July 29, 1792; d. 67. Raymond, b. Jan. 7, 1805. 

Sept. 27, 1794. 68. Charles, b. Oct. i, 1807 ; m. Julia 

Sperry. 

45. David, Jr., son of David and Lois (Lines) French, m. . 

Children : 

69. Stiles (of New Haven). 73. Eliza; m. John Sanford. 

70. Charles. 74- Hannah; m. Doolittle, in Hani- 

71. Hannah; m. Sheldon Clark. den. 

72. Emma; m. Joel White, of Oxford. 

46 Adonijah, son of David and Lois (Lines) French. Was a jus- 
tice of the peace and representative of Woodbridge. Children : 

75. Adonijah, b. 77- Lois. 

76. Miles. 78. Harriet; m. Jared R.Ford. 

67. Raymond, son ofXharles and Anna (Woodcock) French; m. 
Olive Curtiss, Dec. 11, 1I33. Children : 

79. Carlos; m. Julia H. Thompson, of 81. Sarah; m. W. B. Stoddard (Judge) 

New Milford. of New Haven. 

80. Ann; m. Cornelius W. James, of 82. Harriet; m. Samuel H. Canfield, of 

Seymour. Seymour. 

FRENCH, Nathan j m. Lucy Johnson, Sept. 2, 1773. Children: 
I. Eunice, b. May 8, 1775. 2. Asa, b. Mar. 26, 1777. 

FRENCH, Francis; m. Olive Camp, Dec 19, 1779. Child: 
I. Susannah, b. Oct. 3, 1780. 

FOX, Benjamin ; m Esther Chatfield Apr. 9, 1754. Children: 
t. Huldah, b. July 14, 1756. 2. Amos, b. Nov. 30, 1758. 

GILLETT, Ephraim, son of Eliphalet of Milford, came to Derby 
and m. Persis, dau. of David Wooster, Apr. 2, 1724. In Feb. 1728, 
his father Eliphalet and mother Mary deeded to him several pieces of 
land in Derby as a gift. Children : 

1. Ephraim, b. Jan. 8, 1725. 4. Mary, b. Mar. 11, 1732. 

2. David Wooster, b. Mar. 21, 1727. 5. Joseph, j ^ . ^ 

3. Freelove, b. Aug. 10, 1729. 6. Benjamin, ( ' "' '' ''^'^' 

GRACY, Capt. Ebenezer ; m. Betty — — . He bought June 23, 



fiF.NEALOGIES. 723 

1767, a piece of land of Henry Whitney C^i2o) " containinjj tliirty- 
six rods, with a dwelling house thereon.'' Hence he was among tiie 
first settlers at Derby Narrows. He was a sea captain. 

GRIFFIN, Charles ; m. Catharine Wisebur}^, Dec. 4, 1751. Child : 

1. Catharine, b. Dec. 30, 1753. 

I. GUNN, Jasper of Roxbury, Mass.; came in the Defence in 1635, 
aged 29 ; was a freeman in 1636 ; a physician in Hartford some time, 
and after 1657 removed to Milford, Conn. He died in 1670. Chil- 
dren : 

2. Mehitable ; ni. Fenn , 5. IJaniel. 

3. fobamah. 6. Samuel. 

4. Abel. 

4. Abel, son of Jasper Gunn ; m. Mary, daughter of John Smith 
of Milford, Oct. 29, 1667. She was the third bride that settled in 
Derby. Her father, one of the ten original purcha.sers of Derby land, 
gave her and her husband his right in Derby lands in 1668. He was 
the first town clerk, beginning his record in 1665-6, and continuing it 
until near 1690. He had no children and gave all his property and 
lands in Derby to his nephew Abel Gunn, son of Jobamah, which will 
the town confirmed by vote in 1709 

7. Serg. Abel Gunn. called Jr., the heir to his uncle's property, 
came to Derby and m Agnes, youngest dau. of Joseph Hawkins, May 
24, 1704. He died Feb. 26, 1721. Children: 

8. Abel, b. May 7 [out]. 11. Sarah, b. Apr. 3, 1713; ni. John 

9. Abigail, b. Sept. 16, 1707; m. John Wa.shbon. 

Holbrook. 12. Enos, b. Aug. 8, 1715. 

10 Nathaniel, b. Sept. r, 1709; m. 

\ 8. Capt. Abel, son of Serg. Abel and Agnes (Hawkins) Gunn ; m. 
ist Hannah Harger, Aug. 2, 1727, who died Mar. 13, 1758. and he 
m. 2d Hannah French, who died Jan. 24, 1781, aged 65. ,He died 
Sept. 15, 1769. Children : 

13. Abel, b. July 29, 1735; ^^- Mar. 14, 17. Hannah, b. Oct. 8, 1744. 

1738. 18. Abel, b. Jan. 15, 1747. 

14. Hannah, b Jan. 28, 1737; d. Mar. 2, 

i73«- 

15. Enos, ) b. Apr. 20, 1738; d. Se])t. 

> 16, 1767, aged 29. 

16. Agnes, ) m. Josiah Nettleton. 

10. Nathaniel, son of Serg. Abel and Agnes (Hawkins) Gunn ; 
m Sarah Wheeler, Dec. 10, 1728. 
19. Mary, b. Jan. 12, 1730. 20 Sarah, b. Feb. 15, 17 — [out]. 

GUNN, Abel, of Waterbury ; m. Abigail Davis, Dec 2, 1756. 
Child : 

I. Sarah, b. Sept. 5, 1757. 

HALE, Abraham; m. Martha Smith, Mar 3, 1756. Children : 
I. Beman, b. Oct. i, 1757. 2. Hannah, b. July 28, 1759. 

HALE, Samuel; m. Anne Pierce, Nov. 23, 1757. Child: 
I. Elisha, b. Oct. 15, 1757. 

HALLOCK, Peter, the ancestor of those of that name in this 
country, was one of thirteen pilgrim fathers, including the Rev. John 



724 HISTOKY OF DERBY. 

Youngs, who came from England in 1640, and landed at New Haven. 
There on the 21st of October, 1640, the Rev. Mr Youngs "'gathered 
his church anew " under the auspices of the Rev John Davenport, 
minister, and Theophilus Eaton, governor of New Haven, and in the 
sime autumn Mr. Youngs and his church, consisting of 12 or 13 
families took up their abode in Southold, then comprising the whole 
nordieastern part of Long Island, landing at the harbor of what is now 
Southold village, on the Peconic bay, where as a church and town they 
retained their connection with the New Haven Colony until 1662, and 
with Connecticut until 1674. 

Peter Hallock, was the first of the thirteen who stepped on shore 
at Southold, that part of the village being still called" Hallock's 
Neck " and the beach extending from it " Hallock's Beach " 'J he tract 
of land called Oyster Ponds, now called Orient, was purchased from 
the Indians by him. He then returned to England for his wife who 
when he married her was a widow with one son by a former husband, 
a Mr Howell, whom he promised if she accompanied him, her son 
should share in his property. When he retuned he found the Indians 
had resold Orient, and he then purchased, about ten miles west of 
Southold village, a farm extending from Long Island Sound on the 
north to Peconic Bay on the south, and extending west into Aque- 
bogue, about ten miles west of Mattatuck village. 

His original homestead and that of his wife's son Howell were on 
adjacent lots and are still (or were in 1863) occupied by their descend- 
ants, B L. Hallock and S. Howell. 

Peter Hallock had one son William who died in 1684, leaving four 
sons : Thomas, Peter, William H. and John Of these John had four 
sons, one of whom, William, died at Brookhaven (Stony Brook near 
Setawket) in 1765. His son Wdliam, born in 1722. lived many years 
in Stony .Brook, was in Greenwich during most of the Revolutionary 
war, in which he suffered much, in command of picket boats on the 
Sound. His daughter Anne (Mrs Lodowick Hackstaff) died in 1806, 
aged 83, and one of his three sons, William, Jr , was five years a vol- 
unteer in the Revolutionary army, and one year a prisoner in the old 
Sugar House, New York. His third son was the late Zephaniah Hal- 
lock, ship builder in Derby. 

HARD. Samuel, m. Elizabeth. Child : 

1. James, b. Jan. i, 1695. 

HARD, James, on Dec. 15, 1707, petitioned the town for ten acres 
of land above Eight-Mile brook. 

T. HARGER, Jabez. was at Stratford, and m. Margaret, dau. of Henry 
Tomlinson in 1662, and settled in Derby in 1669, on Sentinel Hill east 
of Edward Riggs's residence. He died in 1678. His widow Margaret 
died Mar. 17, 1698. Children: 

2. Samuel, b. Sept. 29, 1663. 6. Abigail, b. Mar. 2, 1671. 

3. Sarah, b. Feb. 5, 1666. 7. Mary b. Mar., 1673. 

4. Anna, b. Feb. 23, 166S ; m. John Chat- 8. Ebenezer, b. Dec. 25, 1674. 

field. 9. Abraham, b. Apr, i, 1677. 

5. Mary, b. Feb. 17, 1670. 10. Jabez (posthumous). 



GEXEALOGIF.S. 725 

2. Samuel, son of Jabcz and Mar<:aret Harger m. Hannah Stiles 
of Stratford. May 9, 1693, and died about 1699 ; and his widow m. 
John Tibbals, Mar. 28. 1700. Children: 

II. Joseph, b. Apr. 20, 1694; d. voung;. 12. Margaret, b. Dec. 6, 1695; m- Joseph 

Johnson. 
13. Samuel, b. Sept. 27, 1698; d. young. 

8. F.BENEZKR. son of Jabez and Margaret (TomUnson) Harger, m. 
Abigail, dau. of John Tibbals, Sept. 15, 1698. Children : 

14. Joseph, b. Oct. 13, 1704; d. Dec. 27. 16. John, b. Sept. 22, 171 1 ; m. 

1705. 17. Jo.'^eph, b. Nov. 3, 1712; d. Aug. 6, 

15. Ebenezer, b. Feb. 11, 1707. 1714- 

9. Abrah.am, son of Jabez and Margaret (Tomlinson) Harger, m. 
Hannah, dau. of Serg. Samuel Riggs, May i, 1703. The births of 
several of his children were recorded in Stratford. Children : 

18. Abigail, b. July 2, 1706. 20. Jabez, b. May iS, 1711. 

19. Hannah, b. May u, 1709; m, Capt. 2t. "Edward, b. SVpt. 14, 1714. 
Abel Gunn. ' 22 Sarah, b. Aug. 4, 17 16. 

10. Jabez, son of Jabez and Margaret (Tomlinson) Harger, m. ist 
Ann Gilbert of Stratford, Jan. 24. 1705 ; and 2d Anna, dau. of John 
Tibbals. Children : 

23. Ann, b. Sept. 25, 1708. 27. Samuel, b. Mar. 11, 1723; m. 

24. Benjamin, b. Apr. 24, 1715. 28. Margaret, b. Apr. 23, 1725. 

25. Jehoadan, b. Mar. 11, 1718; m. IJen- 29. Eliz.ibeth, b. Dec. 30, 1729. 

jamin Tom inson. 30. Jabez, b. Feb. 24, 1731. 

26. Comfort, b. Sept. 10, 1720; m. Eliph- 
alet Hotchkiss. 

16. John, son of Ebenezer and Abigail (Tibbals) Harger, m. Rachel 
Stevens, Dec. 14, 1734. Children: 

31. Abigail, b. Sept. 13, 1735; d. young. 2i3- Abigail, b. May 11, 1739. 

32. John, b. June 6, 1737. 

27. Samuel, son of Jabez and Anna (Tibbals) Harger, m. istPhebe 
Vv'ooster, Dec. 9, 1747 ; m. 2d Rebecca . Children: 

34. Ebenezer, b. Mar. 2, 1748. 37. Anna, b. May 30, 1760. 

35. Edward, b. Feb. 15, 1750. 38. Naomi, b. June 13, 1767. 

36. Patience, b. May 20, 1754. 39. Philo, b. Sept. 16, 1769. 

30. Jabez, son of Jabez and Anna (Tibbals) Harger, m. Sarah Du- 
rand, Jan. 24, 1758. Children : 

40 Sarah, b. Aug. 5, 1760. 42. Jabez, b. Nov. 22, 1766. 

41. Elizabeth, b. July 14, 1764. 

35. Edward, son of Samuel Harger, m. Susannah Dickinson of 
Stratford, .Aug. 16, 1780. Child: 
43. Eber b. Aug. 31, 17S1. 

HARGER, Ephraim, perhaps son of Abraham (No. 9"); m. Mary 
Humphrey, June 5, 1735. She may have been the dau. of Capt. James 
Humphrey of Milford and of Derby. Children : 

1. Abraham, b. Sept. 14, 1735. 5- Abraham, b. Oct 26, 1745; m. Mary 

2. Sarah, b. Dec. 24, 1739. Clinton of New Haven, Sept 25, 

3. Margaret, b. Nov. 26, 1741. 1766. 

4. Benjamin, b. Dec. 22, 1743. 



726 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

4. Benjamin, son of Ephraim and Mary Harger, m. Amy Tuttle, 
July 4, 1768, and died Mar. 15, 1779. Children : 

6. Benjamin, b. Jan. 12, 1769. 9. Lucina, b. Sept. 17, 1776; d. July 4, 

7. Sarah, b. Jan. 23, 1771. 1778. 

8. Ephraim, b. May 23, 1774. 10. Jo.seph, b. Apr. 19, 1779. 

HARGER, Jonas, m. Elizabeth . Child : 

I. Ruth, b. Feb. 10, 1704. 

HARGER, JosiAH, m. Sarah . Child : 

1. David, b. Apr. 9, 1767. 

HARRIS, John. m. Rachel Moss, Feb. 5, 1740. 

I. Timothy, b. Oct. 6, 1742. 2. John, b. Mar. 5, 1745. 

1. HAWKINS, Robert, came from England in the •' Elizabeth and 
Ann " in 1635 

2. Joseph, his son, said to have been born at Milford in 1642, was 
jjrobably the Joseph who m Apr 8, 1668. and settled at that time on 
Birmingham Point. He with John Brown bought the Point, about 40 
acres, of Alexander Bryan, June 5. 1665, but Brown soon after removed 
to Newark, N J. About the time of his marriage Mr Hawkins received 
a grant of land from the town, lying north of and adjoining to this pur- 
chase ; the northern boundary of which crossed the Neck from about 
where the Ousatonic dam now is eastward, a little north of what is now 
known as the old Hawkins house, and down that little brook to the 
Naugatuck river. Mr. Hawkins probably resided at first in a house 
on the Point, built by Thomas Wheeler of Stratford, and afterwards 
built a house where now the old Hawkins house stands, on Hawkins 
street, where he died in 1682. When Mr. Hawkins made tlie purchase 
on the Point, he is said to be " of Stratford." Who his wife was is not 
known. Ebenezer Johnson (the first), in a deed, calls Joseph Hawkins 
his brother, and the supposition is that he was brother-in-law by mar- 
riage, but how is not certain. Children : 

3. Joseph, b. Feb. 14, 1669. 7. Mary, b. June 10, 1677. 

4. Ele.izer, b. Dec. 12, 1670. 8. John,b. Sept. 28,1679 ; d. Dec. 9,1691. 

5. Abigail, b. Feb. 2, 1672. 9. Lois, ) b. Nov. 6, i6[8i]. 

6. Robert, b. July 4, 1675 ; d. July, 1675. '°- Agnes, ) m. Abel Gunn 2d. 

3. Joseph, Jr., son of Joseph Hawkins, Jr., m Elizabeth Gunn of 
Millord, Aug. 9, 1693. and resided on his father's homestead. His 
will was dated Apr. 21, 1732, in which he mentions his warehouse, 
giving it to his grandson Joseph, son of Joseph. Children : 

II. Elizabeth, b. Apr. 11, 1694; m. 17. Moses, b. Aug. 2, 1703. 

Monsun. 18. Daniel, b. Mar. 9, 17 — [out]. 

12. Sarah, D. May 23, 1695 ' ^- ^9- Eleazer, b. Nov. 27, 1706. 

Wooster. 20. John, b, July 5, 1710. 

13. Joseph, b. Jan. i, 1697. 21. Miriam, b. Dec. 5, 1712. 

14. Abigail, b. July 31, 169S ; m. 22. Zechaiiah, b. Feb. S, 1717. 

Smith. 23. Hannah ; mentioned in her father's 

15. Mary, b. Apr. i, 1700. will. 

16. Eleazer, b. May 30, 1701 ; d. June 7, 

1702. 

13 Joseph, 3D, son of Joseph 2d and Elizabeth Gunn) Hawkins, 
m. Sarah Brewster, Nov 17, 1720. He died and his widow m. Bena- 
jah Johnson. Children : 



GE.XEALOGlIiS. 72/ 

23. Mary, b. Sept. 5, 1721 ; m. Ebeoe/er 24. Joseph, b. Apr. 30, 1724. 
Judd of Waterbury, Nov. 17, 1742, 
and had eight sons. 

17 Capt. Moses, son of Joseph 2d and Elizabeth (Giinn) Hawkins, 

m. Ann , who died a v^idow May 9, 1782, aged 77. He died Sept. 

10, 1760 (the day his grandson Isaac was born), aged 57. Children : 

25. Abraham. 31. Anna, b. Feb. 4, 1738. 

26. Sarah, b. Feb. ii, 1727. 32. Moses, b. Dec. 19, 1739; d. Dec. 29, 

27. Eli, b. Apr. 21, 1729. i739- 

28. Ann, b. Aug. i, 1731. 23- Moses, b. Feb. 14, 1741 ; d. Jan. 6, 

29. Eliezer, b. (_)ct. 5, 1733. 1742. 

30. Birtha, b. Dec. 20, 1735; ^- ^ept. 30, 34. Decline, b. Feb. 26, 1743. 

1751- 35. Eunice, b. June 14, 1750. 

18. Daniel, son of Joseph 2d and Elizabeth (Gunn) Hawkins, m. 
Anne, dau. of Timothy VVooster, Jan. 6, 1726, and died before 1732 
Child : 

36. Daniel, b. Apr. 3, 1727. 

19. Eleazer, son of Joseph 2d and Elizabeth (Gunn) Hawkins, m. 
Damaris, dau. of 'iimothy Wooster, Dec. 13, 1727. Children: 

37. Lois, b. July 5, 172S. 38. Robert, b. Oct. 15, 1729. 

20. John, son of Joseph 2d and Elizabeth (Gunn) Hawkins, m. 
Hannah Davis, Nov. 29, 1733. Children : 

39. Elijah, b. Nov. 8, 1734. 40. Elizabeth, b. Feb. 14, 1736. 

22. Zechariah, son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Gunn) Hawkins, m. 
1st Sarah Davis. July 6, 1737, who died, and he m. 2d Sarah Tonilin- 

son June 31, 1743, who died, and he m. 3d Mary , who died Aug. 

18, 1773, and hem. 4th Mrs. Rachel Perry, Feb. 16, 1774, who died 
July 26, 1786. He died in 1807, aged 90; lived in Quaker's Farm. 
Children : 

41. Sarah, b. Aug. I2, 1739. 48. Gaylord, b. Apr. 2, 1752. 

42. Mercy,!). June 26, 1740. 49. Ruth, b. June 22, 1754. 

43. Mary, b. May 7, 1744. 50. Silas, b. Sept. 22, 1756. 

•^^- l'v"\ .u ! I5- Tan. 10, 1746. 5'- Joseph, b. July 26, 1759- 

45. Elizabeth, \ -' ' '^ 52. Moses, b. Aug. 12, 1761. 

46. Elijah, b. Feb. 2, 1748. 53. Isaac, b. June 26, 1764. 

47. Army, b. Apr. 4, 175:. 54. Zechariah, b. Apr. 14, 1777. 

24 Joseph, son of Joseph and Sarah (Brewster) Hawkins, m. Mercy 
Riggs, Jan. 3, 1750. Children: 
55. Mercy, b. Aug. 21, T750; d. Sept. 19, 
1750- 

25. Abraham, son of Capt. Moses and Ann Hawkins, m. Elizabeth 
Bassett, Apr. 20, 1748, who died Aug 9, 1789, aged 6i. He died 
Apr. 10, 1760. Children: 

:;6. Mo.ses. b. May i, 1749; d. young. 60. .Abraham, b. i, 1758; m. 

57. Betty, b. Feb. 3, 1751 ; m. Marks, 6r. Isaac, b. Apr. 10, 1760 ; m. 

and removed to St. Stephens, where 62. David, b. Feb. 11, 1763. 

she was in 1792. 63. Naomi, b. Apr. 26, 1765; m. Levi 

58. Ann, b. Mar. 23, 1753; d. .Mar. 16, Smith; removed to New Milford. 

1766. . ''m- Ann, b. Sept. 6, 1768; m. Emmons 

59. Bethia, h. .A^ug. 25, 1755; m. Philo Scranton ; d. June 23, 1843. 
Johnson. 



728 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

61. Isaac, son of Abraham and Elizabeth (Bassett) Hawkins, m. ist 
Sarah Morse, who died, and he m 2d Anne Leavenworth, Apr. 23, 
1783. Children : 

65. Nancy, b. Jan- 26, 1784; d. Aug. 29, 69. Sophia, b. Apr. 10, 1791 ; d. Dec. 2, 

1854. " 1871. 

66. Nabbv, b. Oct. 24, 1786; d. July 2, 70. Maria, b. Nov. 25, 1794; d. Aug. 30, 

1787.' 1859. 

67. Isaac, b. Aug. 24, 1787; d. Jan. 2, 71. Abijahjb. Sept. 14, 1799 ; still living. 

1846. 

68. Betsev, b. June 17, 17S9; d. Nov. i, 

1876.' 

62. David, son of Abraham and Elizabeth (Bassett) Hawkins, m 
Hannah Durand, b. July 12, 1791. He died July 11, 1814, aged 52. 
Children : 

72. Truman. 74. Abram. 

73. Hannah. 75. David. 

74. Abram, son of David and Hannah Durand Hawkins, m. Chloe 
Tuttle Children : 

76. Abram, b. Nov. 16, 1810. 79. William, b. July 6, i8i6. 

77. Susan, b. Sept. 24, 1812; ni. James 80. Moses, b. Dec. 3, 1818. 
Weeks. 81. Thomas W , b. Dec. 26, 1820. 

78. David, b. July 4, 1814. 

Hawkins, Zadoc, m. ist Lydia Wilmot, Aug. 4, 1754 ; 2d Elizabeth 

Child : 

I. Thomas, b. Oct. 11, 1771. 

HAWKINS, Lieut. Samuel m. Sarah Smith, Mar. 16, 1758. Chil- 
dren : 
I. Claranah, b. Oct. 19, 1759. 2. Edward, b. Aug. 6, 1760. 

HAWKINS, Eleazer, m. Ruth Botsford, Jan. 7, 1762. Child : 
I. Samuel, b. June 4, 1762. 

HAWKINS, Mr. Joseph, died May 31, 1767. 
HAZELTON, Samuel, m. Abigail Chatfield, Sept. 16, 1755. 

I. Lydia, b. Mar. 22, 1756. 2. David, b. May 17, 1757. 

HEWISON, Samuel, m Hannah and died Feb. 18, 1698. 

Child : 

I. Joseph, d. July 30, 1698. 

HILL, Jonathan, m. Hannah Twitchell, Sept. 19, 17 17. Children : 
I. Huldah, b. Apr. 28, 1718. 2. Enoch, b. Oct. 13, 1719. 

HINMAN, Philo, m. Mary, dau. of John Coe, July 20, 1774. 
Children : 

1. John, b. Sept. 16, 1775; m Abigail 3. Mary, b. Aug. 26, 1779. 

Pool, June 2, 1796. 4. Charity, b. Oct. 30, 1783. 

2. Hannah, b. Sept. 13, 1777. 

HITCHCOCK, Samuel, m. Ann Johnson, Jan. 20, 1747-8. who 
died Apr. 14, 1760. Children : 

1. Samuel, b. June 8, 1750. 3. Mary, b. Mar. J 2, 1760. 

2. Elizabeth, b. July u, 1752. 

HITCHCOCK, David, m Anne Chatfield, May 4, 1774. 



gf:nealogies. 729 

HITCHCOCK, Jonathan, m. Abigail Beecher, Jan. 21, 1747. 
Children : 

1. David, b. Oct. i, 1753. ,v Jonathan, b. Jan. 4, 1761. 

2. Mellicent, b. 1760; d. Apr. 2S, 1766. 

1. HOLBROOK, John, emigrated from Derby, England, and set- 
tled at Oyster Bay, Long Island. 

2. Dea. Abel, son of John Holbrook, was the first male child born 
at Oyster Bay, L. I. (in 1653 , and came to Milford, Conn., where he 
married Anne Meriam (?). Her name on the Derby records is written 
Hannah. He settled on the farm now known as the " Swift farm " 
about 1676, ha\ing received a grant of land a little before that date. 
He kept an ordinary (tavern) several years, and was a prominent citizen 
in the town. His wife Hannah died Oct. 20, 1740, aged 72, and he 
died May 30, 1747, in his 94th jear. Children : 

3. Abel. 6. Israel, d. Mar. 11, 1693. 

4. Daniel. 7. Abigail, b. Nov. 25, 1694, d. May 5, 

5. Richard, b. Dec. 24, 16S4; ni. Esther 1709. 

Nichols, June 9,. 1708. S. John, b. Oct. 19, 1699. 

3. Abel, Jr., son of Dea. Abel and Hannah Holbrook ; m. Tabitha 
Wooster, Jan. 29, 1723. Children: 

9. Abel, b. July 28, 1723. ii. Nathaniel, b. Aug. 15, 1729. 

ID. Richard, b. Feb. 16, i7.?6. 12. Daniel b. Apr. 8, 1733. 

4. Daniel, son of Dea. Abel and Hannah Holbrook ; m. Elizabeth 
Riggs, Jan. 22, 1729, and resided on his father's homestead. Chil- 
dren : 

13. Samuel, b. Feb. 6, 1733; '^- Dec. 29, 15. Ruth, b. Oct. 19, 1737. 

1752. 16. Ann, b. Feb. 16, 1739. 

14. Elizabeth, b. Aug. 3, 1735. '7- Daniel, b. Sept. 21, 1747. 

5. Richard, son of Dea. Abel and Hannah Holbrook ; m. Esther 
Nichols June 9, 1708. He died May 3, 1709, aged 25. bhe died- 
Nov. 23, 1712. 

8. John, son of Dea. Abel and Hannah Holbrook; m. Abigail, 
dau. of Serg. Abel Gunn of Derby Aug. 27, 1723 His residence was 
adjoining the old Episcopal grave-yard. He and his wife Abigail gave 
the ground for 'this grave-yard and the site for the first Episcopal 
church. He was one of the reliable, successful men of his day and 
died June 5, 1752, aged 52 years. Hence there is an error on page 
195 of this book, in which it is stated that he withdrew from the Epis- 
copal church at the beginning of the Revolution. It must have been 
his son, who was the Capt. John complained of by Dr. Mansfield, as 
given in Dr. E. E. Beardsley's History of the Episcopal Church in 
Conn. Children : 

18. John, b. Aug 12, 1726. 

19. Abigail, b. July 27, 1729; d. June 29, 

i73«- 

17. Dea. Daniel, son of Daniel and Elizabeth Riggs ; m. Anne 
Hitchcock, Oct. 8, 1766. He was colonel of the mililia. and was very 
active during the Revolution in support of the war. Children : 
92 



730 



HISTORY OF DERBY. 



20. Melissa, b. June 28, 1767; m.; had no 25. Ruth, bapt. Mar., 1779. 
family. -6. David, bapt. Mar. 18, 1781. 

21. Daniel, b. Apr. 30, 1769. 27. Mabel, bapt. Apr. 20, 1783. 

22. Samuel, bapt. Mar. 24, 1771. 28. Josiah b. in 1788. 

23. Betty, bapt. Dec. 6, 1772. Six others. 

24. Nabby, bapt. May 4, 1777. 

18. Capt John, Jr., son of John and Abigail Holbrook; m. Esther 
Nichols of Newtown, Nov. 4. 1750, and resided on his father's home- 
stead adjoining the Kpiscopal b'uryingground until his denth Jan. 28, 
1801, aged 74. His wife died Feb. 5, 1795, aged 63. Children : 

29. John, b. Oct. 2, 1751 ; d. Aug. 7, 1752. 38. Austin, b. Nov. 17, 1766; sea capt ; 

30. John, b. Mar 13, 1753. went South, m., had family. 

31. Abigail, b. Dec. 19, 1754; d. Sept. 39. Ann, b. Jan. 22, 1769; m. Rev. James 

"Si 1757- Noyes of Wallingford. 

32. Philo, b. Nov. 23, 1756. 40. Richard, b. Oct. 29, 1771; d. Oct. 30, 

33. Abigail, b Sept. 13,1757. i77i- 

34. Nathaniel, b Oct i, 1758. 41. Sarah, b. Mar. 30, 1773; d. Mar. 21, 

35. Esther, b. Sept. 18, 1760; m. Zalmon 1786. 

Curtiss of Newtown. 42. Richard, b. .Aug. i, 1775. 

36. Abel, b. Dec. 4, 1762. 

37. Abigail, b. Dec. 9, 1764; m. Wilson 

Hurd. 

28. Josiah, son of Dea. Daniel, Jr., and Anne Holbrook ; m. Lucy, 
dau. of Rev. Z: Swift in 18 15. Children : 
43. Alfred, b. Feb. 17, 1816. 44. Dwight. b. Apr. 10, 1S17. 

30. Capt. John. (3d) son of Captain John, Jr , and Esther Holbrook, 
m. HuldahFox of Quaker's Farm ; lived on Great Hill ; was a deacon 
of the Congregational church ; was a soldier in the Revolution. Chil- 
dren : 

45. John. 48- Hannah. 

46. iJenjamin, a sea captain. 49. Abigail. 

47. David, a seaman. 

32. Philo, son of Capt. John, Jr., and Esther Holbrook, m. Anna 
Wooster, June 3, 1779 ; resided at Seymour. Children: 

50. Sarah, b. Aug. 11, 1780; m. Eben 53. Abijah, b. May 2, 1786; m. Sarah 

Riggs. Webster; had Thomas, Sarah. 

51. Eunice, b. Jan. 15, 1782. 

52. Sabra, b. May 2, 1784; m. Titus 

Beach. 
34. Nathaniel, son of Capt. John, Jr., and Esther Holbrook, m. 
A Ills Davis, Dec. 20, 1778 ; was in the Revolution ; lived and died at 
Wesquantuck. Children: 

54. Dan, b. Mar. 28, 1780. 56. Esther, b. Sept. 7, 1783. 

55. Cyrus, b. Jan. i, 1782. 57. Ruth, b. Jan. 29, 1786. 

36. Capt Abel, son of Capt. John, Jr., and Esther Holbrook ; was 
in the Revolution. Children : 

58. Thomas Clark. 61. Patty; m. Joseph Piatt. 

59. Abel L. 62. Hannah. 

60. William ; d. young. 63. Esther A. 

42. Richard, son of Capt. John, Jr., and Esther Holbrook, m. ist 
Sarah Lum, Sept. 13, 1797, who died Nov. 21, 1798 ; he m. 2d Grace 
Hawkins, Oct. 6, 1799 ; lived on Great Hill ; 3d Rebecca Stoddard. 
Children : 



GENEA LOGIES. 73 1 

64. Sarah, b. July 30, 1800. 69. Esther. 

65. Philo, b. Mar. 12, 1802. 70. Howard. 

66. Austin, b. Jan. 21, 1S04. 71. Herbert. 

67. Richard, b. Nov. 19, 1805 ; d. Dec. 72. Harriet. 

I 5, 1806. 73. Carrie. 

68. Grace. 

43. Alfred, son of Josiah and Lucy Holbrook, m Melissa, dau. of 
Abiel Pierson of Derby, Mar. 24, 1843. Children : 

74. Josiah. 77. Agnes Irene. 

75. Recinald Hcber. 78. Anne Lucv. 

76. John 1!. 79. Alfred H.' 

44. DwiGHT, son of Josiah and Lucy Holbrook ; in Children: 

80. Helen. 84 Frederick. 

81. Charles W. 85. Lilly. 

82. Zephaniah. 86. Dvvight. 
&2. Lucy. 88. Goodwin. 

45. John, son of Capt. John 3d ; m. Betsey Lum. Children : 

89. Grace; m. I. Chatfield. 91. Betsey; m. Northrop. 

90. Benjamin ; m. Harger. 

58. Thomas Clark, son of Capt Abel Holbrook, enlisted in the war 
of 1812, under Capt VVm. Humphreys ; m. Maria Benham ; is living, 
being over go years of age. Children : 

92. William Elliott; educated in Yale. 94. Noyes B. 

93. Charles F. ' ':'-rr.JtJ^lU^' 

65. Capt. Philo, son of Richard and Sarah (Lum) Holbrook, m. 
Children : 

95. Andrew. 98. Daniel 

96. Philo, I 99. Nehemiah. 
Daughter, j 100. George. 

97. Royal. 

97. William E.,son of Thomas C Holbrook, m Esther A. Bennett. 
Children : 
loi. Maria Delphine. 102. Mary M. J. 

HORSKY, Thomas, Capt ; m. Eunice Hawkins, Feb. 12, 1771. 
"Capt Thomas Horsey d. June 19, 1789, aged about 46. He was 
the son of Thomas and Margery Horsey^ born at Comb St. Nicholas, 
in Somersetshire, old England. The father of said Thomas Horsey 
was the son of Ralph Horse}', of Dungat, in said county ; his mother, 
Margery, was daughter to Mr. Richard W alter, of Wadford, near said 
Comb St. Nicholas. The said Comb St. Nicholas is near Chard " 
Children : 

1. Ralph, b. Nov. 27, 1771. 4. .Sarah, b. Oct. 31, 1780. 

2. Eunice, b. June 19, 1773. 5. Nancy, b. .Sept. 26, 1782. 

3. Samuel William, b. July 8, 1778. 0. Thomas Walter, b. Mar. 10, 1784. 

I. HOTCHKISS, Pxijah, came to Derby about the time Eliphalet 
Hotchkiss did. Whose sons they were has not been ascertained. 
Elijah may have been m when he came. He m. Mehitable Hotchkiss, 
of New Haven, Nov 11, 1761, and d. Sept. 2, 1806 She d. Mar. 18, 
1804, aged 61. Children : 



732 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

I. Leverett, b. Oct. 6, 1762; m. Sarah 4. Elizabeth, b. June 17, 1769; d. Aug. 

Burritt, Aug. 14, 1785; had " Wyl- 29, 1794, aged 25. 

lys," b. April 25, 1788. 5. Mehitable, b. July 28, 1772; d. Nov. 4, 
-,. Phebe, b. April 2, 1764. 1833, aged 6r. 

3. Elizabeth, b. Nov. 16, 1766; d. 6. Cyrus, b. Aug. 30, 1777. 

HOTCHKISS, Dea. Eliphalet, came to Derby and m. Comfort, 
dau. of Jabez Harger, Jr., Dec 26, 175 1. Settled at North End. He 
was a carpenter and builder, justice of tlie peace, deacon of the 
" First Church of Christ," and a prominent man in the business of the 
town. He was b. in 1727 ; d. July 5, 1803 ; said to have been aged 
76. His wife Comfort d. Mar. 11, 1802, aged 82. Children : 

1. Susannah, b. Jan. 6, 1753; m. Daniel 4. Moses, b. Dec. 28, 1757; d. May 9, 

Tomlinson. i799- 

2. Levi, b. May 2, 1754. 5. David, b. Dec. 30, 1759; d. Aug. 30, 

3. Eliphalet, b. April i, 1756; d Feb. 25, 1776. 

1795. 6. Philo, b. Nov. 26, 1761 ; d. June 22, 

1787, at sea. 

2. Levi, son of Eliphalet and Comfort Hotchkiss, m. 1st Phebe, 
who d. April 3, 1789; 2d Betsey, who d. April 8, 1791 ; 3d Sarah, 
who d Dec. i, 1801 ; 4th Susannah Children : 

7. Elipha. TO. Phebe; d. Aug. 19, 1873, aged 89. 

8. Lucy; d. Aug. 19, 1819, aged 37. u. David. 

9. Betsey. 12. Levi. 

13. Abbe. 

7. Elipha, son of Levi and Phebe Hotchkiss, m Nancy ; d. 

Sept 21, 1858, aged 81. His wife Nancy d, Nov. 15, 1865, aged 86. 
Children : 

14. William. 

15. Albert 

16. Mary Ann. 

17. Burr. 

18. Harriet. 

19. Eli. 25. Harvey. 

HOTCHKISS, John, m Betsey Riggs, Oct. 16, 1796. 

HOTCHKISS, Daniel, m. Sarah ; had Eliphalet, b. Nov. i, 

1727. 

HOVVD, John, had children : 
I. John, m. Hannah Smith, Mar. i, 1764. 2. Betty, b. Sept. 6, 1743. 

Howd, John, ^nd wife had child Hester, b. Mar. 5, 1746 ; and John 
Howd (probably the same) and wife Nabbe had child Sarah, b. June 
4, 1752. There are several considerations which indicate that this 
was an Indian family, the associate with Chuse. 

HULL, Richard, came from Derbyshire, Eng., and was made free- 
man at Dorchester, Mass., in April, 1634, and removed to New Haven, 
Conn., in 1639. His son John was baptized in 1640. This John the 
Derby family claim to be their ancestor. Judge Sava;2,e thinks John, 
the son of Andrew, was the settler in Derby. Richard and Andrew 
were brothers, so said, and each of them had a son John, apparently, 
one of these settled in Stratford and Derby, the other settled in Kil- 
lingworth, and was the surgeon in King Philip's war, instead of John 
of Derby. 



20. 


John. 


21. 


Phebe. 


22. 


Jane. 


-3- 


Hannah. 


24. 


Amelia. 



GEXEALOOrES. 733 

Jo^N, son of Richard Hull, was accepted as a planter at Stratford 
in 1 66 1, and received grants of lands in 1667 ; and was accepted as 
an inhabitant at Derby in 1668, receiving a grant of land, but does 
not appear to have removed his family thither until 1675. He became 
a prominent man at once in the transactions of the town ; was em- 
ployed by the town to build the first parsonage house, and also the 
first corn and flour mill in the town ; built two if not three dwelling 
houses for himself and his sons ; was on the building committee of 
the first meeting-house, and probably was the chief director of the 
work. He acquired considerable landed property with the mill, in the 
town, all of which, apparently, he gave to his sons John and Joseph 
in 1696. He removed to Wallingford in 1687, where he received a 
tract of about seven hundred acres of land from that town, where he 
is called Doctor, and where he died Dec. 6, 171 1. He m. ist probably 
at Stratford, but who is not known. He m. 2d Mary Jones. Oct. ig, 
1672. She died, and he m. 3d Rebecca Turner, Sept. 20, 1699". Chil- 
dren : 

1. John, b. Mar. 14, 1662. 6. Richard, b. Oct. 16, 1674; removed to 

2. Samuel, b. Feb. 4, 1664. Wallingford. 

3. Mary, b. Oct. 31, 1666; m. fohn Prin- 7. Ebenezer, b. Mar. 6, 1678 ; removed to 

die'. " Wallingford. 

4. Joseph, b. 1668. 8. Jeremiah, M D., b. Sept. 28, 1679; re- 

5. Benjamin, M. D , b. Apr. 10, 1672, at moved to Wallingford. 

Stratford; m. Elizabeth Andrews of 9. Andrew, b. July 15, 16S5; removed to 
Wallingford ; was a noted man. Wallingford. 

I. John, Jr., son of Doct. John HuU'^, m. Hannah Prlndle, proba- 
bly, and lived a time on the hill near the Riggs farm, but afterwards 
settled near his mill, back of Ansonia, the place still being known 
by his name. He was a man of solid worth ; representative, select- 
man, farmer and miller. He died May 25, 1753, aged 91. Children : 

10. Deborah, b. Dec. 29, 1691 ; d. Feb. 15. Mary. 

17, 1772; not m. 16. Elijah, b. Mar. 25, 1707 ; d. July 23, 

11. John, b. Jan. 9, 1694. 1709. 

12. Daniel, b. Mar. 16, 1700. 17. Ebenezer, b. July 8, 1709; d. Jan. 19, 

13. Priscilla, b. June 3, 1702. i7-3, being drowned in the Nauga- 

14. Miles, b. July 6, 1704. tuck 

4. Capt. Joseph, son of Doct. John Hull. m. Jan. 20, 1691, Mary, 
dau. of Isaac Nichols of Fairfield. She died Apr. 5, 1733, and he m. 
2d Hannah I Botsford', widow of John Trindle, Nov. 14, 1735. He 
lived on the hill a time, near the Riggs farm ; then removed to Up 
Town; was representative, captain, selectman (appointed 1716^^. and 
had a large part in the business and responsibilities of the town. He 
died Oct 5, 1744, aged 75. Children : 

18. Samuel, b. Nov. 15, 1692. 23. Mary, b. Sept. 13, 1699; m Timothy 

19. Mary, b. Aug. 2, 1693. Russell. 

20. Joseph, b. May 28, 1694. 24. Sarah, b. Aug. 13, 1701 ; m. 

21. Caleb, b. Feb. 7, 1696; settled in Beach of Stratford. 

Cheshire. 25. Ahijah, b Dec, 1703. ^ 

22. Andrew, b. Jan. 13, 1698. 26. Nathan, b. Nov 26, 1709. 



"Wallingford History. 

■^The name was written with the s, Hulls, 100 vears ago. 



734 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

II John, 3D, son of John Hull, m. Child : 
27. John, b Oct. 

12. Daniel, son of John Hull, Jr., m. Elizabeth Lum, Mar. 2, 1732. 
Children : 

2S. Daniel, b. Dec. 20, 1734; d. Feb. 8, 32. Ebenezer, b. Dec. 22, 1741 ; d. Jan 
173S. 18, 1764. 

29. Lemuel, b. Nov. 7, 1735; <^'- Feh. 15, 33. John, b. June 7, 1744. 

{738. 34. Jeremiah, b. Oct. 22, 1752. 

30. Elijah, ) 1 AT o 

31. Eliiabeth, p' Nov. 7, 1738- 

18. Samuel, son of Capt. Joseph Hull, m. Anna Riggs, Jan. 15, 
1724, who died Mar, 22, 1731, aged 26. He resided at Old Town, and 
was partner in the old Hull's mills. Children : 

35. [out], b. Jan. 25, 1725. ^y. Eunice, b. Nov. 19, 1727; m. John 

30. Hannah, b. May 11, 1726. Wooster. 

38. Ann, d. 

20. Joseph. 2D. son of Capt. Joseph and Mary (Nichols) Hull, m. 
Sarah, dau. of Dea. Daniel Bennett, who resided across the Ousatonic 
opposite Derby Narrows. This Dea. Bennett was the man who gave 
a breakfast to Gen. Lafayette and his officers, on Sunday morning, 
while the latter was marching his army from Rhode Island to join 
Washington's army at the Highlands. Children : 

39. Sarah, b. Sept. 7, 1726. 42. Anna, b. June 9, 1736; m. Rev. Dr. 

40. Joseph, b. Feb. 18, 1728. Mansfield. 

41. Elizabeth, b. Sept. 18, 1731 ; d. Apr. 

16, 1738. 

40. Capt. Joseph, 3D, son of Joseph and Sarah (Bennett) Hull, m. 
Elizabeth, dau. of William Clark, merchant, of Derby, May 3, 1750, 
who died Jan. 1826, aged 95 years. She was m. three times after the 
death of Capt. Hull. He died in 1775. His children are thus recorded 
on the town books. Children : 

43. Jo.seph, b. Oct. 27, 1750, at }4 an 46. Elizabeth, b. Jan. .20, 1759, at 3 of 

hour after three of the clock in the the clock in the morning ; m. 

morning. Smith of Derby. 

44. Wil.iam, b. June 24, 1753, at >^ an 47. Isaac, b. Dec. '28, 1760, at 6 of the 
hour past five o'clock in the morn- clock in the morning. 

ing. 48. David, b. Mar. 27, 1765. <■•■ ' 

45. Samuel, b. Aug. 5, 1755, at 7 o'clock -;f -49. Sarah, b. Jan. 6, 1769; m. -^ — Gil- 
in the afternoon. lett.' 

50. Levi, b. Apr. 29, 1771 ; d. young. 

43. Lieut. Joseph, son of Joseph 3d and Elizabeth (Clark) Hull, 
entered the army in 1776 as a lieutenant of artillery and was taken pris- 
oner at the capture of Fort Washington ; was e.vchanged in 1778, after 
great suffering He died in Jan 1825. His 2d wile was the widow 
of Silas Nichols, and mother of Rev. Charles Nichols. (See Biog.) 
Children : 

51. Joseph, b. in 1771. 55. Daniel, b. 1784 ; d. in Miss., 1817. 

52. Levi, b. in 1773. 56- Henry, b. 1788; d. in Huntington, 

53. Isaac, b. Mar. g, 1775. i''^33- 

54. William, b. 1781; d. in New York, 57. Charles, b. 1792; d. in New York. 

1812. 



(iEXKALOGIES. 735 

44. William, son of Joseph 30! and Elizabeth Hull, ni. Sarah, only 
dau. of Hon. Abraham Fuller of Newtown, who died .Aug 21, 1826, 
aged 67. He died Nov 25, 1825. aged 72. (See Biog. ) Children : 

5S. Sarah, b. Jan. 29, 17S3; m. John Mc- 62. Rebecca Parker, b. Feb. 7, T790; m. 
Kessoii of New York. Samuel Clarke of Newton, Alas-^. ; 

59. Eliza, b. Jan. 22, 17S4; m. Isaac Mc- had six children, one of them the 

Lellan ot Portland; had Abraham well known Rev. James Freeman 

Fuller, b. Mar. 8, 1786; grad. Har- Clarke of Boston, author of a num- 

vard College, " 1S05 ; studied law; ber of books; another son, Samuel 

appointed Capt. in 9th Inft. U. .S. C. Clarke, compiled the Hull Gen- 

A , and was killed at the battle of ealogy. 
Lundv's Lane, July 25, 1814. 63. Caroline, b. Apr. 30, 1793; ^^- Rufus 

60. Ann Binncy, b. June 19, 1787; m. in K. Page, merchant of Hallowell. Me. 

Detroit, Cai)t. H. H. Hickman. 64. Julia Kno.v, b. 1795; "^- Joseph 

61. Maria, b. June 7, 1788; m. Edward Wheeler of Augusta, Ga., merchant. 

F. Campbell of Augusta, Ga. She 
wrote an account of her father's 
service in the Revolution. 

45. Lieut. Samuel, son of Joseph 3d and Elizabeth (Clarke) Hull, 
served as lieutenant in the Revolution. Children : 

6:;. Emily; m. Bassett. 6S. William. 

66. Harriet; 69. Sophia; m. Moulton. 

67. Eliza; m. Waller of Ga. 

47. Isaac, son of Joseph 3d and Elizabeth (Clark) Hull. m. Martha 
Clark ; removed to Canada about 1804, and afterwards removed to 
Ohio, where he died in 1829, aged 77, and his wife died in 1817, aged 
64. Children : 

70. David, b. 1771 ; a captain. 75. Ann Eliza. 

71. Isaac, b. 1773. 7b. Levi; aid to Gen. Harrison. 

72. William. 77. Isaac, b. iSoi. 
.■J2- Sally. 78. Almira, b. 1803. 

74. Lycy. 79. Joseph, b. 1807. 

4^. David, son of Joseph 3d and Elizabeth (Clarke) Hull, studied 
medicine with Doct. Wm Eustis of Boston ; m. the dau. of Andrew 
Elliot, D. D., of Boston. Nov. 10, 1789 ; settled as a physician in Fair- 
field, Conn., where he died in 1834, aged 70. Children : 
80. Eliza, 81. Susan ; m. John C. Sanford, mer- 

chant of New York city. 

51. Joseph, son of Joseph Hull 4th, studied medicine with his uncle 
David in Fairfield ; m. Susan Baiton in 1800 ; settled in New York 
state and died in 1810. Children : 

82. Joseph B., b. 1801 ; Capt. U. S. 83. Eliza ; d. in 1859, unm. 

Navy. 84. Sarah Ann; m. Ira Ufford of Derby. 

52. Levi, son of Joseph Hull 4th, m. Mary Wheeler in 181 1 ; died 
Jan. 23, 1848. Children : 

85. Mary Augusta ; m. F. A. Piatt, 1851. 87. William Frederick; d. Aug. i, 1833. 

86. Sarah Lucy W. ; m. P. S. Galpin, 

1851. 

53. LsAAC, son of Joseph Hull 4th, m. in 18 13, Anna Hart of Say- 
brook, Conn., and died in Veh., 1843, without children. His widow 
Anna died in Nov. 1874, aged 84 years. (See Biog. of Com Isaac). 

I. HUMPHREYS, Rev. Daniel, is said to have descended from 
Simsbury, Conn., but it has been impossible to obtain the precise con- 



736 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

nection. He married the widow of John Bowers, and dau. of Capt. 

John Riggs, April 18, 1739- (See Biog. of him and his wife.) This 

family spelled the name with the s, especially did General David. 
Children : 

2. Daniel, b. May 18, 1740. 5. Sarah, b July 29, 174S; m. Rev. S. 

3. John, b. Jan. 3, 1744. Mills. (See Biog ). 

4. Elijah, b. Apr. 27, 1746. 6. David, b. July 10, 1752. 

2. Daniel, son of Rev Daniel and Sarah Humphreys, was graduated 
at Yale College in 1757, when he was 17 years of age ; became a law- 
yer and settled in Portsmouth, N. H , where he was state attorney until 
his age disqualified him for the office. He was a distinguished scholar 
and wrote a grammar in verse. He acquired the Italian language 
after having reached the age of 70 years. He died Sept. 30, 1827, 
aged 87 years. 

3. John, son of Rev. Daniel and Sarah Humphreys, m. Rachel 
Durand, Feb 11, 1773, and resided on his father's homestead for a 
time, after which his home was the house north of, and adjoining the 
old Episcopal cemetery. He was a farmer with a large family ; many 
hired men ; and his wife was celebrated for efficiency, and success as a 
housekeeper A four pail iron kettle filled with corned beef, pork, 
potatoes and turnips, was boiled every day for forty years, Sundays 
excepted. His children's names are given as written on the town 
records. Children : 

7. John, b. Feb. 11, 1774 ; d. in 1826; a 11.. Anne, b. Dec. 9, 1781 ; d. in 1875, ^^ 

lawyer. Erie, Penn. 

8. Sally, b. Apr. 19, 1775; <^- i^i 1812. 12. Susy, b. Dec. 24, 1783; d. in 1810. 

9. Polly, b. Feb. i, 1777 ; d. in 1S4S, at 13. David, b. Jan. 28, 1786; d. in 1814. 
Erie, Penn. 14. Billy, b. May 16, 1788; d. in 1877, at 

10. Daniel, b. May 4, 1779; d. in 1807. Ashtabula, Ohio. 

4. Elijah, son of Rev Daniel and Sarah Humphreys, m. Anna, dau. 
of Rev. Dr. Mansfield, Oct 22, 1774. He died July 2, 1785. (See 
Biog.) Children : 

15. Anna, b. Sept. 14, 1775; d. in 1850, 18. Betsey, b. Oct. 10, 1781 ; d. in 1864. 
in Illinois. 19. David, b. Feb. 26, 1784; d. in 1809, 

16. Sally, b, Dec. 22, 1777; d. in 1865. at New Orleans. 

17. Elijah, b. Oct. 12, 1779; d. in i834in 

New York city. 

I. HUMPHREY, James, was in Derby as early as 1710, and was 
"felt maker," or hatter at the 'north end" or on Beaver Brook, back 
of Ansonia. He came, probably, from Milford. What relative he was 
to Rev. Daniel Humphreys is not known Children : 

2. Samuel, b. Dec. 24, 1711 ; m. Susannah 4. Mary, b. Dec. 10, 1716. 

Thomasof Woodbury, Aug. 18, 1735. 5. Sarah, b. Aug. i, 1719. 

3. James, b. Nov. 10, 17 15. 

3. James, son of James Humphreys, Sr., m. Submit Stevens, Mar. 15, 
1750. Children: 

6. Mary, b. Dec. 23, 1750. 8. Samuel, b. May 8, 1755. 

7. James, b. Dec. 10, 1752. 9. John, b. Mar. 25, 1761. 

HUMPHREYVILLE, Eliphalet, m. Martha . Children : 

I. Sarah, b. Oct. i, 1764. 2. " Nabbe," b. Aug. 4, 1766. 



GENEALOGIES. 737 

HURD, Wilson, was born in Monroe, Fairfield county, Conn , Feb. 
8, 1763 ; was a soldier in the Revolution, and after the war came to 
Derby, where he married, Oct. 25, 1789, Abigail, dau. of Capt. John 
Holbrook. He was a mason by trade ; represented the town in the 
Legislature and held other offices. He died Mar. 2, 1853, aged 91. 
Children : 

I. Austin, b. Apr. 17, 1792. 2. Daughter; m. Dr. Clark Nettleton ; 

lives in Wisconsin. 

I. AUSTIN, son of Wilson and Abigail Holbrook Hurd. Children : 
3. Jabez. 4. Esther Young 

INGRAHAM, Benjamin, m. Hannah . Children: 

1. Samuel, b. ; d. Sept. 14, 1751. 3. Abijah, b. May 12, 1755; d. Sept. 20, 

2. Hannah, b. Mar. 12, 1753; d. Sept. 20, 1761. 

1751. 4. Benjamin, b. April 9, 1747. 

JAMES, Rev. John ; m. Mary . Was pastor of the First 

Church, in Derby, 12 or 13 years. Children : 

t. Mary, b. May 12, 1698. 2 Mabel, b. Nov. 13, 1700. 

" Fila ut supra was born p. .m. hora ciciter 3d ut 40." 

JACKSON, John, d Oct 8, 1683, aged about 60 years 
I. JEV\'E'rT, Rev. Stephen, the youngest son of Stephen and 
Sarah (Hatch) Jewett, was b. Aug. 18, 1783. He was a descendant in 
a direct line from Ma.ximi'ian Jewett, who was one of the early settlers 
of Rowley, Mass. Rev. Stephen Jewett m. Sept. 5, 1813, Elizabeth 
Backus, who was b. Sept 7, 1789, at Norwich, Conn. Her mother, 
Mary Fitch, was the daughter of Col. Ebenezer Fitch, of ^ew Haven, 
Conn. (^See Biog ; Children : 

2. Thomas Backus, b. July 19, 1814; m. 3. Pliny Adams, b. June 20, 1816. 
Phebe M. Wallace, June 22, 1836, 4. Henry Hatch, b. .\ug. 30, 182 1. 
and died . 

3. Pliny A , M.D., son of Rev. Stephen and Elizabeth (Backus') 
Jewett, m. Juliet M. Carrington, Nov. 10, 1847. (See Biog.) Children : 

5. Thomas Backus, b. Jan. 9, 1850. 7. William Henry, b. Mar. iS, 1861. 

6. Mary Elizabeth, b. Aug. 30, 1857. 

4. Henry H., son of Rev. Stephen and Elizabeth (Backus) Jewett, 
m. Aug. 17, 1842, Elizabeth Shaw, dau. of Rear Admiral F. H Gregory. 
He d. Feb 15, 1849 ; his wife, Elizabeth S., d. May 1 1, 1850. Children : 

8. Stephen, b. May 25, 1843; living Fari- 10. Piiny A.; was killed in action at 

bault, Minnesota. Harper's Farm, Va., April 3, 1865; 

9. Elizabeth Shaw; d. Feb., 1S72. Quartermaster Sergeant 2d Conn. 

Cavalry. 

5. Thomas B, M.D., son of Pliny A. and Juliet M. (Carrington) 
Jewett; m Mary E , dau. of Dr A. Beardsley, Nov. 10, 1873, who d. 
Mar. 24, 1878. He is a physician in Birmingham, Conn. Children : 

II. Mary Elizabeth, b. July 13 1S76; d. 12. Ambrose Beardsley, b. Mar. i, 1878. 
April u, 1879. 

I JOHNSON, Ei^ENEZER, said to be son of Peter of Fairfield, born 
about 1649. Settled at Derby about 1668, and m. Elizabeth, dau. of 
Edward Wooster in 1671. He called Joseph Hawkins his brother 
(probably brother-in-law). Children : 
93 



738 HISTORY OF DERBV. 

2. Elizabeth, b. in 1672. 6. Ebenezer, b Feb. 22, 1687. 

3. Eunice, b. Aug. 22, 1678. 7. Timotiiy, b Dec. 23, 1693. 

4. Hannah, b. Dec. 6, 1680. 8. Charles, b. Dec. 29, 1696. 

5. Peter, b. Oct. 9, 1684. 

5. Peter, son of Ebenezer and Hannah (Tomlinson) Johnson ; m. 

ist Martha ; 2cl Mary His father gave him 150 acres of 

land in the southern part of Quaker's Farm purchase, where he 
lived and died. Children : 

9. Johannah, b. May 17, 1710. 13. Mary, b. Dec. 3, 1724.^ 

10. Israel, b. Jan. 12, 1714. 14. Eunice, b. June 29, 1727. 

11. Martha, b. May 6, 1717. 15. Abigail, b. Dec. 21, 1732. 

12. Peter, b. Oct. 13, 1721. 

6. Lieut. Ebenezer, son of Col Ebenezerand Hannah Johnson ; m. 
Elizabeth Hine, Feb. 19. 17 19. He died Sept 10. 1751, aged 60. 
He was made lieutenant in 1722. He lived and died on his father's 
homestead. Children : 

16. Hannah, b. Nov. 17, 1719. 20. Ann, b. June 26, 1727; m. Samuel 

17. Sarah, b. July 14, 1721; m. Capt. Hitchcock. 

James Wheeler. 21. Alexander, b. Sept., 1729; d. same 

18. Ebenezer, b. July 7, 1723. day. 

19. David, b. Jan. 7, 1725. 

7. Timothy, son of Col Ebenezer and Hannah Johnson ; m. Abi- 
gail Brewster, Feb. 21, 1725, who died Dec 15, 1773 His father 
divided his farm at Rimmon between this Timothy and his brother 
Charles. Their house was a little way below Fines Bridge. Children: 

22. Nathaniel, b. Mar. 6, 1726. 26. Timothy, b. Jan. 8, 173 — [out]; d. 

23. Timothy, b. [out]; d. Apr. 2, 1733- 27. Ruth, b. Apr. 28, — [out]. 

24. Hannah, b. Dec. 4, 1727. 28. Charles, b. Apr. 19, 1739. 

25. Alexander, b. June 20, 1730. 29. Timothy, b. Dec. 5, 1741. 

8. Charles, son of Col. Ebenezer and Hannah Johnson; m. Sarah 
Wooster, Aug. 16, 1726. His farm was near his brother Timothy's at 
Pines Bridge. 

10 Israel, son of Peter Johnson ; m. Elizabeth Wakelee, May 28, 
1740. Children : 

30. Charles, b. June 27, 1741 ; d. Oct. 28, 32. Daniel, b. Apr. 13, 1747. 

1763. 33- Hannah, b. Oct. 26, 1750. 

3?. Elijah, b. Mar. 5, 1745; d. Nov. 11, 34. Elizabeth, b. in 1761 ; d. Nov. 15, 

1763. 1763- 

12. Peter, son of Peter Johnson; m. Abigail Jolmson, Nov. 9, 
1749. Children : 

35. Mary, b. Dec. 23, 1757. 38. Eunice, b. July 2, 1767. 

36. Comfort, b. Jan. 8, 1761. 

37. Benoni, b. May 2, 1763; d. May 13, 

1763- 

18. Ebenezer, son of Ebenezer and Elizabeth (Hine) Johnson ; m. 
ist Mrs. Lucy Barnes of Waterbury, Mar. 19, 1754; m. 2d Thankful 
. Child : 

39. Bella, b. Feb. 5, 1768. 

19. David, son of Ebenezer and Elizabeth Johnson ; m. Esther 
Riggs, May 6, 1755, who died May 22, 1766, aged 29 ; m. 2d Sarah 
Thompson Mar. 18. 1778. Child: 

40. David; m- EU?;abeth Hotchkiss, June 23, 1776. 



GLXKAL.OGircs. 739 

25. Alexander, sou of Timotliy and Abigail (Brewster) Johnson, 
m. Hannah . Children : 

4r. Tiniothy, b. Jan. 21, T766; d. 44. Abigail Brewster; m. Moses Clark. 

42. Ruth, b. Nov. 21, 1766. 45. Ruth, b. 1693; m. Thomas Leaven- 

4j. Hannah, b. Jan. 26, 1772. worth. 

The Seymour history adds David, 
Elijah, Nathaniel, Charles. 

JOHNSON, Jeremiah, came from New Haven and was accepted 
as an inhabitant of Paugassett, and a grant of land made him on 
Sentinel Hill, joining Samuel Riggs, Mar. 2, 1672. The births of five of 
his children are recorded in New Haven. His wife's name was Sarah. 
He was not living in 17 13. He was chosen constable in 1683, and 
was an influential man in the town. "Jeremiah Johnson hath a bay 
sorrel horse ; a stone horse to his brother Joshua Hogkis, ten years 
old Mar. 4 1680." (Town Rec.) Children : 

I. Jeremiah, b. Apr. 25, 1664.; 5. Samuel, b. Mar. 25, 1671. 

2 William, b, Se)3t. 15, 1665. 6. Moses 

3. Child, b. 1666. 7. Ebenezer 

4. John, b. July 20, 1667. 8. Elizabeth, b. May 2, 16S4. 

" I. Jeremiah, Jr., son of Jeremiah and Sarah Johnson, m. Elizabeth, 
eldest dau. of Col. Ebenezer Johnson. He was granted a home lot of 
" four acres of land in Scraping Hole Plain on this side (south) of 
Bladen's Brook, Dec. 30, 16S4." Children : 

9. Gideon. 11. ISenajah, b. July 24, 1704. 

10. Joseph. 12. Abner, b. Apr. 10, 1709. 

4 John, son of Jeremiah, Sr., and Sarah Johnson, m. Mary Wash- 
burn, Dec. 24, 1694 He settled on the Quaker's Farm Children : 

13. Abram, b. Dec. 6, 1694; d. Jan. iS, 14. Mary, b. Nov. i, 1696. 
1712. 15. Silas, b. July 18, 1713. 

6 Moses, son of Jeremiah, Sr , and Sarah Johnson, m. .^arah 
Adams, Apr. 15, 1703. He resided in Derby some years and then 
removed to Newtown Children : 

16. Hannah, b. Mar. i, 1704. 18. Jeremiah, b. Sept. 20, 1711. 

17. Mabel, b. Oct. 18, 1707. 19. Rachel, b. Mar. 13, 1712. 

7. Ebenezeh, son of Jeremiah, Sr., and Sarah Johnson, m. Hannah 
-, and signed a deed with his brother Moses for his father's home- 



stead and several pieces of land, to Samuel Gunn of Milford in 17 13. 

9. Dea Gideon, son of Jeremiah, ^r., and Sarah Johnson, m. 
Abigail Chatfield, Nov. 6, 17 18 Children : 

20. Mabel, b. Aug. 24, 1719; m. Joseph 22. (Jideon, b. Jan. 3, 1725. 

Riggs. 23. Ichabod, b. Mar. 3, 1737. 

21. Elizabeth, b. Aug. 25, 1722; m. Dan- 24 I'cter, | named in deed. 

iel Tucker. 25. Abigail, ) m. Thaddeus IJaldwin. 

TO Serg. Joseph, son of Jeremiah, Sr., and Sarah Johnson, m. ist 

Margaret Harger, Jan. 24, 171 7 ; m 2d Mrs. Elizabeth, widow of 

Joseph Hull, Oct 14, 1776. Children: 

26. Joseph, b. Nov. 9, 17 17. 29. Eh'phalet, b. Apr., 1725. 

27. Samuel, b. Dec. 23, 1719. 30. Hannah, b. Eeb. 16, 1730. 

28. Jeremiah, b. Apr. i, 1722. 31. Nathaniel, b. Feb. 11, 1732. 

• II Bknajah, son of Jeremiah, Jr., and f^lizabeth Johnson, m. widow 



740 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Sarah (Brewster) Hawkins, Oct. lo, 1728. He died Apr. 13, 1763, 
aged 59, His widow Sarah died May 7, 1773, aged 72. Children : 
32. Sarah, b. Aug. 16, 1729. 35. Zerviah, b. 1739; m. Abiel Fairchild 

2;^. Benajah, b Aug. 20, 1732. 36. Amos, b. Aug. 13, 1743. 

34. Isaac, b. Oct. 6, 1735. 

12. Abner, son of Jeremiah, Jr., and Sarah Johnson, m. ist Patience 
Tomlinson, Dec. 12, 1737 ; m. 2d Abigail . Children : 

37. Mabel, b. May 13, 1739. 40. Abner, b. Feb. 22, 1752. 

38. Timothy, b. June 11, 1741. 41. Abigail, b. Apr. 13, 1757. 

39. Jeremiah, b. Mar. 21, 1745. 

20 Joseph, son of Joseph and Margaret (Harger) Johnson, m. 

Elizabeth Durand, Aug. 9, 1738 Children : 

42 Asahel, b. Aug. 15, 1739 47. Margaret, b. Dec. 7, 1750; d. Feb. 

43. Elisha, b. Apr. 10, 1741. 20, 1751. 

44. Eliphalet, b. Aug. 22, 1743. 48. Joseph, b. Sept. 6, 1751. 

45. Jeremiah, b. Dec 29, 1745. 49. Elizabeth, b. Mar. 14, 1753. 

46. Hezekiah, b. Oct. 25, 1748. 50. Margaret, b. June 16, 1756. 

21. Samuel, son of Joseph ^nd Margaret (Harger) Johnson, m. 

Mary . Children : 

51. Elizabeth, b. Feb. 25, 1742. 55. Sarah, b. Aug. 22, 1752. 

52. Laurana, b. Dec. 10, 1744. 56. Eliphalet, b. P'eb, 2, 1763. 

53. Mercy, b. June 21, 1747. 57. Margaret, bv Apr. 21, 1765. 

54. Hannah, b. Feb. 12, 1750. 

25. Nathaniel, son of Joseph and Margaret (Harger) Johnson, m 
Susannah Smith, Jan. 30, 1753. Children: 

58. Philo, b. May 3, 1754. 62. Andrew, b, Apr. 3, 1765. 

59. Sabra, b. June 12, 1756; d. Oct. 8, 63. Sabra, b. July 8, 1767. 

1763. 64, Nathaniel, b. July 21, 1769. 

60. Amos, b. Jan. 17, 1759. 65. David, b. June 21, 1771. 

61. Susy, b. July 15, 1762. 66. Lucy, b, Sept. 9, 1774. 

28. Gideon, son of Gideon and Abigail Chatfield, m. Lydia Beecher, 

Mar. 24. 1749. Children: 

67. Anna, b. Jan. 28, 1749. 70. Lydia, b. May 3, 1754. 

6S. Gideon, b. Feb. 4, 1750. 71. Mabel, b. Sept. 22, 1756. 

69. Hannah, b. Sept. 3, 1752. 72. Ebenezer Beecher, b. Nov. 24, 1763. 

« 34. Isaac, son of Benajah and Sarah Johnson, m. Lois Hopkins of 
Waterbury, Jan. 24, 1758. who died Oct. 16, 1814, aged 76. He died 
Apr. 10, 1813, aged 78. Children: 

73. Molly, b. Apr. 4, 1759. 79- Amos Hopkins, b. Mar. 26, 1771; d. 

74. Susannah, b. Sept. 3, 1760; d. Sept. 26, 1772. 

75. Susannah, b. Nov. 24, 1763. 80. Isaac, b. July 3, 1777 ; d. July 3, 1777. 

76. Ruth, b. Mar. 31, 1765; m. John Coe, 81. Jesse, b. July 28, 1773. 

Jr. 82. Chauncey, b. Apr. 19, 1778. 

I 77. Mabel, b. Mar. 31, 1766. 83. Stiles, b. Dec. 4, 1781. 

78. Isaac, b. June 2, 1769; d. Dec. 4, 1774. 

42. Asahel, son of Joseph, Jr., and Elizabeth (Durand) Johnson, 
m. Lois Williams of Fairfield, May 9, 1756. who died Jan. 28, 1783 ; 
m 2d Miriam Fowler of Middletown, Apr. 6, 1783 Children : 

84. Esther, b. May 3, 1757. 87. Lucy, b. Aug. 25, 1763, 

85. Joel, b. May i, 1759; d. Aug. 23, 88. Lois, b. Mar. u, 1766. 

1777, at King's Bridge, N. Y., a sol- 89. Elisha, b. Oct., 1767. 
dier. 90. Milly, b. Oct. 5, 1769. 

86. Philene, b. Oct. 5, 1761. 91. Briaiit, b. Sept. 5, 1772. 



f.KNF,Ai.O(;ii:s. 741 

46. Hezekiah, son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Durand) Johnson, m. 
Rebecca Johnson, Dec. 12, 1784. Children: 

92. Elizabeth, b. Nov. 26, 1786. 93. Newell, b. May 22, 17S9; d. June ii, 

1879, in Westville. 

72. Ebenezer Beecher," son of Gideon and Lydia (Beecher) John- 
son, m. Hannah P. Clark, May 25, 1785 He died Sept. 17, 1846. 
His widow Hannah d. July 24, 1847. Children : 

94. Garry, b. Nov. 5, 1792. 96. Hannah Betsey, b. Mar. 23, 1802 ; m. 

95. Chary, b. Jan. 27, 1795; "^- James David Beach ;' had Hannah B. 

Downs of Monroe, Oct. 14, 181 5; had 
Clarke B., Chary Ann, James B. 

81. Rev. Jesse,'" son of Isaac and Lois Johnson, m. Hepzibah , 

who died Apr. 13, 1824 He died Oct. 21, 1829 Children : 

97. Sally B., b. Sept. 6, 1797 ; m. Jared loi. Harry, b. Mar. 30, 1S05. 
Bassett. 102. Gothy, b. July 12, 1807. 

98. I.saac, b. Apr. 2, 1799. ^°3- Lois Emily, b. Feb. 24, 1810. 

99. Je.sse b. Mar. 28, 1801. 104. Stiles, b. May 14, 1813. 

100. Hepzibah, b. Jan. 28, 1S03. 

1. JOHNSON, Ebenezer, b. in 1761 ; d. Sept. 25, 1792 

2. Gideon, son of Ebenezer Johnson, m. Sarah, dau. of Dr. Critten- 
den of New Haven. Children : 

3. Sheldon Crittenden. 4. Hopie ; m. Henry L. Noble ; d. in 

Cleveland, Ohio, in 1869. 

3. Sheldon C , son of Gideon and Sarah Johnson, m. May 19, 1828, 
Susan H., dau. of Abiram and Eunice Stoddard. Residence, Seymour, 
Conn. Children : 

5. Charles Napoleon ; a lawyer in New 9. Oscar Eugene ; removed to .San Fran- 

Haven; d. Nov. 12, 1867. Cisco. 

6. Henry; m. Oct. 10, 1853, Ellen E. 10. Josephine W.; m.Gustavus R.Elliott, 
Botsford; a merchant in New Haven. a lawyer in New Haven. 

7. Oscar, b. Jan. 10, 1833; d. Oct. 17, 11. Harold St. Clair. 

1833. 12. Louis Le Grand. 

8. Oscar F., b. Mar. 13, 1834; d. Nov. 13. Susan Stoddard Clark. 

29,1836. 14. Sarah Crittenden; m. John T. F'orsey. 

JOHNSON, Stephen, m. Mehitable Canfield. Oct. 12, 1697. 

JOHNSON, Mr Joseph, died June 25, 1818. 

JUDD, Ebenezer, m. Mary . Child: 

I. Ebenezer, b. May 28, 1747. 

JUDSON, Donald, was born in Huntington, Conn., Mar. 25 1798 ; 
being the son of David Gressel Judson. His earliest ancestor in this 
country was William Judson, who came from P^ngland in 1634, with 
his three sons : 2, Joseph ; 3, Jeremiah; and 4, Joshua. He settled 
first at Concord, Mass., where he remained four years, then removed 
to Stratford, Conn., and resided on the southeast corner of "Meeting- 
House Hill." ^'ll^'-^ 

2 Joseph, son of l9enaW Judson, was fifteen years of age when he 
arrived in this country ; came to Stratford with his father, and in Oct , 



^History of Seymour. 
J"Ibid. 



742 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

1644, m. Sarah, dau. of John Porter, of Windsor. He d. Oct. 8, 1696. 
Children : 

5. Sarah. 11. Esther. 

6. John. 12. Joshua. 

7. James. 13. Ruth. 

8. Grace. 14. Phebe. 

9. Joseph. 15. Abigail. 

10. Hannah. 

7. James, son of Joseph and Sarah Judson, ni Rebecca, dau. of 
Thomas Wells, of Hartford, Aug. 18, 1680. He d. Feb. 25, 1721. 
Children : 

16. Hannah. 20. James. 

17. Sarah. 21. Phebe. 

18. Rebecca. 22. David. 

19. Joseph. 

22. David, son of James and Rebecca Judson, m. Phebe, dau. of 

Ephraim Stiles, of Stratford, Oct. 29, 1713. Children: 

23. David. 28. Ruth. 

24. Phebe. 29. Daniel. 

25. Abel ; d. in infancy. 30. .Sarah. 

26. Abel. ' 31. Abner. 

27. Agur, b. Mar. 23, 1724. 32. Betty. 

27. Agur, son of David and Phebe Judson, m. 2d wife Mehitable, 
dau. of Thomas Toucey, of Newtown, May, 1750. He purchased the 
well-known property on White Hills, in Huntington, where he resided, 
and his descendants tor a long time. Children : 

33. Agur. 35. David, b. April 15, 1754. 

34. Hannah. 

35. David, son of Agur and Rachel Judson, m. Grissel, dau. of 
Noahdiah Warner, of Southbury, Feb 3, 1796. 
36. Jennet, b. Nov. 21, 1796. 2)7- Donald, b. Mar. 25, 1798. 

37. Donald, son of David and Grissel Judson, ni. Polly Maria, dau. 
of Lewis and Charity Shelton, of Huntington, Feb. 10, 1829. He d. 
Sept. 2, 1847. (See Biog.) Children: 
38. David Lewis, b. Dec. 6, 1830; pre- returned only to linger with a fatal 

pared at Cheshire Academy and at disease, and departed this life Mar. 8, 

New Haven, and entered Yale Col- 1858. 

lege, where he was graduated in 39. Jennet, b. Nov. 10, 1833. 

1851 ; traveled extensively in Europe; 40. Mary, b. Sept. 27, 1837. 

KENT, Elisha, m. Abigail Moss, April 3, 1732. Child: 
1. Moss, b. Jan. 14, 1733. 

KEENEY, Ebenezer, born in 1718, came to Derby a young man, 
m. Betty, dau. of John Davis, Jr., Dec. 7, 1738, and settled iirst on the 
hill, on Milford road, about three fourths of a mile from Academy Hill ; 
about 1754 he built the first house so far as known at Derby Narrows, 
where he resided until his decease. He was a man of larj^e infiuence 
in the town and possessed great business energy and ability, as indi- 
cated by his being elected tax-collector much ot the time during the 
Revolutionary war. He died Jan. 10, 1795. aged 77. She died Nov., 
1784, aged 65. Children: 



GENKALOGIES. 743 

1. Lucy, b. Dec. 3, 1739; d. young. 7. Al)igail, b. Feb. 11, 1753; d. Oct. 4, 

2. Comfort, b. Oct. 11, 1741 ; d. May 2, 1S38. 

1771- 8. Ithiel, b. Mar. 17, 1755; m. ; d. 

3. Eunice, b. Aug. 31, 1743. Oct. 1S3S. He was the first white 

4. Betty, b. Sept. 20, 1745; m. Sheldon child lK)rn at Derby Landing. 
Clark. 9. WiUiam, b. July 16,' 1757. 

5. Sarah, b. Oct. 3, 1748. 10. Medad, b. May 31, 1759; d. May, 
b. Ebenezer, b. Oct. 27, 1750; d. May I794- 

1777. II. Lucy, b. Sept. 20, 1761. 

9. William, son of Ebenezer and Betty Keeney, m. Mille Steele, 
who was born Dec 15, 1760. He died Jan. 7, 1845, aged 87. Chil- 
dren : 

12. Ebenezer, b. Nov. 28, 1779. i6. Sally, b, Nov. 10, 17S7; m. Sheldon 

13. Sheldon, b. Oct. 12, 1781 ; m. Esther. Nichols, and d. Oct. 25, 1863, leav- 
dau. of Daniel Canfiekl, and d. June ing Sheldon, William, Lucena. 

13, 1S73. She was b. Mar. 6, 1790; 17. Isaac, b. Feb. 13, 1790. 

d. May 30, 1852. iS. Lucinda, b. Oct. 2, 1792; m. Capt. 

14. William, b. Aug. 20, 1783. William Lum, and d. Aug. 9, 1825. 

15. Betsev, b. Sept. 10, 1785; m. Anson 19. Medad, b. Dec. 18, 1794. 
Canfiekl, and d. June 28, 1863, leav- 
ing Divine, Marietta, Susan. 

12. Ebenezer, son of William and Mille Keeney, m Betsey Buck- 
ingham, wno was born Apr. 19, 1783, and died Dec. 29, 1846. He 
died Apr. 2, 1851. Children : 

20. Betsey M., b. Jan. 9, 1804; m. Jere- 22. George, b. Nov. 2, 1S16; d. Oct. 16, 
miah DiuMnd. 1847. 

21. William, b. Sept. 27, 1806; d. Jan. i, 23. Leicester B., b. Feb. 4, 1819. 

1847. 

14. William, son of William and Mille Keeney, m. Anna Smith, 
resided in Seymour village, and died June 25, 1856. She died Sept. 
28, 1867, aged 76. Children: 

24. Mary Jane; m. James Johnson of 26. Miranda; m. Clark Lum of New 

Bridgeport. Haven. 

25. Sarah Grace ; m. Isaac White, lived 27. Esther Ann; m. Medad K. Tucker, 
in Derby. 

17 Dea. Isaac, son of William and Mille Keeney, m. ist Polly 
Durand, who was born July 3, 1796, and died Sept. 23, 1827 ; 2d Ann 
Church, Dec. 16, 1828, who was born Sept. 20, 1803, and died Jan. 24, 
1868. Children : 

28. Isaac Heber, b. Mar. 7, 1S30; d. Feb. 30. Frederick C, b. Nov. 28, 1836; d. 

13, 1851. July 30, 1854. 

29. Charles D , b. Mar. 27, 1S32; living 
in New Haven. 

19. Medad, son of William and Mille Keeney, m. Rebecca White, 
and died Feb. 6, 1830. She died May 2, 1826, aged 32. Children : 

31. Roswell. 34. Ann. 

32. Mary. 35. John. 

33- I'oi'y- 

29. Charles D., son of Dea. Isaac and Anna, m ist Martha J. 
Wilder, who was born Dec. 3, 1835, and died Oct. 23, 187 1 ; 2d Ella 
A. Burwell, July 16, 1874. Children : 
36. Frederick N.,b. Feb. 2, 1S60. 2,7. Charles II., b. Feb. 17, 1866. 

LEWIS, Eleazer, m. Ann Lum, Feb. 16, 1757. Child: 
I. Philo, b. Aug. 13, 175S. 



744 HISTORY OF DERBY, 

LOBDELL, Darius, m. Mary . Child : 

I. Eunice, b. Dec. 20, 1754. 

LOVELAND, Joseph, m. Hannah ; lived in Stratford. Child : 

1. Joseph, b. Feb. 8, 1739. 

I. Joseph, son of Joseph Loveland, Sr., came to Derby and m. Lois 
Chatfield, Aug. 18. 1762. Children : 

2. Lois, b. July 17, 1763. 4. Treat, b. Sept. 6, 1767. 

3. Clark, b. Aug. 11, 1765. 5. Sarah, b. Dec. 2, 1770. 

I. LUM, Jonathan, came to Derby and m. Sarah, dau. of Ens. 
Samuel Riggs, Oct. lo, 1700, and was a man of considerable influence 
and responsibility in town matters. Children : 

2. Sarah, b. Nov. 24, 1701 ; m. John Du- 4. Jonathan. 

rand. 5. Samuel. 

3. John, b. July 17, 1703; m. Sarah Wash- 6. Elizabeth, b. Mar. 15, 1713. 

burn, Apr. 29, 1741. 7. Joseph, b. Jan 14, 17 15. 

4. Jonathan, Jr., son of Jonathan and Sarah Lum, m. Elizabeth 
Tomlinson, Mar. 13, 1734. Children : 

8. Anne, b. Mar. 7, 1735. 12. Sarah, b. Nov. 21, 1745. 

9. Ann, b. Mar. 22, 1737. 13. Henry, b. June i, 1748. 
ID. Lemuel, b. Mar. 2, 1742. 14. Adam, b. Nov. 11, 1753. 
II. John, b. Sept. 5, 1743. 15. Olive, b. Dec. 9, 1758. 

7. Joseph, son of Jonathan and Sarah (Riggs) Lum, m. Sarah . 

Children : 

16. Daniel, b. Apr. 6, 1742. 19. Joseph, b. Mnr. 17, 1750. 

17. Hannah, b. May 2, 1744. 20. Reuben, b. Mar. 22, 1754. 

18. Eunice, b. Sept. 6, 1746. 

II John, son of Jonathan, Jr , and Elizabeth Lum, m. Truelove 
Lines of Litchfield, Oct 18, 1769, and died Aug. 18, 1771. Child: 
21. John, b. Mar. 29, 1770. 

I. LUM, Samuel, m. Hannah "I'id," Dec. 7, 1730. Children : 
2. Samuel, b. Feb. 19, 1733. 3. Hannah. 

LYMAN, Rev. Jonathan, was bapt. in Durham, Conn,, Apr. 21, 
1 7 17, and was the son of Noah, the son of Ihomas, the son of Rich- 
ard, the son of Richard, the first of the name in this country. He 
was graduated at Yale College in 1742, and settled in Oxford in 

1745, and died in 1763. He m. Abigail . Children, sixth 

generation : 

1. Noah Russell. 3. David. 

2. Jonathan. _ 4. Mary. 

1. Noah Russell, son of Rev. Jonathan Lyman, m. Comfort Fox. 
Feb. 13, 1771. Child recorded on Derby records : 

5. Nabby, b. Nov. 25, 1772. 

2. Jonathan, son of Rev. Jonathan Lyman, m. Sarah Davis of 
Derby, in 1781, who died June 19, 1847, at Schodack Landing, Rens- 
selaer county, N. Y., at the age of 90. He served some time in the 
Revolution as captain of a company, and died about 1790 in Derby. 
Children : 



GENEALOC.IES. "45 

6. Russell, b. 1)00.7,1784; d. Aug. ii, had chikhcii : Charles Russell, John, 

1802. James, John, Davis, Sarah. 

7. Jonathan, b. June 7, 1786; d. Dec. 5, 8. Mary, b. Dec. 17, 1788; m. Samuel 

1856, at Schodack Landing, N. V.; Bassett of Derby, Apr, 1S09. 

MANSFIELD, Rev. Richard. D. D., son of Jonathan Mansfield 
(who was born in New Haven in 1686) was born in New Haven, 1724 ; 
was graduated at Yale college in 1741 ; ordained deacon and priest by 
the Archbishop of Canterbury, Eng., Aug. 7, 1748 ; officiated at 
Derby, West Haven, Waterbury, and Northfield, from 1748 to 1755, 
and was pastor of St. James's church at Derby from 1755 to his decease, 
Apr. 12, 1820; his ministerial service covering a period of seventy- 
two years. (See Biog.) "• Rev. Richard Mansfield was m. to Mrs. 
Anna Hull, in Christ church in Derby, by Rev. Dr. Samuel Johnson, 
missionary of Stratford, on the loth day of Oct., A. D., 1751.'"^ She 
was fifteen years and four months old at her marriage. Children : 

1. Richard, b. 5. Stephen; not m. 

2. Ann ; m. Elijah Humphreys. 6. Lucretia. 

3. Sarah; m. Blakeslee. 7. Betsey; not m. 

4. William ; m. Eunice Hull. 8. Mary Louise. 

1 Richard, Jr, son of Rev. Dr. Mansfield, m. Abia Shelton. 
Children : 

9. Grace ; m. ist Lintol, by whom rine. She m. 2d Mr. Nichols and 

she had William, Frances, Catha- had Philip. 

MANSFIELD, Nathan, probably from New Haven, m. Anna Tom- 
linson. Mar. 5, 1775. In the account of the Revolution this Nathan 
was supposed to be the son of Rev. Dr. Mansfield, which was an error. 
Children : 
I. Jared, b. July 11, 1775. 2. Betsey, b. Dec. i, 1777. 

MARKS, MoRDECAi, m. Elizabeth Hawkins, dau. of first Joseph. 
Children : 

1. Mary, b. Sept. 5. 1732. 4. Elizabeth, b. Apr. 3, 1742. 

2. Zephania, b. June 28, 1734. 5. Nehemiah, b. Oct. 9, 1746. 

3. Mordecai, b. May 30, 1739. 6. Abraham, b. Oct. 19, 1748. 

"MASSY, John, a trantient person, m. Mary Curtiss, April 14, 
1707, by the Worshipful Mayor, Ebenezer Johnson, Justice." 

McKEE, William, m. Anne Durand, May, 1769, who. d. Mar. i, 
1773. Children: 

I. William, b. 1770. 2. Samuel, b. July 31, 1772. 

I. McMAHON, Thomas, born in Galway, Ireland ; came to this 
country in 1846 ; settled in Orange, Conn., May 10. 1846 ; lived there 
over a year; came thence to Derby, where he now resides. His chil- 
dren are : 

2 John T., born in Orange, Aug. 15, 1847 ; educated at Holy Cross 
College, Worcester, Mass.. and at Joseph's Seminary, Troy, N. Y., 
where he was ordained May 29, 1874; was stationed as curate at St. 
John's, New Haven; St. Augustine's, Bridgeport ; St. Peter's, Danbury ; 
pastor of St. John's, New Haven, and St. Mary's, East Hartford, where 
he still continues. 

11 Town Records. 
94 



746 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

3. Daniel E., born at Derby Narrows Dec. 16, 1852 ; educated at 
Holy Cross College, Worcester, Mass. ; studied law at Yale and Alba- 
ny Law Schools, graduating at the latter, Class '77 ; admitted to prac- 
tice in New York, May 17, 1877 ; came to Connecticut June 13, 1877 ; 
began practice at Ansonia, where he continues ; he was elected justice 
of the peace Oct., 1877, for the term 1878 to 188 1, and town clerk for 
1879. 

MILES, Stephen, had children : 

1. Mary, b. Aug. 24, 1697. 4. Eunice, b. April 11, 1707. 

2. Josiah, b. Jan. 24, 1703. 5. Stephen, b. Jan. 20, 170S. 

3. Patience, b. Sept. 20, 1704. 6. Justice, b. July 27, 171 1. 

MILES, Jonathan, m. Zerviah Wooster, April 4, 1723. Children : 
I. Berthier, b. Feb. 1, 1724. 2. Theophilus, b. Feb. 12, 1730. 

MILES, Jonathan, m Lucy Smith, of Glasteribury, Feb. 17, 1768. 
Children : 

1. Manoah, b. Mar. 22, 1769. 3. Betsey, b. Feb. 17, 1774. 

2. Sarah, b. Nov. 6, 1771. 

MILLS, Philo, m. Elizabeth Riggs, Mar. 19, 1755 He d. Mar. 8, 
1765. Children : 
I. Samuel Riggs, b. Dec. 11, 1758. 2. Betty, b. Mar. 6, 1760. 

MILLS, Jedediah, of Derby, m. Mrs. Hannah Hawley, of Stratford, 
Feb. 24, 1756. Children: 
I. Samuel Frederick, b. April 24, 1757. 2. Samuel Frederick, b. Dec. 30, 1759. 

MISET, Stephen, d. Mar. 27, 17 13. 

MOSS. John, came from London, England, with the first colonists 
to New Haven ; signed the compact Feb. 18, 1639 ; was a prominent 
man in the Colony and settled in Wallingford. Children : 

1. Joseph. 3- Elizabeth, b. Oct. 3, 1652. 

2. John, b. Oct. 12, 1650; removed to 4. Hester, b. Jan. 2, 1654. 

Jamaica, L. I. 5- Isaac, b. Nov. 21, 1655; d. 1659. 

I. Joseph, son of John Moss ; m. Mary, dau. of Roger Ailing, Apr. 
II, 1667 ; she d. Mar. 18, 17 16, and he m. 2d Mrs. Sarah Gilbert July 
II, 1717 ; m. 3d Mary Baker who died in Derby Feb. 28, 1734. Four 
children are recorded in New Haven, but there were, probably, others. 
The four surviving children settled in Derby. He died in 1727. Chil- 
dren : 

6. Samuel, b. Jan. 27, 1675; '^- ^P^- ~^' ^- Samuel, b. Mar. 18, 1680. 

1676. 9- William, b. June 28, 1682. 

7. Joseph, b. Apr. 7, 1679. ^°- Israel. 

7. Rev. Joseph, Jr., son of Joseph Moss, was graduated at Har- 
vard College in 1699, and received the degree of A. M., at Yale Col- 
lege in 1702; was admitted an inhabitant of Derby, Dec, 23, 1706; 
ordained at Derby in the spring of 1707, where he died Jan. 23, 1731, 
aged 52 years. He m. ist Dorcas Roswell, Feb. 10. 1715, who died 
Sept. 2, 1715 ; m. 2d Abigail Russell, Oct. 3, 17 16. He died Jan. 23, 
1731. (See Biog.) Children: 

II. Abigail, b. Sept. 23, 1717; m. Elisha I3. Mary, b. Aug. 28, 1721 ; m. Ebenezer 
Kent of Newtown. White of Danbury. 



GENEALOGIES. 747 

8 Samuel, son of Joseph and Mary (Ailing) Moss ; came to Derby 
and m. Barbara, widow of Nathaniel Bowers, Dec. 3, 1713, where he 
died Dec. 28, 1721, " by a gun shot in the hand of Samuel Perry, w'ho 
said he was shooting at a mark." (Town record.) She died Sept. 8, 

• 1745. Children : 
13. Mary, b. Dec. 20, 1715. 14- Jonathan, b. May 10, 1718. 

9 Serg. William, son of Joseph and Mary (Ailing) Moss; came to 
Derby and m. Abigail Riggs, Mar. 18, 17 14. He was admitted an 
inhabitant of Derby Apr. 17, 1714, and died Aug. 26, 1749, aged 68. 
Children : 

15. Deborah, b. Feb. 10, 1715. 18. Elizabeth, b. Apr. 30, 1721. 

16. Nicholas, b. Apr. 28, 1716. 19. William, b. Mar. 14, 1727. 

17. Elizabeth, b. June 23, 17 18. 

ID Israel, son of Joseph and Mary CAlling) Moss, came to Derby 
and m. Lydia Bowers, Dec. 31, 1717. Children : 

20. Rachel, b Jan. 24, 1719. 22. Nathaniel, b. Dec. 14, 1722. 

21. John, b. May 10, 1721. 

16. Nicholas, son of William and Abigail (Riggs) Moss; m. Han- 
nah Leavenworth, Mar. 25. 1740. He died in a fit Nov. 24, 1759. 
His widow m. Jonathan Dickerman of Mt. Carmel, Conn , where she 
died Oct. 15, 1780. Children: 

23. Nehemiah, b. Aug. 18, 1741 ; was 25. Joseph, b. Apr. 22, 1758; a farmer 
taken sick ■ near Osweek, returned and died at Volney, Oswego county, 
home where he died Jan. 3, 1762. N. Y., Sept., 1827. 

24. Nicholas ; was master of a vessel and 
was lost at sea. 

19 William, son of William and Abigail CRiggs) Moss; m. ist Pru- 
dence Hard of Newtown, May 30, 175 1, who died Apr. 6, 1754 ; m. 2d 
Rachel Beardsley of Stratford. Apr. 30, 1759. Children : 

26. Sarah, b. May 2, 1752. 29. Edward, b. Apr. 26, 1765. 

27. Prudence, b. Mar. 27, 1754. 30. William, b. July 31, 1766. 

28. Isaac, b. June 30, 1761. 

MUNSON, John, son of John and Hannah Munson of Brookhaven, 
L. I., was born Apr. 24, 1690; came to Derby a young man, and m. 
Elizabeth Hawkins, Dec. 25, 17 18, and received a grant of land in 17 19. 
Children : 

1. Hannah, b. Mar. 7, 1721 ; m. Stephen 5. Joseph, b. Oct. 27, 1731. 

Pierson. 6. Daniel, b. Mar. 4, 1737; d. at Fort 

2. Charity, b. Jan. 7, 1723. Edward, Aug. 2, 1756. 

3. Sarah, 'b. Mar. 2, 1725. 7. John, b. Jan. i, 1739. 

4. Esther, b. Nov. 5, 1727. 

I. NEWCOMB, Capt. Silas, (Calvin'% Silas', Hezekiah^ Simon^ 
Andrew', Andrew'], born in Sunderland, Vt., June 10, 1786 ; a cabinet 
and chair maker; m. in Stonington Conn., Apr. 27, 1811, Bet-sey, dau. 
of Simeon and Betsey Palmer, born in S. 1784. He settled at Derby, 
where he died Aug. 10, 1825 ; she died in Springfield, Mass., Nov. 17, 
1849, aged 65. He was captain of an artillery company, stationed at 
New London, Conn., in the war of 18 12. Children : 



748 



HISTORY OF DERBY. 



2. Robert Palmer, b. Mar. 13, 1813; cab- 

inet-maker; m. Sophia Heath, July 
13, 1836; settled in Heddleburg Cen- 
ter, Tioga county, Penn., where he 
d. Apr. 6, 1869; had son, Willington. 

3. John Lee, b. Dec. 12, 1814 ; d. Nov. 

12, 1815. 

4. John Lee, b. Jan. 6, 1817 ; m. Emily 

Hull Smith. 

5. James, b. Mar, 6, tSig, in Derby; 

adopted by his uncle, Calvin New- 
comb; resided for a time in Wind- 



don, where he was a merchant nearly 
33 years. 

6. Charlotte Palmer, b. Jan. 16, 1821; m. 

James Fisher of Seymour, Conn., 
Oct. 4, 1839 ; settled in Springfield, 
Mass. 

7. Silas, b. June 5, 1823, in Derby; m. in 

N. Y. city, Nov. 7, 1846, Mary, dau. 
of George McCullough; resides at 
South Amboy, N. J.; is captain of a 
steamer running between New York 
and Amboy. 



ham. Conn.; removed to New Lon- 
4. John Lee, son of Capt. Silas and Betsey Newcomb, m. in Derby, 
Nov. 23, 1840, Emily Hull, dau. of Isaac Smith He was an axle- 
maker in Birmingham, and died at his daughter's residence, July 31, 
1870. Children: 



8. Andrew Jackson, b. July 4, 1842; d. 
July 27, 1861, 

9. Martha Curtiss, b. Feb. 11, 1S45; "^• 
Nov. 7, 1862, Chauncy Bell; resides 
in Birmingham. 

10. Sarah Weaver, b. Jan, 4, i&^-j ; not 
m. resides with her mother m Fair 
Haven. 

NETTLETON. Josiah, m. Agnes Gunn, Nov., 1761, who died Jan. 
23, 1774 ; and he m, 2d Freelove Lum, July 18, 1776. Children : 



Ira Bliss, b. Dec. 28, 1849; axle- 
maker ; m. Feb. 2, 1870, Kmma J. 
Lines ; resides in Birmingham ; has 
Maud Emily, b. Sept. 16, 1870. 
Emily Smith, b. June 4, 1852; m. Apr. 
27, 1S70, Charles J. Osborn ; resides 
in Fair Haven, Conn. 



b. May 6, 1779. 



Agnes, b. Sept. 24, 1763. 4. Josiah, ( 

Enos Gunn, b. Sept. 9, 1767. 5. Freelove, ( 

Eunice, b. July 19, 1777; d. July 9, 6. Sarah, b. July 3, 1781. 
1783. 7. Mary Ann, b. Dec. 26, 1782 

NETTLETON, William, born at Killingworth, Conn., in 1754 ; was 



a soldier in the Revolution ; m. Z 
dren : 

1. Thankful 

2. Aclah. 

3. Stiles. 



Parmelee, and died in 1820. Chil- 



4. Abner. 

5. Samuel. 

6. Ashley, b. in 1799. 

6. Ashley, son of William Nettleton, m. Sally Stoddard, and died 
at Derby in 1879. Child: 

7. Henry A., b. in 1828. 

7. Henry A., son of Ashley Nettleton, m. Jennie Bidwell, who died 
Jan., 1877. Children : 

8. Charles B., b. Jan. 6, 1859. 12. 

9. Minnie E., b. May 23, 1861. 13. 

10. Gerranie A., b. Jan. 23, 1S64. 14. 

11. William H. b. Dec. 31, 1866. 

NICHOLS, Isaac, of Stratford removed to Derby about 1678 ; but 
only the record of one marriage and three births are found on the town 
records. Children : 



Jennie M., b. Apr. 23, 1870. 
Joseph E., b. Oct. 11, 1873. 
Edmund, b. Feb. 11, 1S76. 



1. Mary, b. Feb. 2, 1647. 

2. Sarah, b. Nov. i, 1649. 

3. Josiah, b. Jan. 29, 1651. 

4. Isaac, b. Mar. 12, 1654. 

5. Jonathan, b. Dec. 20, 1655 ; m. Han- 

nah Hawkins, Dec. 21, 16S1. 



6. Ephraim, b. Dec. 16, 1657. 

7. Patience, b. Feb. 2, 1659. 

8. Temperance, b. May 17, 1662. 

9. Margery, b. Nov. 30, 1663. 
10. Benjamin, b. P'eb. 2, 1665. 



^ 



GENEALOGIES. 749 

4. Isaac, son of Isaac Nichols, had children : 

n. Frances, b. June 3, 1676. 13. Joseph, b. Nov. i, 16S0. 

12. Richard, b. Nov. 26, 1678. 

1. NICHOLS, John, was in Watertovvn, Mass., a proprietor in 1636 
and 7 ; was in Fairfield in 1653, with his wife Grace, and died before 
1659. Children: 

2. Isaac. 5. Samuel, m. Mrs. Mary, dau. of Rev. 

3. Sarah. John Bowers, in May, 1682, and set- 

4. John. tied in New Jersey. 

2. Dea. Isaac, son of John and Grace Nichols, was brought up by 
his uncle, Isaac Nichols of Stratford, and hence called Isaac Junior ; 
and m. Esther Clark, who died in Derby, Jan. 5, 17 17. Four of his 
children were born in Stratford, but whether there were others is not 
known. He or his uncle Isaac and Abel Holbrook were the first two 
deacons of the first church in Derby. He died Dec. 20, 1713. Chil- 
dren : 

6. Grace, b. June 6, 1673; d. Mar. 2, 9. .Samuel, b. Dec. 6, 1678. 

1702. 10. Mary, probably, who m. Joseph Hull, 

7. Alice, b. (Jet. 25, 1674. ist, Jan. 20, 1691. 

8. John, b. Oct., 1676. 

1. NICHOLS, Isaac, m. Agnes Gunn of Derby, Nov. 14, 1722, and 
died Apr. 12, 1733. Only one child is recorded, there may have been 
several others. Child : 

2. Isaac, b. Nov. 25, 1723. 

2. Isaac, son of Isaac and Agnes (Gunn) Nichols, m. Sarah Tom- 
linson, July 22, 1747, vvho died. Nov. 23, 1754, and he (probably) m. 
2d Rebecca , who died June 30, 1757. Children : 

3. Isaac, b. May 8, 174S. 5. Agnes, b. Dec. 10, 1757. 

4. Sarah, b. Feb. 12, 1751. 6. Lois, b. May 27, 1763. 

3 Isaac, son of Isaac and Sarah (Tomlinson) Nichols, m. Abigail 
Lyman, Dec. 24, 1769. Children : 

7. Isaac, b. Oct. 21, 1770. 9. Timothy Russell, b. Nov, 30, 1776. 

8. Jonathan Lyman, b. Aug. 17, 1772. 

NORTHROP, Isaac, m. Hannah Wheeler, Sept. 27, 1764. She 
died Mar. 6, 1765. 

NOYCE, Rebecca, wife of Wm. Noyce and dau. of Silas and Dorcas 
Allen, died at New Haven, Mar. 29, 1780, aged 20. 

O'KANE, Jeremiah, m Laurana Johnson, Sept. 18, 1765. 'Chil- 
dren : 

I. Joseph, b. July 16, 1766. 2. " Clarani," b. July 9, 1768. 

OLMSTEAD, Joseph, m. Mary . Children : 

1. Uavid, b. Jan. 2, 1774. 4. Ashbel, b. Oct. 23, 1784. 

2. Joseph, b. Nov. 18, 1775. 5. luigene, b. .Sept. 3, 1790. 

3. William, b. Aug. 10, 1777. 

OSBORN, Thomas, m. Elizabeth . Children: 

I. Lois, b. Feb. 23, 1744. 2. Elizabeth, b. Dec. 18, 1748. 

OSBORN, Samuel, m. Mrs. Patty Davis of Oxford, July 6, 1806. 



750 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

OVIATT, John, m Abigail . Child : 

I. Susannah, b. Apr. 15, 1754. 

PECK, Benjamin, m. Mary Sperry of New Haven, May 2, 1700. 

PERKINS, Roger, m. ist Ann ; 2d Mary . Children : 

1. Ithiel, b. Jan. 10, 1734- 3- Eunice, b. June 22, 1749. 

2. Sarah, b. Oct. 7, 1748. 

I. Ithiel. son of Roger and Ann Perkins, m. Esther Fox, Oct. 26, 
1767. Children : 

4. Roger, b. Apr. 5, 1769- 6. Joseph, b. Oct. 30, 1773. 

5. David, b. Apr. 20, 1771. 7. Anna, b July 21, 1776. 

PERKINS, Reuben, m. Lucy . Children : 

1. Thomas, b Dec. 7, 1766. 2. Benjamin, b. May i, 1769, 

PP:RKINS, Elias, m. Elizabeth . Children : 

1. Sarah, b. Jan. 28, 1764. 3. John Hawkins, b. Jan. 2, 1768. 

2. Hannah, b. Oct. 27, 1765. 

1. PERRY, Arthur, came to Stratford, about 1675, and m. Anna, 
only dau. of Joshua Judson, about 1676. He had 13 'children, one of 
whom was : 

2. Samuel, b. Feb., 16S1. 

2. Samuel, son of Arthur Perry, m. Elizabeth . Child : 

3. Caleb. 

3. Caleb, son of Samuel and Elizabeth Perry, m. Hannah 

probably a short time bef(jre he settled in Derby. The following are 
recorded in Derby of his children : 

4. John, b. Sept. 3, 1722. 9. Gideon, b. June 10, 1732. 

5. Nathaniel, b Jan. 4, 1724. 10. Prudence, b. Dec. 5, 1733. 

6. Joseph, b. Nov. 30, 1726. 11. Betty, b. Oct. 14, 1736. 

7. Hannah, b. June 14, 1728. 12. Yelverton, b. F"eb. 24, 1739. 

8. Caleb, b. Jan. 19, 1730. 

12. Yelverton, son of Caleb and Hannah Perry, m. ist Haw- 
ley, of Huntington ; 2d, Patience, dau. of Henry and Sibyl Tomilnson, 
of Derby. ^" Children : 

13. Sibyl, m. Silas Hawkins, of Oxford. iS. Hawley. 

14. John, b. Oct. 19, 1767, in O.xford. 19. Laura, m. David Smith, of Kent. 

15. Frederick. 20. Nancy,b Oct. 1,1783 ; d. Nov. 8,1841; 

16. Hermon. m. Truman Tomlinson. 

17. Azariah, b. Sept. 21, 1780. 

14. John, son of Yelverton and Patience Perry, m. Anna Beardsley, 
who d. Nov. 26, 1836. He died Mar. 13. 1852. Children: 

21. Charles, b. April 24, 1796; m. Mary 23. John, b. Nov. 12, 1801 ; d. July 15, 

Ann Paine ; had Frederick, Charles, 1S39, leaving son Charles. 

Harriet, Adam, Clark. 24. Nancy, b. Sept. 3, 1803; m. Cornelius 

22. Philo, b. Feb. ii, 179S; drowned Pugs'ley, of Stamford, N.V., Sept. 14, 
June 12, 1800. i83i' Children: Henry, Cornelia, 

Van Allen, Jacob, Charles. 

15. Frederick, son of Yelverton Perry, m. Mary Stroud ; settled in 
Southbury. Children : 

^■■^History of Seymour. 



GENEALOGIES. 75 I 

25. Andrew; resides at Southbury. 27. Charles; m Maria C'urtiss, of South- 

26. Betsey; 111 Smith, then Osborn. bury; had son Hermon. 

2S. Sophia ; m. Raymond ; had Mary. 

16. Hermon, son of Yelverton Perry, m. Susannah Henry ; resided 
in Baltimore, Md. Children : 

29. Hermon; d. not m. 31. .\lbert ; m. Lake. 

30. William ; d. not m. 32. Susannah ; m. Geo. W. Waters. 

17. AzARiAH, son of Yelverton Perry, m. Mar. 6, 1809, Polly Leaven- 
worth, of Huntington. He died Nov. 21, 1826. She died May 31, 
187 1. Child: 

33. Jane; m. March 11, 18 ti, in Hunt- ingham, May 23, 1S60; died June 4, 

ington; m. David Shelton; had Mary 1864. Edwin Wooster was drowned 

Jane.whom. Edwin Wooster, of Birm- April 20, 1876. 

I. PERRY, JosiAH, m. Anna. Children : 

2. Anna, b. Feb. iS, 1732. 5. Tabitha, b. .Sept. 3, 1739. 

3. Ezeis:ial, b. Feb. 6, 1734 6. Mary, b. May 7, 1741. 

4. Joshua, b. Nov. 16, 1735. 7. Josiah, b. Feb. 23, 1748. 

4. Joshua, son of Josiah and Anna Perry, m. Mercy Hawkins 
Nov, 1759. Child: 
8. Mary Ann, b. June 4, 1760. 

I. PERRY, James, m. Mabel Johnson, April, 1760. Children: 

2. Betty, b. Jan. 5, 1761. 4. Oliver, b. Mar. 28, 1765. 

3. Lucy, b. Feb. 2, 1763. 5. James, b. June 15, 1761. 

PETTIT, Samuel, m. Elizabeth Tomlinson, Nov. i, 1736. Chil- 
dren : 

1. Eliada, b. July 19, 1737. 3. Catharine, b. June 25, 1744. 

2. Cyrenius, b. Jan. 20, 1742. 

PINTO, Abraham, was in Derby some years. Several of his chil- 
dren sold their right to their father's land at Quaker's Farm, in 1784, 
he being deceased. Children : 

r. Isaac. 3. Jacob. 

2. Joseph. 4. Rachel. 

1. PIERSON, Stephen, is said to have been born in Suffolk county, 
England, about 1645 5 ^^''^s apprenticed by his mother, a widow, about 
1654, to Thomas MuUiner of New Haven to learn the carpenter's trade. 
He m. at Stratford ist Mary, dau of Henr)'^ Tomlinson, and settled in 

Derby in 1670, on Sentinel Hill ; m. 2d F.sther . His will was 

dated Sept. 2, 1733. He died in Oxford. May 14, 1739, aged 94. His 
first wife. Mary, died Sept 25, 1715 Children: 

2. Stephen. 6. Mary; m. Josiah Baldwin.' 

3. Sarah ; m. John Twifchell. 7. Bathsheba ; m. Adam Blackman of 

4. Abraham, b. in 16S1. Stratford. 

5. John; d. before 1704. 

2. Stephen, Jr , son of Stephen and Mary (Tomlinson) Pierson, 
m. Mehitable Canheld, Oct. 12, 1697, who died and he m. 2d Hannah 
Munson, June 15, 1738 (?). Children : 

8. Elizabeth, b. Jan. 12, 1699; m. 11. Job, 1). Oct. 5, 1707. 

Bennett. 12. Phibe ; m. Wm. Phanton, 1732. 

9. John. 13. Abigail ; m. St. John. 

10. Thomas; he or his son Thomas m. 14. Jonathan, b. ^Lay 6, 1716, by 2d wife 
Ruth Holbrook of Derby. (so said) ; Enoch, b. June 18, 1739. 



752 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

15. Elijah, b. Dec. 26, 1740. 17. Daniel, b. Apr. 29, 1744. 

16. Rachel, b. Sept. 15, 1742. 18. Eli, b. June 4, 1749. 

4. Abraham, son of Stephen Pierson, Sr , m. Sarah . He 

died May 12, 1758, aged 77. Children : 

20. Abraham, b. July 28, 1707. 23. Hannah, b. Aug. 4, 1715; m. Sol- 

21. Sarah, b. Aug. 14, 1709. omon Chatfiekl, June 12, 1734. 

22. Mary, b. Oct. 26, 17 12. 24. Stephen, b. Mar. 4, 1720. 

14. Jonathan, son of Stephen Pierson. Jr., m. Mary Bates, Mar. 

5, 1739, ^I'^o '^i^*^ ^^^ ^^» ^755- Children : 

25. Martha, b. Jan. 12, 1740; d. young. 27. Martha, b. Mar. 4, 1753. 

26. Elias, b. June 23, 1743. 

20. Abraham, Jr., son of Abraham Pierson, Sr,, m. Susanna Woos- 
ter, Apr, 10, 1731. Children: 

28. Oliver, b. Mar. 25, 1732. 31. David, b. Jan. 17, 1748. 

29. Barshua, b. Dec. i, 1736. 32. Ann, b. Oct., 11, 1751. 

30. Abraham, b. Feb. i, 1746. 

28. Oliver, son of Abraham, Jr., and Susan (Wooster) Pierson, m. 
Hannah . Child : 

33. Sarah, b. Sept. 20, 1753. 

30. Abraham 3d, son of Abraham and Sarah (Wooster) Pierson, 
m. Keziah Lines of New Haven, July 2, 1767. Children : 

34. Sarah, b. Mar. 10, 1768. 36. Levi, b. Mar. 25, 177 1. 

35. Abraham, b. Jan. 26, 1770; d. Jan. 
30> ^770- 

31. David, son of Abraham and Sarah (Wooster) Pierson, m. Lois 
Thompson. Oct. 29, 1766. Children : 

37. Sarah, b. Oct. 29, 1767. 40. Joel, b. Aug. 29, 1772. 

38. David, b. Nov. 20, 1769; d. Jan. 19, 41. Hannah Retty, b. Jan. 3, 1774. 

1770. 42. Thompson, b. Sept. 9, 1775. 

39. David, b. Dec. 29, 1770. 

PIERSON, Nathan, m. Ann Smith, Nov, 17, 1756, Children : 

1. Abel, b. Sept. 19, 1757. 3., Ruth, b. Apr. 28, 1763. 

2. Rebecca, b. Jan. 9, 1761. 4. Sabra, b. Aug. 9, 1765. 

PIERSON, John, m. Sarah Sizer of Middletown, June 4, 1775. 

PIERSON, Abel, m. Hannah Fairchild, Sept. 6, 17S1. 

PIERSON, Samuel, m. Abigail Crawford, Mar, 10, 1762. 

PIERSON, Edward, was a merchant in Derby in 1712, and re- 
moved to Stratford. 

PIERSON, James, a physician of Derby, removed to Wethersfield 
about 17 1 2 

PLANT, Ebenezer, m. Esther Bassett, Aug. 17, 1774. 

PLUMB, Samuel ; m. Mary . The record says " A pound 

shall be erected between Samuel Plumb's malt house and Fine Hill 
burying-place." Children : 

1. Samuel, b. Apr. 12, 1729. 5. Mary, b. Feb. 27, 1738. 

2. Zuriel, b. Apr. 8, 1731. »6. Samuel, b. Apr. 18, 1741. 

3. Joshua, b. June 24, 1734. 7, Susanna, b. Apr. 23, 1744. 

4. Jared, b. Jan. 15, 1736. 8. Jared, b. Mar. 18, 1749. 



GENEALOGIES. 753 

PITCHER, JosiiPH ; died Dec. lo, 1712. 
POOL, MiCAH ; m. Mary . Children : 

1. John, b. June 31, 1761; 111. Abigail 6. Mary, b. July 30, 1770. 

Bassett in 1783. 7. Micah, b. June 25, 1772. 

2. Ruth, b. Apr. 20, 1763. 8. Nabby, b. May 26, 1774; d. Oct. 30, 

3. Samuel, b. Feb. 28, 1765. I774- 

4. Isaac, b. Jan. 4, 1767. g. Joseph, b. July i, 1778, 

5. Betty, b. Aug. 20, 176S. 

I. John, son of Micali and Maiy Pool ; m. Abigail Bassett in 1783. 
Children : 
10. Arena, b. Dec. 24, 17S3. 11. Naomi, b. June 6, 1786. 

PRITCHARD, Iabez, Lieut.; m. Eunice Botsford, Oct. 31, 1764. 
Child : 
I. Leverctte, b, Sept. 16, 1765. 

PRITCHARD, James, Jr.; m. Rachel Warren, Nov., 1773. 

PRITCHARD, Philo ; m. Sabra -. Child : 

I. Nathaniel, b. Aug. 25, 1787, 

PRITCHARD, James ; m. Abigail . Children : 

1. Lydia,b. Aug. 11, 1757. 2, Sarah, b. Nov. 15, 1759. 
PRITCHARD, David; m. Ruth Smith, Dec. 20, 1757. 

1. PRINDLE, John ; came to Derby and m. Mary, dau. of Dr. 
John Hull, Dec. 23, 1685. who died Dec. 5, 1696, and he m. 2d Abi- 
gail Hawkins, Mar. i, 1697, who died July i, 1698, and he m. 3d Han- 
nah Botsford, Dec. 21, 1699. His home was on Great Neck, where 
he died Nov. 25, 1734, and his widow, Hannah, m. Capt. Joseph Hull, 
Nov. 14, 1735. Children: 

2. John, b. Oct. I, 1 686. 6. Hannah, b. Dec. 4, 1700. 

3. Samuel, b. July 18, 1691. 7. Ehiathan, b. July 13, 1702; d. May 11, 

4. Ebenezer, b. July 15. 1693. 1721. 

5. Mary, b. Sept. i, 1696; d. Dec. 26, 8. Abigail, b. Oct. 17, 1704. 

1696. 9. Mary, b. Sept. 20, 170S. 

2. John, son of John and Mary (Hull) Prinale ; m. Deborah , 

and died Oct. 4, 17 12. Children: 

ID. Edmund, b. P'cb. 4, 1709; d. Sept. 11. Nathaniel, b. Aug. 23, 1711. 
22, I7,i4- 

PRINDLE, Enos; m. Deborah Jones, Jan. 16, 1750. They were 
both of Milford. Children : 

1. Enos Jones, b. Nov. 23, 1750. 6. Ebenezer, b. June 26, 1760. 

2. Elizabeth, b. May 16, 1752. 7. Anne, b. Sept. 23, 1762. 

3. John, b. Sept. 7, 1755. 8. Joseph, b. Sept. 3, 1764. 

4. Mary, b. Dec. 17, 1756. 9. Lucy, b. Nov. 23, 1766. 

5. Sarah, b. Aug. 10, 1758. 10. David, b. Oct. 26, 1767. 

r. RIGGS, Edward, the head of the family in this country, came 
from England and settled at Ro.xbury, Mass., early in the summer of 
1633 He had a wife, two fions and four daus. ; his son Edward being 
19 or 20 years of age. Within three years he buried his wife, son 
John, and two daus. # 

2. Edward, 2D, son of Edward Riggs ist, m. Elizabeth Roosa in 

95 



754 HISTORY OF DERRV. 

1635. ^" 1637 he was a sergeant in the Pequot war, and greatly dis- 
tinguished himself in rescuing his commander and twelve of his 
companions from an ambuscade, and was ever afterwards known as 
" Sergeant Riggs." Nothing further is known of him until 1646 when 
he settled at Milford, Conn. In 1654 he, with Edward Wooster, and 
perhaps one or two other families settled at Paugasuck, afterwards 
Derby ; Wooster by the side of the river where Derby village was 
established, and Riggs on the hill a mile east, where his descendants 
have resided and hold the property to the present day. 

These two families are the only ones in the place at the time (1654) 
so far as can be positively assured. One public record says there were 
three or four families settled here at first, another two or three, but the 
two are all that can be ascertained to a certainty. Francis French was 
not m. until 1661, when he made the third family so far as known. 
Thomas Langdon may have been the third in 1654, but of this there 
is no certainty. The house of Edward Riggs stood by the rock a few 
rods west of the present house of Capt. Joseph Riggs, the present 
owner. This first house was the one where Whalley and GofF, the 
judges of Charles I. took refuge in 166 1, as recorded by President 
Ezra Stiles, in his history of those celebrated and honored men. A 
safe refuge it would seem, while also it must have been a most charm- 
ing wilderness home ; and in being the protector of these refugees the 
Riggs family will bear lasting honors by true lovers of constitutional 
liberty. 

Edward Riggs, being one of the company of ten men of Milford who 
purchased the claims of Mr. Goodyear to Paugasuck lands in 1653, 
made his choice of a farm before any division of the lands was made 
and secured a beautiful location with good land. Here he remained 
until 1666 when he became one of the planters at Newark, N. J., being 
on the committee to select the site for the plantation. His wife Eliza- 
beth was the only woman who was there the first summer. His chil- 
dren, except Samuel, removed with him. Children : 

3. Edward. 5. Joseph. 

4. Samuel. 6. Mary. 

4. Ens. Samuel, son of Edward Riggs, m. ist Sarah, dau. of Rich- 
ard Baldwin of Milford, June 14, 1667, and settled on his father's 
homestead which he probably inherited. His wife. Sarah, departed 
this life and he m. 2d Mrs. Sarah Washburn, May 6, 17 13. He was 
a man of great substantial ability, and was honored as such in his own 
town to the end of his life. In a business capacity and standing he had 
but one rival, Major Ebenezer Johnson, with whom he seems to have 
lived in great friendliness, with the exception of a short time, when 
quite a variance of understanding existed, but which was settled, and 
afterwards the whole matter appears to have been dropped and they 
occupied the same pew for a number of years, classed in the same dig- 
nity in the meeting-house. He was a representative several years, 
made justice of the peace in 1708, and served in many offices in his 
town ; became a man of considerable prope'rty ; built the first house 
in the neighborhood of Seymour ; giving to his son, at that place in 
1708, two hundred acres of land with houses and other comforts. He 



GENEALOGIES. 755 

was made ensign in the train-band in 1790, and always thereafter bore 
that title. Children : 

7. Elizabeth, b. June, 166S. 12. Ebenezer, b. Oct. 15, 167S; m. 

8. Samuel, b. — ^^ — S, 167 1. 13. Edward, b. Oct. 7, 16S0; m. 

9. Sarah, b. , 1672; d. 1672. 14. Hannah, b. P'eb. 24, 1683; m. Abraham 

10. Sarah, 1). May 4, 1674; m. Jonathan Harger. 

Lum. 15. Joseph, b. Feb. 22, 16S6; d. Oct. 22, 

11. John, b. Apr. i, 1676; m. 1707. aged 21. 

11. Capt. John, son of Ens. Samuel R'ggs, m. Elizabeth Tomlinson, 
Feb. 23, 1700, and lived on his father's homestead which he deeded to 
him, where he died Sept. 24, 1755, aged 78. He, as his father, was a 
man of solid worth ; honored in many offices, and acquitting himself 
with much honor. He was commissioned captain in 1722 ; was ap- 
pointed by the state one of a committee to divide Woodbury into two 
societies in 1723 ; was appointed on a committee of seven for the state 
to investigate the question of the "western lands." made report May, 
173 1, according to which five towns were laid out, — Colebrook. Hart- 
land, Winchester, Barkhamsted, Torringion, New Hartford, Harwin- 
ton. He was probably the most noted man of the town in his day. 
Children : 

16. Samuel, b. Jan. 2, 1701. 19. Joseph, b. Feb. 13, 1710. 

17. Anne, b. June 10, 1704; m. Samuel 20. Sarah, b. Dec. 17, 171 1 ; m. ist John 

Hull. Bowers ; 2d Rev. Daniel Humphreys. 

18. Elizabeth, b. June 17, 1706. 

12. Ebenezer, son of Ens Samuel Riggs. m. Lois'"^^^ , and settled 

on the farm given him by his father, probably soon after his marriage, 
or about 1708, near Rock Rimmon. He died May 11, 17 12, aged 34. 
Children : 

21. Ebenezer, b. before 1708, since his 22. Lois, b. July 10, 1709. 
grandfather deeded him land in that 23. John, b. Dec. 27, 17 12. 
year to be his when 21. 

13. Edward, son of Capt. Samuel Riggs, m. Abigail Nichols, Jan. 
5, 1708, and died Nov. 25, 1712, aged 32. Children : 

24. Grace, b. Oct. 4, 1708. - 26. Esther, b. Feb. 10, 1713. 

25. Abigail, b. Feb. 5, 17 11. 

16. Samuel, son of Capt. John Riggs, m. Abigail Gunn, Jan. 6, 1726. 
Children : 

27. Elizabeth, b. ; d. May 27, 1738. 29. Mercy, b. Dec. 6, 1730. 

28. Abigail, b. Mar. 3, 1728. 30. Elizabeth, b. Nov. 21, 1733. 

19. Lieut. Joseph, son of Capt. John Riggs, m. Mabel Johnson, 
Feb. 20, 1740. Children: 

31. Hannah, b. Dec. 21, 1740. 34. Samuel, b. Nov. 21, 1750; d. Sept. 

32. John, b. Apr. 10, 1742. 21, 1766. 

;^^. Joseph, b. July 20, 1746. 35. Mabel, b. May 5, 1759- 

2 1. Ebenezer, Jr, son of Ebenezer and Lois Riggs, in. Rachel Peck 
of Waterbury, July 4, 1733. Children : 

36. Rachel, b. May 31, 1734; d. May 25, 40. Lois, b. July 25, 1743; d. Aug., 1751. 

1740. 41. Eunice, b. Oct. 14, 1745. 

37. Esther, b. July 24, 1736. 42. Ebenezer, b. Jan. 22, 1748. 

38. Ebenezer, b. Nov. 17] 1738; d. Ma/ 43. Jeremiah, b. July i, 1750. 

29, 17.^0. 44. Joseph, b. Aug. 17, 1753. 

39. Rachel, b. Jan. 23, 1741. 



756 HISTORY OF DERRY. 

^. John, son of Ebenezer Riggs. m. Hannah Johnson, Oct. 29, 
1739 (?) Children : 

45. John, b. Aug. 31, 1735. 49- Ann, b. June 14, 1741. 

46. lulward, b. Apr. 24, 1737. 50. Jabez, b. June 28, 1744. 

47. Hannah, b. Nov. 7, 1738. 

48. Moses, b. May 26, 1740; d. July 26, 

1740. 
28. John, son of Joseph and Mabel (Johnson) Riggs, m. Elizabeth 
Hawkins, and died June 18, 18 14, and his wife died Oct. 3, 18 15. 
Child: 

51. John, b. Dec. 22, 1771 ; m. 

33. Joseph, 2d son of Joseph Riggs, m. Ann Canfield, Nov. 13, 
1775. Children : 

52. Betsey, b. Jan. 26, 1777. 53. David Johnson, b. May 3, 1779. 

45. John, Jr., son of John Riggs, ni. Abigail . Children : 

54. Abner, b. Dec. 24, 1760. 55. Abigail, b. July 16, 1765. 

46. Edward, son of John Riggs, m. Lois Osborn of-Waterbury, May 
^7' 1759- Children : '^ 

56. Moses, b. Apr. 10, 1760. 59. David, b. Aug. 14, 1765. 

57. Edward, b. Jan. 24, 1762. bo. Thomas. 

58. David, b. May 20, 1764; d. Oct. 2, 61. Isaac. 

1764. 
51. John, son of John and Elizabeth (Hawkins) Riggs, m. Mary, 
dau. of Isaac Beecher, Jan. 1, 1793 ; m. 2d Betsey Hawkins, Mar. 6, 
1829. Children : 

62. Maria, b. May 7, 1793 ; d. June 4, 66. Lucinda, b. May 20, 1804. 

1813. 67. Thirza, b. Oct. 26, 1807; m. ist John 

63. Laura, b. May 7, 1795; m. John Humphrey; 2d Joshua Kendall. 
Davis. 68. John, b. Oct. 25, 181 1; d. Nov. 14, 

64. Mary, b. Mar. 13, 1798; m. John S. 1855. 

Moshier. 69. Harpin, b. Dec. 9, 1813; m. 

65. John H., b. Jan. 6, iSoi ; d. Oct. 10, 70. Henry, b. Jan. 15, 1816; m. Mary 

1805. Ann JJradley. 

69. Harpin, son of John and Elizabeth (Hawkins) Riggs, m. Har- 
riet, dau. of Hiram and Sarah Upson, May 17, 1840. Children: 

71. John H. 75- Sarah M. 

72. 1-loyal B. 76. Harriet. 
y^. Hiram U. 77- Mary B. 
74. Louisa B. 

RIGGS, Ebenezer of Oxford, m. Julia M., dau. of Col. John Davis. 
Children : 

1. Lucinda; m. Henry Church. 4. Bernice ; m. Charles Meiggs. 

2. Dewitt. 5. N. Clark. 

3. Homer ; m. Mary E. Davis. 

RUSSELL, Samuel, of Bradford gave to his son "Timothy Russell 
one moiety or half of all those lands and tenements in Derby, which I 
purchased of Jonathan Belcher, Esq., of Boston with a mansion house 
and barn thereon." Dec. 25, 1722, Capt Andrew Belcher and Mr. 
Jonathan Belcher, merchants of Boston, took a mortgage on landed 
property in Derby from Edward and James Pierson. merchants ; the 
instrument being executed by Samuel Walker of Stratford, Jan. 15, 
1 7 13-14. The land consisted of about 300 acres, 200 being at Wes- 



GENEAI.oniES. 757 

quantuck ; the mansion house was on Great Neck, and for the whole 
Samuel Russell paid ;i^300 "current bills of credit." Timothy Russell, 
therefore, had a fine start in life, and he improved it well. He m. 
into one of the best families; was town clerk some years, justice of the 
peace also ; attained to military position, and closed life with honor. 
He m. Mary Hull, Nov. 21, 1720. Children : 

1. Abigail, b. Sept. 29, 1722. 4. Joseph, b. Feb. 3, 1730, m. Elizabeth 

2. Sibila, Feb. 11, 1724. Clark, Sept, 25, 1764. 

3. Mary, b. Oct. 16, 1726. 5. Samuel, b. Dec. 4, 1738. . 

SCOTT, Andrew G., m. Susan . Child : 

1. Susan b. Aug. 9, 1803. 

1. SH.\RPE, Thomas, came from England in 1700, when about 20 
years of age, and settled in Stratford where he m. Lydia, dau. of Wil- 
liam, and grand-dau. of Rev. Frederick Dickinson, in 1701 ; was one 
of the 36 men named to whom the General Assembly granted the town- 
ship of Newtown in 1708, and settled in Newtown. Among the trans- 
fers made by him at this time was that of land in Stratford to Samuel 
Hawley of Deiby, in exchange for Mr. Hawley's " right " in the town- 
ship of Derby ; dated Jan 23, 1705-6. By the several divisions of land 
among the proprietors of Newtown he and his heirs acquired several 
hundred acres of land. He died in 1712, leaving five children. His 
wife Lydia survived him about forty years, since she signed a protest 
Dec. 15. 1 75 1, relative to land of which she was unjustly deprived. 
Children : 

2. Thomas, b. Mar. iS, 1702. 5. John, b. Feb. i, 170S. 

3. Mary, b. Oct. 10, 1703. 6. Elizabeth, b. Apr. 18, 1712. 

4. William, b. Aug. 19, 1705. 

2. Thomas, Jr., son of Thomas and Lydia Sharpe. m. Sarah, dau. 
of Richard, and grand-dau. of William Crozier, Feb. 17, 1745, and 
resided in Newtown, where he died Apr. 17, 1765, aged 63. Children : 

7. Thomas, b. May 28, 1746. 10. Eliakim, b. Dec. 5, 1752, m. Hester 

8. Eydia, b. Dec. 16, 174S. Wetmorc, Nov. 25, 1773. 
g. John, b. Nov. 12, 1750, m. Phedina 11. Je.sse, b. Jan. 30, 1755. 

Lake, Nov. 23, 1772; d. at Harlem in 12. Sarah, b. Mar. 26, 1760, m. John B. 

the Revolution in 1777. Had Lucy, Vose ; had John, Abby, Lucy, Lydia, 

b. Oct. II, 1773; Rena, b. Aug. 4, Ruth. 
1776. 

7. Thomas 3rd, son of Thomas, Jr., and Sarah Sharpe; m. Mary 
Treadwell : removed to Ridgefield and afterward to Oxford, near Zoar 
bridge, where he died Mar. 14, 1805. Children: 

13. Polly b. June 30, 1771,111. Frederick 17. Amy, b. July 11, 17S3, m. Scth S- 
Galpin of Woodbury, d. Oct. 30, 1S51, Stratton, d. Aug. 6, 1843. 

leaving children, Stephen, Curtiss, 18. Daniel, b. Apr. 22, 1785, m. Polly 
Polly, Maria and Leman. Bennett,d. Mar. 28, 1870. Had Sher- 

14. Lydia, b. Apr. 18, 1774, d. June 28, man J., and I,egrand, father of Sani- 

1778. uel and Jane. 

15. Floranna, b. Feb. 20, 1778, m. Cory- ig. Philander, b. Mar. 24, 1787 ;m. Sarah, 
don Kelsie of Vermont, d. in 1841. Davis, d. Apr. 30. 1859. Had Eu- 

16. Mary Ann, b. July 11, 1781, m. Joseph gene, George, Alfred, Eliza. 
Thompson of West Haven, d. Mar. 20. Henry, b. Oct. 7, i7Sg; m. Polly Sher- 
23, 1765, leaving children, Fanny, man, d. Oct. 27, 1823. Had llrzelia, 
Cynthia, Louisa, Jeduthun, Charles, m. Rev Tliomas Clinghani; Henri- 
George, Lucinda, Jo.seph and Jane. etta, in. William Wakenlan of New 

Haven ; Walker. 



3-- 


Sally, m. Yale. 


36- 


33- 


John, b. in 1690; m. Kate Dawson; 






d. Oct. 27, i(S25. 


37- 


34- 


William b. ; m. the dau. of Moses 

Beardsley, 


38- 


35- 


Lydia; ni. William Dart. 





758 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

21. Hannah, b. Dec. 7, 1791 ; d. May 20, 23 Lugrand, b. June i, 1797, in Ridge- 

1S20. field. 

22. Abiah, b. Dec. 7, 1791 ; d. June 28, 

1817. 

10. Eliakim, son of Thomas, Jr., and Sarah Sharpe, m. Hester 
Wetmore, Nov. 25, 1773 ; resided in Monroe, and died in Mar., 1839. 
Cliildren : 

24. Andrew, b. Aug. 17, 1775; d. Nov. 26, 29. Mary, b. Oct. 18, 1789. 

1790. 30. John W., b. Aug. 10, 1791; d. Nov. 7, 

25. Betsey, b. Nov. 5, 1776; m. Burr 18 15, in Liverpool, Eng., whither he 
Tomlinson. had gone in hope of recovering the 

26. Mabel, b. Oct. 11, 1779. family estate. 

27. Ruth Ann, b. June 10, 1784. 31. Annice, b. Aug. 10, 1791 ; m. John W. 

28. Lydia Ann, b. Mar. 22, 178S; d. Feb. Robert and removed to Ohio. 
7, 1817. 

11. Jesse, son of Thomas, Jr., and Sarah Sharpe, is named in Derby 
records as being one of the original proprietors of the Quaker's Farm 
purchase, which was in consequence of his great grandfather having 
bought the right of Samuel Hawley, who was one of the proprietors. 
Children : 

Nancy ; m. Dart, brother to 

William. 

Hepsey; m. Israel Calkins. 
David ; went to sea while young and 

never returned. 

23. Lugrand, son of Thomas 3d and Mary (Treadwell) Sharpe, m. 
Sept. 28, 1823. Olive, dau. of Ebenezer Booth of Southford, who died 
Mar. 8, 1864 He purchased a homestead in Southford where he 
resided until Apr., 1843, when he removed to Seymour, where he was 
a useful and honored citizen until his death May i, 1876, in the 79th 
year of his age. (See Biography.) Children : 

39. Mary A.; m. John James of Ansonia. 45. Daniel Smith; d. in Seymour, Aug. 

40. Olive Maria; m. Albert W. Louns- 27, 1849, in his 13th year. 

bury of Seymour. 46. William Carvosso; m. Vinie A. Lewis 

41. Elizabeth ;m. Rev. Walter Chamberlin of Monroe; residence, Seymour. 

of the Newark Conference. 47. Andrew Benedict; d. in Southford, 

42. Henry; d. in Southford, Apr. 10,1832, Nov. 27, 1842, in his 2d year. 

in his second year. 48. David Watson ; m. Emily Lewis of 

43. John Wesley; d. in Seymour, Jan. 29, Monroe ; r'esidence. New Haven. 

1849, aged 16. 

44. Thomas; m. Lottie McLain and re- 
sides in Seymour. 

SHERWOOD, Joseph; m. Comfort Canfield of Derby Oct. 27, 
1772, and resided here, apparently, several years. Child: 

1. Sheldon, b. Sept, 7, 1777. 

1. SHERWOOD, Samuel, born July 8, 1761, at Greenfield Hill, 
Fairfield county, Conn., removed to Derby April 15, 1817, where he 
died May 11, 1838. Child: 

2. Oliver Burr, b. Nov. 22, 1799, at Ridgefield, Conn. 

2. Oliver Burr, son of Samuel Sherwood, came to Derby with 
his father in 1817 ; m. Charlotte Fowler of Milford, Sept. 3, 1836. 
Children : 



GENl'.AI.OGJES. 759 

3. Mary Burr, b. June 11, 1S37 ; m. 5. Albert Fowler, b. Sc]:)t. 17, 1S42. 

franklin Ilallock, Aug. 25, 1858. 6. Charlotte Clarrine, b. Oct. 20, 1S44. 

4. William Oliver, b. Aug. 24, 1839; m. 

Lydia O. Chichester, Feb 7, 1871; 
resides in New York. 

5. Ai.EERT FowLKR, SOU of Oliver B. and Charlotte Sherwood ; m. 
Emily B. Chatfield of Derby, Oct. 17, 1866. Children : 

7. Charles Girard, b. Nov. 13, 1867. 9. Joseph Beach, b. May 7, 1875. 

8. Oliver Burr, b. Mar. 3, 1873; d. Apr. 

23, 1S74. 

SHORT, JosiAH ; m. Abigail . Children : 

1. Isaac, b. May 16, 1771. 3. Josiah, b. Oct. 3, 1781. 

2. Peter, b. July 17, 1773. 

SILBY, Thomas; m. Anne Blackman, Oct. 12, 1756. Children: 

I. Betty, b. July 29, 1757. 2. David Melville, b. Mar. 22, 1759. 

SMITH, John, of Milford as early as 1640, had wife Grace, who 
joined the church in 1642. He was one of the ten first owners of 
Derby. Children : 

1. Ephraim, bapt. Oct. 13, 1644; settled 4. Ebenezer, b. Nov. 10, 1651 ; d. young. 

in Derby ; -BO-chiidren, 5. Mercy, bapt. Dec. 5, 1652; d. aged 

2. John, b. Aug. 27, 1646. iS. 

3. Mary, b. 164S; m. Abel Gunn of 6. Mehitable, b. Mar. 25, 1655; m. 

Derby. Edward Camp. 

SMITH, Mary, wife of Ephraim Smith ; d. May 5, 1726, and he 
m. Anna Carrington, Dec. 4, 1727. 

SMITH, Ephraim and Elizabeth. Child : 
I. Elizabeth, b. Sept. 27, 1748. 

SMITH, Ephraim ; m. Martha . Children : 

I. Samuel, b. Aug. 17, 1723. 2. Mary, b. Aug. 4, 1740. 

SMITH, Samuel; m. Ann Holbrook, Mar. 16, 1758; and a Samuel 
Smith m. Anna, and had child : 
I. Gibson, b. Jan. 17, 1781. 

SMITH, John; m. Deborah Lambert of Milford, Dec. 9, 1719. 
Children : 

I. Richard, b. Apr. 29, 1725. 2. David, b. Feb. 26, 1728. 

SMITH, Thomas ; m. Abigail Hawkins, Dec. 20, 1727, and died 
Apr. 13, 1762. Child : 
I. Abigail, b. Dec. 12, 1748. 

SMITH ; Elijah, m. Ann Hawkins, May 3, 1748. Child : 

I. Josiah, b. Dec. 12, 1748. 

SMITH. Hannah, d. Nov. 28, 17 12. 

SMITH, John, was at Milford in 1646, and although called Junior, 
was not a son of John Smith, the father of Ephraim, who settled in 
Derby. He was a blacksmith and came to Derby as such at the desire 
of the people. He m. ist Sarah, dau. of Wm. Fowler, Jr., of Milford, 
July 19, 1665 ; for 2d wife he m. in 1694 Clemence, widow of Jonathan 
Hunt of Northampton, Mass., who d. in 1704. Children : 



r 



760 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

1. Joseph, cl. young. 3. Jonathan, b. Sept. 5, 167 1. 

2. John, b. in 1669; d. young. 4. John, b. June 18, 1674; d. young. 

SMITH, Andrew, m. Sarah Tomlinson, May 21, 1696. Children : 

1. Nathan, b. Feb. 4, 1697. 5. Andrew, b. Oct. 3, 171 1. 

2. Jonah, b. Sept. 29, 1699. 6. Joseph, b. July 20, 17 15. 

3. Maiv, b. Feb. 12/1705. 7. Hannah, b. May 12, 17 — . 

4. Rachel, b. May 4, 170S. 8. Josiah, b. June 15, 17 — . 

1. Nathan, son of Andrew and Sarah (Tomlinson) Smith, m. Han- 
nah , and d. June 27, 1725. Children : 

9. Elnathan, b. May 10, 1723. 10. Nathan, b. Sept. 19, 1724. 

2. Jonah, son of Andrew and Sarah (Tomlinson) Smith, m. Grace 
Riggs, March 22, 1726. Children: 

11. Isaac, b. Mar. 18, 1734. 14. Hannah, b. July 15, 1742. 

12. Sarah, b. July i, 1738. 15. Edward, b. April 25, 1748. 

13. Esther, b. Dec. 18, 1739. 

5. AnijREW, Jr., son of Andrew and Sarah (Tomlinson) Smith, m. 

Mary ■. Children : 

16. Sarah, b. Aug. 5, 1744 ; d. Oct. 5, 1751. 17. Sarah, b. July 28, 1752. 

9. Elnathan, son of Nathan and Hannah Smith, m. Abigail . 

Children : 

iS. Eli, b. Sept. 12, 1750, at "Elizabeth- 19. Nathan, b. July 25, 1752, same place, 
town, in the Jerseys." 20. Hannah, b. June 23, 1754, in Derby. 

10. Nathan, son of Nathan and Hannah Smith, m. Sarah Northrop, 
of Milford, Nov. 4, 1747, who d. June 25, 1757 ; m. 2d Martha F"rink, 
Mar. 15, 1758, who d. Nov. 9, 1765 ; m. 3d 'I'ryphena Children : 

21. Sarah, b. April 18, 1750. 24. Andrew, b. Aug. 31, 1761 ; d. Jan. 20, 

22. Mary, b. Sept. i, 1751. 1765. 

23. Eunice, b. Mar. 3, 1755. -5- Nathan, b. Sept. 30, 1763. 

26. Marvin, b. Aug. 13, 1768. 

11. Isaac, son of Jonah and Grace (Riggs) Smith, m. Lucy . 

Children : 

27. Lucy, b. Dec. 22, 1754. 29. Charity, b. Dec. 22, 1757. 

28. Esther, b. Feb. 4, 1756. 

SMITH, John, m. Mary , who d. June 12, 1745, aged 67. He 

d. May 31, 1749, aged 75. Children: 

1. Jonathan, b. May 21, 1716; m. Rachel 3. John, b. April 21, 1723; m. Elizabeth 

Tomlinson, Mar. 12, 1744. Chatfield, Dec. 26, 1750, and had 

2. Deborah, b. May 16, 1721. children, Gideon, b. Sept. 16, 1754, 

and Betty, b. April 25, 1757. 

SMITH, Abraham, m. Sarah French, Dec. 5, 1756. Children: 

1. Isaac, b. July 8, 1757; d. Mar. 24, 5. James, b. Sept. 14, 1767. 

1775. 6. Josiah, b. Oct. 23, 1769. 

2. Abraham, b. Oct. i, 1759. * 7. Fitch, b. May 14, 1772. 

3. John French, b. Mar. 20, 1762; d. 8. Levi, b. Sept. 23, 1774. 

April 20, 1781. 9. John, b. April 22, 1781. 

4. Abijah, b. Oct. 3, 1764. 

2. Abraham, Jr., son of Abraham and Sarah French, m. ist Lucy 
Hawkins, Mar. 18, 1778; m. 2d Molly Johnson, Aug. 4, 1782. 
Children : 
10. Isaac, b. Oct. 24, 1779. 11. Susy, b. Mar. 5, 17S0. 



GENKALOGIKS. 761 

6. JosiAH, son of Abraham and Sarah (Iwench) Smith, m. Betsey 
Holbrook, July 30, 1795. Children : 

12. Almond, b. April 19, 1796. 14. Betsey, b. Oct. ^50, 1799. 

13. Almira, b. Oct. 5, 1797. 

SMITH, Joseph, m. Martha Bement, Oct. ii, 1722. Children: 

I. Hannah, b. Aug. 18, 1723, d. l\Iay 3, 2. Martha, b. [an. 30, 1726. 
1757. aged 33. 

SMITH. Joseph 30, m Hannah Malory, of West Haven, Aug. 21, 
1753. Children : 

1. Jeremiah, b. May 26, 1754. 3. Abigail, b. Oct. iS, !757. 

2. Eleanor, b. May 16, 1756. 

SMITH, JosiAH m. Esther Smith, Sept. 8, 1773. Children: 

1. Esther, b. Feb. 4, 1775. 3- Josiah, b. Sept. i r, 1778. 

2. Clark, b. Nov. 10, 1776. 4- Sheldon, b. Dec. 13, 1780. 

SMITH, Moses, m. Lucretia Hall, Feb. 28. 1780. Children: 

I. Nathan Gaylord, b. Feb. 25, 1781. 2. Timothy Wheaton, b. Sept. 6, 1782. 

SMITH, JosiAH m. Esther Oviatt, Aug. 24, 1727. Child: 
I. Elijah, b. June 28, 1729. 

SMITH, John, m. Abigail . Children : 

1. Enos, b. Feb. 16, 1760. 3. Andrew, b. June 10, 1766. 

2. Sarah, b. Jan. 29, 1762. 

SMITH, Daniel, m. Hannah Stiles, Nov. 26, 1734. Child: 

1. Hannah, b. Aug. 14, 1737- 

SMITH, Daniel, had children : 
J. Lois, b. Sept. 20, 176S. 3. John, b. Sept. 9, 1777. 

2. Ebb, b. Mar. 15, 1775. 

SPENCER, Jehiel, m. Anne Patience Tomlinson, Nov. 6, 1775. 
Children : 

I. Billy, 1). Apr. 11, 1777. 2. Hannah, b. Apr. 9, 1779. 

STEELE, George and John, brothers, born in Essex, Eng.; came 
to New England about 1631 ; settled first at Cambridge, Mass.; re- 
moved to Hartford, Conn. George was a proprietor of lands at Hart- 
ford in 1639. He was made a freeman in Cambridge in 1634; he died 
in 1663, as it is said, "very old." Children : 

1. Elizabeth, m. Thomas Watts of Mid- 3. Richard, m.; d. in i()39, leaving chil- 

dletovvn. drcn. 

2. Daughter, b. in 1640; m. Harrison or 4. James, m. 

Henderson. 

4. James, son of George Steele of Hartford, m. Anna, dau. of John 
Bishop of Guilford, and was a prominent man at Hartford ; was in the 
war against the Pequots. Children : 

5. Sarah, m. Samuel ]'>orman, Jr., Feb. 8, S. Mary, m. Hall. 

16S2. 9. I'.lizabeth, d. not m. 

6. Lieut. James, b. about 1658; m. Sarah 10. Rachel, m. ist Edward Allyn ; 2d 

Barnard. Denmiing. 

7. John, b. 1660 ; m. 

96 



762 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

7 John, son of James and Anna (Bishop) Steele, m. Melatiah. dau. 
of Maj. William Bradford of Plymouth. Children : 

11. John, b. 1693; d. 1712. 13. Berthia, m. May 17, 1709, Samuel 

12. Ebenezer, b. 1695; m. Shepard. 

12. Ebenezer, son of John and Melatiah (Bradford) Steele, m. Su- 
sannah of West Hartford; removed to Killingworth, where he 

died in 1746. Children: 

14. John, m. Christina , Feb. 4, 1785. 18. Huldah, m. Nathaniel Flowers. 

15. Mary, m. John Dodd. 19. Melatiah, b. 1732. 

16. Daniel. 20. Bradford, b. Sept. 22, 1734; m. 

17. Susannah, m. Reuben Flowers. 21. Elisha, b. about 1737 ; m. 

20. Capt Bradford, son of Ebenezer and Susannah Steele, came 
to Derby and m. Mary Perkins about 1755 ; she was born in 1731, 
died Oct. 16, 1788 ; he m 2cl Sarah Wheeler of Derby, widow of Sim- 
eon Wheeler, who had been killed at the burning of Fairfield, Conn''^ 
Capt. Bradford Steele commenced business with his tather-in-lnw in 
Dei by in [757 ; afterward removed to Hartford, and from thence to 
Derby, on Little river, where he purchased lands, built shops and 
houses ; was an officer of a volunteer company that joined Washington 
at Boston, and afterwards was captain of minute-men, and was in sev- 
eral conflicts defending New Haven and the coast along the Sound as 
far as New York. He was noted for his shrewdness, enterprise and 
strength of mind, and was prominent in the business transactions of 
the town. He died Apr. 10, 1804, aged 69. Children: 

22. Infant, d. of bleeding of the nose. Warren of Woodbridge, and settled 

23. Susannah, b. Dec. 14, 1756; m. Na- in Watertown. 

thaniel Flowers of Roxbury, Mar. 28. Hannah, b. Aug. 4, 1766, m. Josiah 

5, 1779. Whitney of Greenfield. 

24. Ashbel, b. Aug. 3, 1757; m. Eunice 29. Daniel, b. July 14, 176S. 
Thompson of Derby, May 5, 1779. 30. George, b. Sept. 5, 1770; m. Apr. 26, 

25. Melatiah, b. Mar. 9, 1761 ; m. Wil- i797) Esther, dau. of Dea. Bucking- 
liam Keeney, Mar. 5, 1779; d. Mar. ham of Oxford; settled first in Derby, 
9, 1827. then in Oxford, and finally in Exeter, 

26. Bradford, b. Aug. 31, 1762. N. Y.; she d. July 26, 1S39. 

27. Mary, bapt. Sept. 9, 1764; m. Edward 

21. Elisha, son of Ebenezer and Susannah Steele, m. Mary Mer- 
rells, Apr. 12, 1760; lived in Derby, and was associated with his 
brother, Capt. Bradford Steele, in mill enterprises and labor ; his wife 

died at Hadley, Mass.; he m. 2d Eunice, widow of Lieut. Pritch- 

ard ; he d. in 1805. Children : 

31. Mary, b. Jan. 25, 1763. 35. Elisha, b. Feb. 3, 1771 ; lived in Wa- 

32. Candace, bapt. Jan. 6, 1765. terbury, and d. in 1792. 

2^. Clarissa, b. Feb. 9, 1766; m. 36. Norman, b. 1780; m. (For his de- 

Pomeroy ; lived in Hadley, Mass scendants see History of Torring- 

34. Lucy b. May 28, 1769. ton, Conn). 

26. Dea Bradford, Jr., son of Capt Bradford and Mary (Perkins) 
Steele, m. Ruth, dau. of his step-mother and her husband, Simeon 
Wheeler, Mar. 7, 1785; she was born Sept 16, 1765; died Feb. 20, 
1856 , he died Dec 23, 1841, aged 80. Children : 



i^Stecle Genealogy, History of Torrington, Conn. 



GENKALOGIES. 763 

37. Edmund, h. Apr. 4, 17SS; ni. Anna -ii. liurr, b. June 7, 1700; m. 

Tucker; d. Apr. 8, 1840. 42. Susan, b. Dec. 17, 1802; d. Oct. 11, 

38. Sally, b. May 7, 1791 ; m. Chester 1804, 

Jones, Nov. 20, 1808. Children; 43. Almira, b. Feb. 22, 1810 ; m. ist 
Susan RI„ b. Aug., 1809, m. William John W. Holcomb, Nov. 23, 1S32 
Brewster of Erie, Penn.; Sarah M., 2d Henry P. Davis, Sept. 2, 1S49 
d. Nov. 18, 1S77; Mary A., b. Aug., had George S., born Dec. 23, 1835: 
1811, m. Clark McSparren of Erie, d. Oct. 17, 1842; John W., b. Nov 
Penn.; Julia M.; Ruth E., m. W. C. 2, 1843 ; m. Rhoda Langdon, Sept 
Curry of Epe, Penn.; Chester Brad- 24, 1867; Mary H., b. Apr. i, 1838 
ford, m. Caroline Smith, lives in m. Samuel Howd, d. July 4, 1871; 
East Saginaw; Louisa, m. Doct. Ceorge S., b. May 24, 1S50; m. Mar- 
William Magill of Eric, Penn''*. tha M. Cushen, Oct. 2, 1872; Burr 

39. A.shbel, b. Aug, 8, 1793; "^'^ ^^V^- -3' ^-i '^- ^^c. 22, 1851 ; Alice, b. Feb. 

1794. 2, 1854; m. Joseph T. Beard, Mar. 

40. William, b. Feb. i^, 179S; m. 27, 1872. 

29. Daniel, son of Capt. Bradford and Mary (Perkins) Steele, m. 
1st Rebecca Clark of VVaterbury in 1789, who d. Mar., 1796 ; 2d Mar- 
garet, dau. of Richard VVelton, Sept. 20, 1797 ; he died June 24, 1835. 
Children : 

44. Austin, b. Sept. 17, 1790; m. 50. Clark M., b. Sept. 21, 1805; d. May 

45. Daniel, Jr., b. Nov. 11,1792; m. 27, 1811. 

46. Rev. Ashbel,b. Jan. 31, 1796 ; m. 51. Betsey C, July 13, 1810 ; m. L. 

47. Ransom, b. Sept. 2, 1798; m. Eliza- Beecher, Sept. 19, 1830. 

beth Beecher, Oct. 4, 1821. 52. Sherman, b. Jan. 5, 1S08; m. June, 

48. Rebecca, b. Aug. 15, 1800; m. Dec. 1S50, Catharine Clark. 

25, 1825, Norman S. Bidwell of 53. Davis C, b. Sept. 8, 1813; m. 
Waterbury. 54. George H., b. Mar. 15, 1820; d. in 

49. Richard, b. July 6, 1S02; m. Apr. 3, Lake Co., 111., Sept., 1847. 

1 83 1, Susan I\L Ray. 

35. Elisha, Jr . son of Elisha and Mary (Merrells) Steele, lived in 
Waterbury and died in 1792. Children : 

55. Daughter; m. I lines. 56. Daughter; m. Jones. 

36. Norman, son of Elisha and Mary (Merrells) Steele, m. Hannah 
Spencer, about 1800. She was born in 1778 ; died about 1820, aged 
42. He died in 1822. Children : 

57. Clarissa; d. at the age of 12. 61. Edwin; lost at the age of 18. 

58. Elisha, b. in 1803; m. Elizabeth 62. Nurman, b. 1813; m. Sarah Hitch- 
Ilines of Waterbury; had Mary cock, June 4, 1846; had Frederick 
Ann and Henry ; d. In 1875. ^'•' Herbert A., Anna E. H. 

59. Mary, b. in 1805 ; m. Wm. H. Jones 63. Ann P., b. Oct. 18, 1814; ni. Lewis B. 

in 1825; had Sarah, Stafford, Nor- Follett, Oct. 18, ; d. Oct. 18,1856; 

man S., Caroline A., Wm. II. and had Susan, Maria. 

John E. 64. William Spencer, b. 1816; m. 

60. Susan, b. 1807 ; m. Joseph T. Marr ; 
d. in 1840; had Helen, Marion and 
Louise. 

37. Edmund, son of Dea. Bradford and Ruth (Wheeler) Steele, m. 
Anna. dau. of Zephaniah Tucker, Nov. 24, 1809. She was born Nov. 
27, 1783. Children : 

65. Albert J., b. Feb. 22, 1S12. 66. John Burton, b. June 10, 1814. 

40. William, son of Dea. Bradfoid and Ruth (Wheeler) Steele, ni. 
Betsey Northrop, Nov. i, 1819 ; died Nov 24, 1874. Children : 

67. John. 69. George. 

68. Truman ; living in Ansonia. 70. Mary. 

^''History of Seymour. 



764 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

41. Burr, son of Dea. Bradford and Ruth (Wheeler) Steele, m. 
Betsey Mallett, Nov. 7, 1822 ; died Aug. 11. 1823. Children : 
71. Burr S., b. Mar. 19, 1S24; d. Sept. 4, 72. Betsey; d. Apr. 7, 1824. 
1S44. 

44. Austin, son of Daniel and Margaret (Welton) Steele, m. Polly 
Beecher, Aug. 31, 18 10 ; lived in Waterbury. Children : 
73. Henry; removed West. 74. Caroline; m. George Benedict. 

45 Daniel, Jr., son of Daniel and Margaret (Welton) Steele, m. 
Sarah, dau. of Col. Street Richards of Wolcott, Conn., Nov. 15. 1813, 
who died in 111., Feb. i. 1853 ; m. 2d Amanda, widow of Jasper John- 
son, and sister of his first wife. Children : 

75. William A., b. Aug. 13, 1814 ; killed 77. Margaret ; m. Ransom Steele of Wau- 
in Alabama. kegan, 111. 

76. Nelson ; d. in Illinois, aged 18. 

46. Rev. Ashbel, son of Daniel and Margaret (Welton) Steele, m. 
Clara Brewster, June 28, 1825, a Presbyterian minister in Washington, 
D. C. ; is the author of a work entitled '• Chief of the Pilgrims, or Lite 
and Times of Elder William Brewster ; " and also a genealogy of the 
'■ Brewster Family." 

78. Reginald. 80. Ashbel F. 

79. Francis H. 

64. William Spencer, son of Norman and Hannah (Spencer) 
Steele, m. Caroline A. Jones. Nov. 8, 1837 ; settled in Wolcottville, 
Conn., in 1839, and died Jan. 22, 1857. Children : 

81. Abbie A., b. Oct. 16, 1838; m. Flori- 84. Elisha J., b. June 29, 1843; m. Sophia 
mond I). Fyler of .Winsted, a judge S. Skiff, Jan. 25, 1S64; a soldier in 
in Litchfield Co. Court. the late war; resides in Wolcottville, 

82. Mary, b. Dec. 19, 1839; m. Willis A. Conn.; an influential young man. 
Bradley, July 14, 1839. 85. Edwin S., b. Oct. 4, 1846; d. Feb. 14, 

83. William L., b. Sept. 6, 1841 ; a sol- 1855. 

dier of the late war. 86. Albert D., b. Aug. 11, 184S; d. Aug. 

21, 1848. 
87. George B., b. May 15, 1852 ; m. Alice 
Diamond, May 15, 1872. 

65 Albert J., son of Edmund and Anna (Tucker) Steele, m. Julia, 
dau. of Chester Jones, Feb 11, 1835. Children: 

88. Sarah Ann, b. Oct. 17, 1S36. 91. Albert Edmund, b. Oct. 29, 1845; d. 

89. Susan Maria, b. Mar. 28, 1840. Oct. 19, 1858. 

90. Julia Frances, b. May 2, 1843 > ^- 9-- Orianna Louisa, b. July 2, 1852. 

Feb. 29, 1844. 

66. John Burton, son of Edmund and Anna (Tucker) Steele, m. 
Emeline A. Stuart of Bridgewater. She was born July 13, 18 19. 
Children : 

93. Celestia, b. Sept. 29, 1846, m. Edward 94. Frank E., b. Aug. 20, 1848. 
B. Bradley, Nov. 29, 1866. 

STILES, Nathan; m. Phebe [Johnson ?] 

I Nathan, b. Feb. 27, 1796. 5. Hezekiah, b. Jan. 28, 1803. 

2. Sally, b. Sept. 6, 1797. 6. Harvey, b. Mar. 30, 1805. 

]■ 5^^^^^' [ b. Mar. 28, 1801. 7- Lois Emily, b. Feb 24, 1810. 
4. Jesse, ) 8. Stiles Johnson, b. May 4, . 

I. STODDARD, Anthony, came from England to Boston about 
1639 ; was admitted freeman in 1640, and was a representative there 



GENF.ALOCilKS. 765 

more than twenty years. He m. ist Mary, dan. of Hon. Emanuel 
Downing; of Salem and had 3 sons ; 2d Barbara, widow of Capt Joseph 

Weld, and had 2 children ; 3d Christian , had 10 children. He 

died Mar. i6, 1687. Chilaren ; 

2. Solomon, b. Oct. 4, 1643. 'o. Joseph, b. Dec. i, 1661. 

3. Sampson, b. Dec. 3, 1645. '^- John, b. Apr. 22, 1663. 

4. Simeon, b. 1650. 12. Ebenezer, b. July i, 1664. 

5. Sarah, b. Oct. 21, 1652. 13. Dorothy, b. Nov. 24, 1665. 

6. Stephen, b. Jan. 6, 1654. 14. Mary, b. Mar. 25, 1668. 

7. Anthony, b. June 16, 1656. 15. Jane, } , j,,. ,„ ...^ 

8. Christian, b. Mar. 22, 1657. 16. Grace, f '^- -'"'y "9' "^^9- 

9. Lydia, b. May 27, 1660. 

2. Solomon, son of Anthony and Mary (Downini^) Stoddard, grad- 
uated at Harvard, 1662 ; was the first librarian of that college ; preached 
a time in Barbadoes ; then settled as minister at Northampton, Mass., 
Sept. ir, 1672. He m. Mar. 8, 1670, Mrs Esther Mather, originally 
Esther Warham of Windsor, Conn., widow of Rev. Eleazer Mather, 
his predecessor at Northampton. He died Feb. 11, 1729. aged 86. 
She died Feb. 10, 1736, aged 92. Children : 

17. Mary, b. Jan. 9, 1671; m. Rev. Ste- 23. Anthony, b. Aug. 9, 1678; m. 
phen Mix. 24. Sarah, b. Apr. i, 16S0 ; m. 

18. Esther, b June 2, 1672 ; m. Rev. 25. John, b. Feb. 17, 16S2 ; m. 
Timothy Edwards. 26. Israel, b. Apr. ro, 1684; d. a prisoner 

19. Samuel, b. Feb. 5, 1674; d. Mar. 22, in France. 

1674. 27. Rebecca, b. 16S6; m. 

20. Anthony, b. June 6, 1675; d. June 7, 28. Hannah, b. Apr. 21, i6S8; m. Rev. 

1675. William Williams. 

21. Aaron, J b. Aug. 23, 1676; d. Aug. 

[ 26, 1676. 

22. Christian, ) m. 

23. Rev. Anthony, son of Solomon and Esther Stoddard, graduated 
at Harvard, 1697, settled as minister in Woodbury, Conn., where he 
preached until his decease Sept. 6. 1760 He m. ist Prudence Wells 
of Wethersfield Oct. 20, 1700. who died in May, 17 14; m 2d Jan. 
31, 17 15, Mary Sherman, who died Jan, 12, 1720. Children : 

29. Mary, b. June 19, 1702. 35. Prudence, b. Oct. 12, 1711; m. 

30. Solomon, b. Oct. 12, 1703. 36. Gideon, b. May 27, 1714; m. 

31. Eliakim, b. Apr. 3, 1705; m. 37. Esther, b. Oct 11, 1716; m. 

32. Elisha, b. Nov. 24, 1706; m. 38. Abijah, b. Feb. 28, 1718; m. 
22i- Israel, b. Aug. 7, 1708. 39. Elizabeth, b. Nov. 15, 17 19; m. 
34. John, b. Mar. 2, 17 10. 

31. Eliakim. son of Rev. Anthony and Prudence (Wells) Stoddard ; 
m. Joanna Curtis in 1729 ; residence, Woodbury. Children : 

40. John, b. Jan. 26, 1730. 45. Eliakim, b. July 25, 1742. 

41. Israel, b. Jan. 28, 1732. 46. .Seth, b. Dec. 2, 1744. 
42 Anthony, b. Oct. 21, 1734. 47. Abigail, b. Aug. 2, 1747. 

43. Joanna, b. July 16, 1738. 48. Eliakim, b. Dec. 11, 1749. 

44. Prudence, Sept. 24, 1740. 

40. John, son of Eliakim and Joanna (Curtis) Stoddard ; m Mary 
Atwood, Apr 15, 1751, and settled in Watertown, Conn, where he 
died Jan 22, 1795. She died Jan. 16, 1802, in Charleston, Montgom- 
ery county, N. Y. Children : 

49. Sampson, b. Oct. 25, 1752; m. 51. Wells, b. July i, 1759; m 

t;o. Abiram, b. (let. 25, 1756. 52. Phebe, b. Feb. 19, 1760; m. 



^66 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

53. John, b. July i, 1763; m. 57. Sarah, b. May 13, 1773; m. 

54. Submit, b. Mar. 17,1766. 58. Israel, b. Feb. 15,1776; m. 

55. Joanna, b. Feb. 19, 1767 ; m. 59. Eliakim, b. Aug. 10, 1779; m. 

56. Mary, b. June 11, 1771 ; m. 

49. Samson, son of John and Mary (Atwood) Stoddard ; m. ist 
Susannah Nettleton, who died Apr. 24. 1779 ; 2d Amy Goodwin, who 
died Sept. 16, 1727. He resided at Watertown, where he died Nov. 
1 1, 1809 Children : 

60. Prudence, b. Aug. 11, 1775; m. 64. Goodwin, b. May 8, 1783; m. 

61. Abiram, b. Jan. 27, 1777 ; m. 65. Harvey, b. Apr. 14, 1785; m. 

62. Susannah, b. Mar. 26, 1779; m. 66. Anna, b. Aug. 17, 1788; m. 

63. William, b. Sept. 29, 1781 ; graduate 67. Samuel, b. Aug. 6, 1791 ; m. 
of Yale ; a physician ; m. 

61. Abiram, M. D , son of Sampson and Susannah (Nettleton) Stod- 
dnrd, was graduated at Yale, 1800, became a physician ; settled in' 
Humphreysville, where he practiced with great success until his death 
Nov. 26, 1855. Hem Eunice Clark ; held olifices of trust many years; 
character, eccentric, but kind to the poor and suffering. ^^See Biog.) 
Children : 

68. Theresa, b. Jan. 6, 1806; d. in 1814. 72. Joseph Nettleton, b. Nov. 12, 1S15; 

69. Jonathan, b. Oct. 9, 1807. m. 

70. Susan H., b. Aug. 3, 1809; m. Shel- 73. William, b. Jan. 6, 1818. 

don C Johnson, M. I)., of Hum- 74. Maria Theresa, b, June 2, 1825; still 
phreysville, May 19, 1828. living. 

71. Thomas, b. Mar. 11, 1813; m. 

69. Jonathan, son of Doct. Abiram and Eunice (Clark) Stoddard, 
was graduated at Yale in 183 1 ; became a lawyer, and followed suc- 
cessfully his profession for many years in New Haven ; was appointed 
United States District Attorney for Connecticut by President Polk in 
1845, which office he held four years ; was appointed District Attorney 
for New Haven county in 1853, which office he held until July 20, 1854. 
He died Apr. 28, 1855. 

71. Thomas, son of Doct. Abiram and Eunice (Clark) Stoddard, was 
graduated at Yale in 1836 ; m. Esther Ann Gilbert, Apr. 19, 1839. 
Children : 

75. Frances Eunice ; m. Nov. 30, 1S61, 76. Sarah G. 
Samuel L. Bronson, who graduated 77. Ezekiel ; m. 
at Yale, 1855 ; at the law school, 
1857 ; practices law at New Haven ; 
have Thomas Stoddard, Josiah 
Harmer, Mary Esther, Sarah Fran- 
ces, Ezekiel Stoddard. 

72. Joseph Nettleton, son of Doct. Abiram and Eunice (Clark) 
Stoddard; m Sophia Budington, Dec. lo^ 1838; reside in Westville, 
Conn. Children : 

78. William Budington. 81. Goodwin. 

79. Henry. 82. Robert Jonathan. 

80. Sophia Theresa. 83. Joseph "Elliott. 

73. William, son of Doct. Abiram and Eunice (Clark) Stoddard, 
studied law in New Haven where he resided until his death. He 
acquired the reputation of a thorough scholar and an able advocate, 
and by his genial, social manners, gained many friends. 



GENEALOGIES. 767 

74. Maria Theresa, dau. of Doct. Abiram and Eunice (Clark) 
Stoddard, went to Maryland during the late Rebellion, to aid in car- 
ing for the sick and wounded soljiers. contributing liberally of her own 
means for their comfort. 

77 EzEKiEL, son of Thomas and Esther A. (Gilbert) Stoddard ; m 
Mary De Eorest Burlock, and is a wholesale merchant in New Haven, 
and director of the New Haven County National Bank. Children : 

84. I'honias Burlock. 86. Mary. 

S5. Esther Ann. 87. Louis Ezekiel. 

STONE Leman, (old name was Learning) was of the fifth genera- 
tion from William Stone who came from New Haven in the Whitefield 
company in 1639, ^^^ afterwards settled in Guilford. Stephen Stone, 
father of Leman, removed from Guilford to Litchfield, South Farms, 
Apr. 23. 17 SI. In Oct., 179 i, he settled in the building still known as 
the '"old Stone building" at Derby Narrows, which he had probably 
that year erected He m. July 5, 1792, Louisa Stone of Guilford, a 
descendant of a brother of William the first emigrant. Leman Stone 
was born at Litchfield, Dec. 29, 1750. and his wile Louisa at Guilford, 
Apr 24, 1753 ; he died May 11, 1847, ^^'^^^ ^^e died Feb 3, 1832. 
Children : 

I. Infant, li. in Guilford, 1793. 3- K'len, b. Mar. 15, 179S; d. Dec. 29, 

'2. Louisa Lucia, b. Dec, 1796; d. Sept. 1870. 

26, 1829. 4. Fred Leman, b. Oct , 1802 ; d. Sept. 

16, 1818. 

3. Ellen, dau. of Leman Stone, m. May 17, 1824, Fred William 
Stone, who died at Vera Cruz, Mexico, June 9, 1833 Children: 

5. Frederick Leman, b. Feb. 25, 1825 ; d. 7. William Oliver, b. Sept. 26, 1830; d. 

Sept. 27, 1879. Sept. 15, [875. 

6 Ellen Louisa, b. May 11, 1828. 

6. Ellen Louisa, dau. of Ellen and Fred Wm. Stone, m. Apr. 5, 
1846, James S. Engles. Children : 

8. James Willissie, b. Jan. 25, 1847; d. 10. Charles Stone, b. Dec. 30, 184S; the 

Jan. 30, 1847. only surviving male member of the 

9. Ellen Goodwin, b. Dec. 20, 1847 ; d. Leman Stone family. 

Feb. 13, 1849. II. Edward Oliver, b. Feb. 26, 1851 ; d. 

July 27, 1855. 

STRONG, AniNO, was the son of Thomas Strong of Northampton, 
Mass He was in Derby several years, as the birth of two of his chil- 
dren is recorded here, and then removed to Woodbury, where he was 

representative to the General Court in 1726. He m. Eunice , 

probably in Derby about 1700. Children horn in Derby: 
I. Ann, b. Oct. 23, 1702. 2. Ebenezer, b. Sept. 21, 1704. 

STRONG, Benjamin, son of Adino, m. in Derby, Rachel Smith, 
Sept. 7, 1729 ; had the birth of a dau. recorded here, then removed to 
Woodbury, where his son was born. Children : 
I. Ann, b. Dec. 27, 1729. 2. Ilenjamin, bapt. F'cb. 20, 1732. 

I. SWIFT, Chipman, son of Zephaniah (probably) was born in 
Lebanon, Conn. ; removed to Wilmington, Vt., where he was one of 
the hrst settlers about 1770, he being a farmer. His first wife, who 
was a Lane, died in Wilmington, and some years after he removed to 



768 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

Derby and made his home with his son, the Rev. Zephaniah Swift, 
where he bought a part of the old Holbrook place ; m. his 2d wife 
Mrs. , sister of Gen. Humphreys, and died Mar. 8, 1825. Chil- 
dren : 

2. Lydia. 6. Zephaniah, b. in 177 1, the first male 

3. Sally, m. Dea. Rice of Wilmington, Vt. child b. in the county of Wilming- 

4. Cynthia, m. Alanson Parmelee of Wil- ton, Vt. 

mington, Vt. 

5. Polly, m. Rev. Urbane H. Hitchcock, a 

Congregational clergyman of Charle- 
mont, Mass. 

6. Zephaniah, son of Chipman Swift, m. Sarah Packard, sister of 
the first Congregational minister in Wilmington, Vt., before he settled 
in Roxbury. Conn. (See Biog.) Sarah his wife died Sept. 27, 1840. 

He died Feb. 7, 1848. He m. 2d Lydia , who died May 27, 1848. 

Children : 

7. Theodosia, b. June 6, 1794; d. Feb. 12. .Semantha, b. July 17, 1803; d. Nov. 

15, 1S45. -9' i'^04. 

8. Lucy, b. Mar. i, 1796; m. Josiah IIol- 13. Polly, b. May 25, 1805. 

brook, May, 181 5; d. Aug. 15, t8i8. 14. Samuel, b. Sept. 26, 1807; d. Mar. 

9. Chipman, b. Jan. 15, 179S; d. Oct. 23, 30, i8r6. 

1S19. 15. Semantha, b. July 28, 1S09; d. Dec. 

ID. Zephaniah, b. Dec. 31, 1799. 3, 1822. 

II. Joseph Packard, b. Sept. 23, 1801. 16. Persis, b. July 21, 181 1. 

17. Urbane Hitchcock, b. Mar. 24, 1814. 

17. Urbane H., son of Rev. Zephaniah Swift, m. Charity Wheeler, 
dau. of Elijah Booth of Stratford, Apr. 5, 1835, and resides on his 
father's homestead Child : 

18. Sarah Elizabeth. 

13. Polly, dau. of Rev. Zephaniah Swift, m. in 1829, Dr Samuel 
Beach of Stamford, born in Trumbull ; settled in Bridgeport ; a physi- 
cian, and was killed in the Norwalk railroad disaster in 1853. 

The following inscriptions were copied by Rev Zephaniah Swift in 
Sept.. 1836, from monuments then standing in the Wilmington, Vt., 
grave-yard ; the subjects being of his grandfather's family : 

SWIFT, Zephaniah, died May 9, 1781, in the 78th year of his age. 

Lydia, wife of Zephaniah Swift, died June 23, 1790, in 82d year of 
her age. 

Mary, wife of Chipman Swift, Esq., died Jan. 22, 1813, in her 65th 
year. 

SWIFT, Polly, died Dec. 23, 1781, in 3d year of her age. 
SWIFT, Chipman, Jr., died Apr. 5, 1784, in the 2d year of his age. 
Lucy, dau. of Chipman and Mary Swift, died Apr. 12, 1790, in 17th 
year of her age. 

Sally, wife of John Rice, died Oct- 2, 1825, in 39th year of her age. 

SWIFT, Lydia, died Dec. 29, 18-28, aged 53. 

I. THOMPSON, Capt. Jabez, m. Sarah Gunn of Waterbury, Oct. 
25. 1748. Children : 



GENEALOGIES. 769 

2. Lois, 1). Dec. 29, 1749. 5. Jabez, b. Jan. 7, 1759. 

3. Anne, b. Mar. 5, 1753. 6. Eunice, b. Jan. 5, 1762. 

4. Sarah, b. Feb. 21, 1756. 

THOMPSON, Mrs Elizabeth, wife of Joseph, died Oct. i, i7<S4, 
aged 65. Joseph Thompson died June 15, 1787, in 70th year. 

TIBB.'\LS, John, came into the town having two daughters, at least, 
and was quite prominent some years in the town enterprises In Jan- 
uary, 171 2, he gave to his two sons-in-law 40 acres of land in Great 
Neck. He m. Hannah, widow of Jabez Harger, Mar. 28, 1700. Chil- 
dren : 

1. Abigail, m. Ebenezer Harger. 2. Anna, m. Jabez Harger. 

I TIFF, John, m. Sarah. Children : 

2. John, b. Oct. S, 1732. 4. Benjamin, b Aug. Ii, 173S. 

3. Joseph, b. [an. 5', 1735; d. Feb. 21, 5. Joseph, b. Mar. 4, 1741. 

I. TODD, Daniel, m. Sibyl ; m. 2d Eunice Hitchcock, Mar. 

27, 1775 Children : 

2. Joseph, b. Jan. 24, 1776. 4. Samuel, b. Nov. 4, 1779. 

3. Uaniel, b. Dec. 24, 1777. 

TOMLINSON, Henry, was in Milford as early as 1652 ; removed 
to Stratford about 1656 ; was a freeman there in 1669 ; had wife Alice ; 
he d. Mar. 16, 1681. Children: 

1. Jonas, m. 6. Agur, b. Nov. i, 1658; m. 

2. Margaret, m. Jabez "Hardier" of 7. Bathsheba, b. Jan. 3, 1661 ; m. Eph- 

Derby. raim Stiles. 

3. Mary, m. Stephen Pierson of Derby. 6. Abraham, b. May 30, 1662; d. May 

4. Tabitha, m. Edward Wooster of Derby. 30,1662. 

5. Phebe, b. Aug. 14, 1656; m. Thomas 9. Aliraham. 

Wooster of Derby. 

I. Jonas, son of Henry and Alice Tomlinson, m. Hannah ; 

was a freeman in Stratford in 1669; settled on Derby Neck in 1678, 
afterwards on Great Hill. 

6. Lieut Agur, son of Henry and Alice Tomlinson, m. ist Eliza- 
beth ; 2d Sarah Hawley, OcL 19, 1692 ; she died June 29, 1694; 

3d Abigail Brown, Apr 14, 1702. He died Mar. 5, 1728. Children : 
ID. Alice, d. Oct. 11, 1684. 12. Sarah, d. June 29, 1694. 

II. Elizabeth, b. Aug. 11, 16S4. 

9. Ap.raham, son of Henry and Alice Tomlinson, m. ist Mary ; 

2d Lois Wheeler of Stratford, July 4, 1728 Children: 

13. Jonas, b. Apr. 6, 1712. 16. Martha, b. Sept. 22, 1719. 

14. Agnes, b. Nov. 10, 1713. 17. Mary, b. Dec. 18, 1721. 
15 Abraham, b, Sept. 2, 17 15. 

13. Jonas, son of Abraham Tomlinson, m. Mary Moss, Nov. 26, 
1734 He died Oct 2, 1796. Children : 

18. ./Xbraham, b. July 20, 1738. 22. Nabby, b. Apr. 21, 1747. 

19. Mary, b. Sept. 26, 1740. 23. Caleb, b. Sept. 11, 1749. 

20. AL-irtha, b. May 13, 1743. 24. Anne, b. Sept. i, 1753. 

21. Lemuel, b. Apr. 26, 1745. 25. Sammy Lord Moss, b. Dec. 15, 1757. 

TOMLINSON, Samuel, m. Hannah . Children : 

97 



770 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

1. Henry, b. Apr. i8, 1712. 5. Samuel, b. Dec. 13, 1720. 

2. Elizabeth, b. Oct. 10, 1713. ' 6. Caleb, b. Mar. 30, 1723. 

3. Eunice, b. Dec. 7, 1715. 7. Sarah, b. Feb. ir, 1726. 

4. Hannah, b. Sept. 2, 1718. 

I. Henry, son of Samuel Tomlinson, m. Patience . Children; 

8. "Sibbilla," b. Apr. 11, 1738. 11. Eunice, b. Feb. 27, 1746. 

9. Samuel, b. Jan. 4, 1739; d. Sept. 13, 12. Sarah, b. June 4, 1747. 

r742. 13. Henry, b. Oct. 20, 1752. 

10. Hannah, b. Dec. 16, 1743. 

6. Caleb, son of Samuel Tomlinson, m Mary . He died June 

28, 1764. Children : 

14. Samuel, b. Oct. 18, 1747. 16. Anne, b. Sept. 7, 1752. 

15. Abigail, b. Mar. 30, 1750; m. Noah 17. Rebecca, b. Nov. 14, 1760. 

Durand. 

TOMLINSON, Agur, son of Abraham, m. Sarah Bowers, Dec. 4, 
1734.. Child: 
I. Nathaniel, b. Apr. 9, 1736. 

TOMLINSON, Dan, m. Susannah, dau. of Dea. Kliphalet Hotch- 
kiss, June 3, 1774. She died aged 96 years. Children: 
I. Susy, b. June 11, 1776. 2. Philo, b. May 15, 1778. 

TOMLINSON, Gideon, m. Abigail . Child : 

I. Abigail, b. Jan. 26, 1731. 

TOMLINSON, James, died Jan. 27, 1754. 

TOMLINSON, Mrs. Lois, mother (in-law probabl}') of Capt. James 
Wheeler, died Sept. 11, 1767. 

TOMLINSON, Benjamin, m, Jehoada, dau. of Jabez Harger, Nov. 

16. 1742. Children : 

1. Gideon, b. Oct. 27, 1743. 6. Jabez, b. Dec. 5, 1754. 

2. Jeremiah, b. May 8, 1745. 7. Hannah, b. Apr. 26, 1757. 

3. Anna, b. July i, 1747 ; d. Jan. 8, 1749. 8. Joseph, b. Nov. 7, 1758. 

4. Comfort, b. May 13, 1749. 9. David, b. Aug. 16, 1762. 

5. Benjamin, b. Aug. 30, 1752. 

TOMLINSON, Benjamin, m. Mary Harger, Nov. 15, 1768. Chil- 
dren : 

1. Lucinda, b. Aug. 11, 1769. . 3. Jeremiah, b. Apr. 15. 1774. 

2. Nabby, b. Aug. 12, 1771. 4. Gideon, b. Mar. 18, 1777. 

TOMLINSON, Webb, m. Jerusha Beers of Newtown, Dec. 21, 1768. 
Child : 

I. Sarah, b. Mar. i, 1772. 

TOMLINSON, John, m. Hannah, . Children : 

I. Benjamin, b. Sept. 30, 1745. 2. Isaac, b. Apr. 7, 1749. 

TOMLINSON, William, m. Abigail . Was accepted an in- 
habitant in Derby, Dec, 1677. William Tomlinson gave to his sons. 
John and Isaac, all his ''lands, hereditaments, situate and being in the 
town of Derby, March, 171 1." There was a WilHam, Jr. William 
died Dec. 8, 17 11, soon after making his will. Children: 

1. William. 3. Isaac. 

2. John, b. Sept. 19, 1686. 



GENEALOGIES. 77 1 

2. John, son of William and Abigail Tomlinson, m. Elizabeth, dau. 
of Thomas Wooster, Mar. 27, 1712. He d. Nov., 1756, aged 70. 
Children : 

4. Phebe, b. Jan. 27, 17 13. 7. Elizabeth, b. Dec. 9, 1720^ 

5. Bathsheba, b. Dec. 24, 17 14. 8. Abigail, b. July 18, 1723. 

6. Joseph, b. Dec. 27, 1716. (o^ John, b. Sept. 23, 1725. 

3. Isaac, son of William and Abigail Tomlinson, m. Patience Tay- 
lor, Mar. 25, 17 12. Children: 

.^gT'Ann, b. Mar. 8, 1713. 12. Mary, b. Feb. iS, 1721. 

10. Patience, b. Sept. 6, 1715. 13. Isaac, b. Oct. 16, 1723. 

11. Rachel, b. Feb. 2, 171S. 14. Noah, b. Mar. 6, 1727. 

6. Joseph, son of John and Elizabeth (Wooster) Tomlinson, ni. 
Sarah Beers, May 24, 1743, who d. Feb. 22, 1776. A Joseph, m. 
Bethia Glover, of Newtown, Oct. 27, 1763. Child: 

15. Betty, b. Mar. 23, 1744. 

f'9. John, Jr., son of John and Elizabeth (Wooster) Tomlinson, m. 
Deborah, dau. of CajDt. Samuel Bassett, April 28, 1748. Lived on 
Great Neck. Children : vV ' ' ' 

16. Damaris. , ^J^f',' /,'***' 19. " lAitheene," b. Jan. 27, 1755. 

17. Phebe, b. Sept. 23, 1750. 20. John, b. Jan. 24, 1757. 
"■^ 18. Levi, b. Feb. 15, 1752. 21. Daniel, b. May 20, 1759. 

13. Capt. Isaac, Jr., son of Isaac and Patience (^Taylor) Tomlin- 
son, m. Sibyl Russell, Jan. 17, 1750. Children: 

22. Sibyl, b. Sept. 10. 1750. 26. David. 

23. Isaac, b. Aug. 31, 1752. 27. Samuel. 

24. Russell, b. Dec. 23, 1754. 28. Lovena. 

25. Timothy. 

14. Noah, son of Isaac and Patience (Taylor) Tomlinson, m. Abi- 
gail Beers, July 2, 1747. Children : 

25. Amarilla, b. June zS, 174S; d. July 29. Beers, b. Mar. 13, 1755. 

II, 1748. 30. Noah, b. Aug. 3, 1757. 

26. Daniel, b. July 30, 1749. 31. Nathan, b. Aug. 4, 1760. 

27. Nabby, b. Oct. 22, 1751 ; d. April 22, 32. Lucy, b. July 19, 1767; d. Sept. 16, 

1753- 1767- 

28. Noah, b. June 8, 1753; d. June 16, 23- Lucy, b. July 18, 17C9. 

1753- 
18. Levf, son of John, Jr., and Deborah (Bassett) Tomlinson, m. 
Amelia Beard, Dec 29, 1774. Children: ( -Sv^ ;. ^ . 

34. Betty, b. Nov. 30, 1775. • 3^8. Levi, b. 1785; d. Sei)t. 23, 1794. 

'^ 35. Amelia, b. Dec. 3, 1777; d. Sept. 29, 39. Phebe, b. ; d. May ir, 1794, 

1794. aged 3 years and 10 months. 

36. Ruth, b. Mar. 11, 1780. 40. Urania, b. ; d. (_)ct. i, 1794, aged 

37. Deborah, b. Nov. 20, 1782. i year and 11 months. 

23. Isaac, son of Isaac, Jr., and Sibyl (Russell) Tomlinson, m. 
Mary Hawkins, Dec 19, 1775. Children: 

41. Silas, b. Sept. 19, 1776. 45. Amos, b. July 23, 1784. 

42. Isaac, b. April 2, 1778. 46. Zechariah, b. Aug. 16, 1787; d. Aug. 

43. Truman, b, July 7, 1780. i, 1789. 

44. Mary, b. Mar. 17, 1782. 

24. Russell, son of Isaac, Jr., and Sibyl (Russell) Tomlinson, m. 
Agnes Cortelyou, of New Utrecht, L. I., April 25, 1779. She was b. 
Mar. 10, 1764. He d. June 22, 1809. Children: 



772 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

47. Sally, b. Mar. 14, 17S0. 51. James, b. Aug. iS, 1789; d. April 22, 

48. Isaac, b. May 26, 17S2. 1804. 

49. Peter, b. Nov. 18, 1784; d. June 11, 52. Betsey, b. April 29,1792; m. Charles 

1842. Bacon. 

50. Simon, b. May 22, 1787. 53. Russell, b. Mar. 27, 1801. 

• 54. James C, b. Mar. 4, 1806. 

47. Sally, dau. of Russell Tomlinson, m. David Tomlinson. 
Children : 

55. David, 60. Sarah, 

56. Eliza, 61. Charles, 

57. Augustus, 62. Isaac, 

58. Betsey, 63. Simon. 

59. Jane, 

48. Isaac, son of Russell Tomlinson, m. Grace Lum. Children : 

64. Sally J. ; m. Roger S. Prescott. 68. Betsey; m. Albert Wilcoxon; had 

65. James. Isaac F. and Crawford C. 

66. Mary Ann; m. Anson T. Colt; had 69. Wm. Sherman; d. young. 

8 children. 70. Grace C; m. Henry A. Cunningham. 

67. Peter Cortelyou ; m. Charlotte Can- 
field. 

50. Simon, son of Russell Tomlinson, m. Charity Hurd. Children : 

71. Charles; m. ist, Esther Smith; 2d, 74. Marietta; m. ist, Johnson; 2d, 

Smith. Lugrand Bennett. 

72. George; m. Delia Skeels. 75. Sarah; m. Benton. 

73. William R. ; m. Phebe Bassett. 76. Agnes ; m. George Wagner. 

77. Catharine ; m. William Shelton. 

53. Russell, son of Russell Tomlinson, m. Sally Burwell. Child: 

69. Mary Burwell. 

54. James C, son of Russell Tomlinson, m. Laura Tomlinson. 
Children : 

70 Tolm Russell. 74- James Willard. 

71. Elizabeth Sarah. 75. Edward Delavan. 

72. Agnes Cortelyou. 76. Isaac Cornell. 

73. Mary Ann. 77- Laura Cornelia. 

I. TOWNER, John, m. Jane French, Aug. 13, 1707, who died May 
4, 1759. Children : 

2. Phineas, b. Apr. 28, 1708. 6. Rebecca, b. Mar. 27, 171S ; d. Aug 17' 

3. Elizabeth, b. Mar. 23, 1710. 1738. 

4. Joseph, b. Apr. 22, 1712; m. Abigail 7. Eunice, b. May 16, 1720. 

Bissell, Jan 4, 1744. 8. Jane, b. ; d. Mar. 23, 1739, 

5. John, b. June 29, 1713. 

5. John, son of John and Jane Towner, m. ist Sarah Wildman, Nov. 
5, 1741 ; m. 2d Mrs. Hannah " Cain," June 26. 1759. Children : 
9. Rebecca, b. Jan. 8, 1742. 11. John, b. Feb. 22, 1750. 

10. Isaac, b. July 28, 1745. 12. Sarah, b. Jan. i, 1753. 

I. TROWBRIDGE, Israel, m. Mary . Children. 

2. Abigail, b. Nov. 9, 1748. 6. Elizabeth, b. Mar. 15, 1757. 

3. Hannah, b. Feb. 9, 17^1- 7- Ebenezer, b. May 18, 1763. 

4. Levi, b. May 25, 1753 8. Anne, b. Aug. 28, 1765. 

5. David, b. Mar. 7, 1755. 

I. TUCKER, Daniel, m. Elizabeth Johnson, July 9, 1741. Chil- 
dren : 



(.KNI'-.AI.OCilF.S. 773 

2. Daniel, b. May i, 1742. 4. Gideon, b. Apr. 7, 1746. 

3. Reuben, b. Mar. i, 1744. 5. Zephaniah, 1). (,)ct. 2S, 1759. 

I. TUCKER, Samuel, m. Sarah Chatfield, Aug, 1755. Children : 

2. Samuel, b. Feb. 10, 1756. 4. Susanna, b. Nov. 6, 1761. 

3. William, b. Nov. 29, 1757. 5. Sarah, b. Mar. 26, 1772. 

5. TUCKER, Zephaniah, m. Sarah . Children : 

6. Oliver, b. Mar. 11, 1765. 7. Betty, b. Nov. 17, 1767. 

TUCKER, Joseph, died Nov. 10, 1775, aged 28. 

TUCKER, Anne, dau. of James and Eunice, died Oct. 19, 1775. 

TUTTLE, Joseph, m. Hannah . Child : 

1. Anne, b. Oct. 30, 1767. 

I. TWITCHELL, John, came to Derby, and m. Sarah Pierson, 
Jan. 21, 1699, who died Mar. 14, 1739. Children : 

2. Hannah, b. Aug. 26, 1699. 6. Samuel, b. Feb. 15, 171 1. 

3. Edward, b. Mar. 23, 1701. 7. John, b. June i, 1713. 

4. Sarah, b. Sept. 10, 1703. 8. Joseph, Feb. 15, 1717. 
5 Elizabeth, b. June 22, 1707. 

6. Samuel, son of John and Sarah (Pierson) Twitchell, m. Hannah 
Hinman, Dec. 13, 1739. Child: 

9. Anne, b. July 23, 1741. 

7. John, son of John and Sarah (Pierson) Twitchell, m. Ann Harger, 
Mar. 20, 1733. Children : 

10. Annis, b. ¥eh. 5, 1734. 15. Elizabeth, b. Dec. 7, 1742. 

11. Patience, b. Mar. 24, 1736; d. June 16. Samuel, b. Feb. 17, 1744. 

2S, 1752. 17. Eunice, b. Sept. 30, 1745. 

12. Edward, b. Oct. 10, 1737. 18. John, b. Oct. 11, 1746. 

13. Sarah, b. Sept. 4, 1739. 19. Benjamin, b. July 10, 174S. 

14. Hannah, b. Mar. 18, 1741. 20. Jabez, b. Mar. 18, 1750. 

8. Joseph, son of John and Sarah (Pierson) Twitchell, m. Elizabeth 
Tonilinson, Dec. 6, 1738 ; she died Feb 7, 1787, aged 67 years. Chil- 
dren : 

21. Woostcr, b. Jan. 12, 1740. 26. Joseph, b. Sept. 16, 1752. 

22. Isaac, b. Dec. 20, 1742; settled in 27. Enoch, b. Jan. 18, 1754. 

Wolcott. (See Wolcott History.) 28. David, b June 10, 1757. 

23. Phebe, b. May 19, 1744; m. Abel 29. Elizabeth, K peh 10 1760 

Wooster. 30. Mary, ) ' • > / • 

24. David, b. Feb, 10, 1747. 31. Amy, b. Aug. 18, 1762; d. Aug. 30, 

25. Mary, b. May 23, 1750. 1762. 

18. John, son of John and Ann (Harger) Twitchell, m. Rheuamy 
Smith, June 3, 1773. Child : 

32. Patience, b. Jan. 3, 1775. 

20. Jabez, son of John and Ann (Harger) Twitchell, m. Elizabeth 
Harger, May 8, 177 1. Child: 

33. Clara, b. Aug. 8, 1771. 

24. David, son of Joseph and Elizabeth Twitchell, m. Margaret 
Johnson, Dec, 1773- Child : 

34. Abijah, b. June 11, 1776. 

TYLER, William, m. Mary Lothrop, June 3. 1692. 
TYLER, Thomas, died Mar. 12, 1704. 



774 HISTORY OF^DE]^BY. J 0-^' 

UFFOTT, Thomas, m. Mabel ./ ; Children : 

1. Abigail, b. Feb., 1741. 3. "Shours," b. May 17, 1745; "Shores" 

2. Mehitable, b. Apr. 27, 1743, , m. Elizabeth Durand, June 10, 1773 j,,.' 

'.-fd-f^i i-n. > ■ ■>. hnA*<4;tf ^ ' ' ' ^ ^^^ Samuel, b. Oct. 31, i-jT^^yy^O^A^ 
WARD. Stephen, m. Abigail Johnson of Wallingford, Nov. 22, 
1752. Children : 

1. Joseph, b. Nov. 29, 1753. 3. Rhoda, b. Dec. 11, 1758. 

2. Mary, b. Feb. 28, 1756. 

WATERAUS, John, of New York, m. Mrs. Lydia Deplank, Oct. 
10, 1756. 

WATROUS, Pritchard, m. Susanna Clark (?). Children : 

1. Richard, b. May 26, 1751. 4- Isaac, b. Mar. 27, 1757. 

2. Charity, b. Sept. 19, 1753; d. May 24, 5. Andrew, b. Mar. 27, 1759. • 

1760. 6. Anne, b. Dec. 3, 1761. 

3. Susanna, b. May 21, 1755. 

1. WASHBURN, William, came to Derby and m Hannah Woos- 
ter, Aug. 20, 1696 Child : 

2. Ephraim, b. in 1701. 

2. Ephraim, son of William Washburn, m. Miriam, dau. of Samuel 
Bowers, Oct. 7, 1724. Children: 

3. Timothy, b. Jan. 20, 1725. 8. Mary. 

4. Joseph, I b. May ( d. Oct. 28, 1737. 9. Hannah, b. Aug. 23, 1740. 

5. Hannah, ] 2 [out] ( d. Oct. 30, 1737. 10. Dorcas, b. Mar. 22, 1742. 

6. Benjamin, b. July 5, 17— [out]; d. 11. Bowers, b. June 18, 1745. 
Nov. 4, 1737. 12. Benjamin, b. June 6, 1747. 

7. Dorcas; d. Nov. 13, 1737. 

3 Timothy, son of Ephraim and Miriam Washburn, m. Hannah 
Children : 



13. Sarah, b. June 11, 1746. 15. Joseph, b. May 12, 1750. 

14. Edmund, b. Nov. 27, 1747. 

I. WASHBURN, Samuel, came to Derby, and m. Susannah Woos- 
ter, Nov. 30, 17 14. Children : 

2. Samuel, b. May 4, 1717; m. Sarah 5. Mary, b. Aug. 15, 1749. 

Beach, May 9, 1741. 6. Samuel, b. Jan. 6, 1751. 

3. William, b. Aug. 28, 1742. 7. Sarah, b. Feb. 24, 1755. 

4. Mary, b. Dec. 4, 1744; d. Dec. 5, 1749. 8. Eli, b. Sept. 19, 1758. 

I. WASHBURN, John, m. Sarah Gunn, Nov. 5, 1729. Children : 

2. John, b. June [out]. 3. Anne, b. Feb. 19, 1733. 

I. WASHBURN, Edward, m. Mary Prindle, Dec 30, 1730. Chil- 
dren : 
-'. Dan., b. Nov. 21, 1731. 6. Lemuel, b. Nov. 28, 1744. 

3. Ruth, b. Apr. 2, 1738. 7- Hope, b. Mar. i, 1750. 

4. Mary, b. Mar. 20, 1749- §• Abel, b. Oct 17, 1753. 

5. Eunice, b. Apr. 14, 1742. 

WASHBORN, Gideon, m. Esther Allen, Oct. 6, 1743. Children: 

1. Philene, b. July 6, 1744. 5. Mabel, b. Sept. 16, 1752. 

2. Asahel, b. Mar. 30, 1746. 6. Eunice, b. May 20, 1755. 

3. Anne, b. Jan. 30, 1748. 7- William, b. May i, 1757. 

4. Lucretia, b. Sept. 5, 1750. 8. Sarah, b, Oct. 16, 1760. 

Widow Mary Washburn died Jan. n, 17 12. 



gi:nealo(;ies. 775 

I. VVASHBAND, Josiah, m. Sarah Harger, June 2, 1767. Chil- 
dren : 
2. Josiali, b. Jan. 9, 1769. 3. MaiT, b. Feb. 5, 1774. 

I. WAKELEE, Freecift, kept tavern on the hill above the Capt. 
Bassett place. His children all died in Derby except David. Chil- 
dren : 

2. Smith. 6. John. 

3. David. 7. Leander. 

4. Watrous C. 8. Letty. 

5. Isaac. 

4. Watrous C , m. Caroline, dau. of Lewis Hawkins. Children : 
9. Eli H., b. 1S29. II. Charles, b. 1S36. 

10. Albert, b. 1834. 12. David, b. 1838. 

9. Eli H., son of Watrous C. Wakelee, m. Anna Chatfield. Child : 

13. Frank W. U. 

10. Albert, son of Watrous C. Wakelee, m. Hattie Hill. Children : 

14. Frederick. 16. Albert. 

15. Eli H. 

II. Charles, son of Watrous C. Wakelee, m. ; had two chil- 
dren : 

17. Hermon. 18. Clarke. 

12. David, son of Watrous C. Wakelee, m. Mary Myers Children: 

19. Leonard; m. ; had Esther. 21. Mary. 

20. Frank \V. 22. F"anny ; ni. Piatt of Milford. 

13. Frank W., son of Eli Wakelee. m. Fanny Piatt of Milford. 

WEED, John, m Mary Beement. Dec. 17, 1702. Accepted as an 
inhabitant in Derby, Jan. 4, 1703. He died May 2, 1739- His widow 
Mary died Oct. 27, 1743 Children : 

1. John, b. Sept. 29, 1706; d. . 4. Andrew, b. Sept. 27, 1721. 

2. John, b. Nov. 2. 1708. 5. Joannah, b. Apr. 22, 1724. 

3. Jonah, b. Apr. 6, 17 11. 

WEED, Samuel, m. Sarah . Children: 

1. Samuel, b. Mar. 4, 1732. 5. Reuben, b. Oct. 16, 1740. 

2. David, b. Jan. 16, 1734. 6. John, b. May 9, 1742. 

3. Nathaniel, b. June 3, 1736. 7. Abel, b. Nov. 5, 1744. 

4. Dan., b. Mar. 10, 1739. 

WEED, George, m Esther . Child : 

I. Elijah, b. Feb. 17, 1739. 

WELTON, Moses, m. Elizabeth Wooster, Dec. 11, 1772. Children : 
1. Andrew, b. Jan. 29, 1774. 2. Eleazer, b. Jan. 26, 1776. 

I. WHEELER, Capt. James, came to Derby and m. Sarah John- 
son, May 19, 1736. He received a captain's commission in 1756. He 
owned considerable land where the village of Derby Narrows was 
afterwards built ; and was a prominent man in the town. He died 
July 9, 1768, aged 52. Sarah, his widow, died in Sept., 1812, aged 92 
years Mrs. Lois Wheeler, mother of Capt. James, died Sept. 11, 
^7^7) 'iged 87 years. Children: 



']']6 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

2. Sarah, b. Dec. 27, 1737 ; m. Stephen 8. Joseph, b. May 2, 1748. 

Whitney. 9. Moses, b. July 28, 1750. 

3. Samuel, b. Sept. 24, 1739. 10. Anne^ b. Aug. 10, 1752. 

4. Simeon, b. Apr. 15, 1741. n. David, b. Mar. 14, 1754. 

5. Ruth, b. May 26, 1743; m. Nathan 12. John, b. June 2, 1756. 

Fairchild. 13. Elijah, b. Dec. 22, 1758; d. May 5, 

6. James, b. Apr. 6, 1745. I775- 

7. Daughter, b. Mar. i, 1747 ; d. an in- 14. Hannah, b. Mar. 25, 1761. 

fant. 15. Sarah, b. Apr. 5, 1764 ( .'). 

3. Samuel, son of Capt- James Wheeler, m. Lois Fairchild, Apr. 28, 

1763. Children: 

16. Lois, b. Mar. 24, 1764. 20. Levi, b. Nov. 21, 1770; d. Apr. 29, 

17. Abel, b. Dec. 18, 1765. I774- 

18. Eunice, b. Oct. 26, 1767. 21. Ann, b. Sept. 9, 1773. 

19. Samuel, b. May 28, 1769; d. Jan. 7, 22. Rachel, bapt. Oct. 22, 1775. 

1770. 23. Hannah, b. Sept. 6, 1777. 

4. Simeon, son of Capt. James Wheeler, m. Sarah Baldwin, Oct. 10, 

1764. He died in 1776. probably in the war. Children : 

24. Ruth, b. Sept. 17, 1765; m. Dea. 27. Simeon, bapt. Jan. 26, 1772. 
Bradford Steele. 28. Sarah, bapt. May 29, 1774; m. Eli 

25. Nathan, b. Sept. 29, 1767; m. Expe- Sanford. 

rience Washburn. 29. David, bapt. Mar., 1777 ; d. not m. 

26. Timothy, bapt. Apr. 29, 1770. Dec. 21, 1829. 

6. James, Jr., son of Capt. James Wheeler, m. Mary Clark of Mil- 
ford, June 13, 1767. Children : 

30. Mary, b. Feb. 4, 1768. 34. Hannah, b. Jan 30, 1776. 

31. Lucy, b. Dec. 23, 1769. 35. Lois, b. Mar. 14, 1778. 

32. Ann, b. Sept. 12, 1771. 36. James, b. Mar. i, 1781. 
'}^'^. Sarah, bapt. Feb. 6, 1774. 

8. Joseph, son of Capt. James Wheeler, m. Sarah Wheeler of Strat- 
ford, Apr. II, 1771, who died Apr. 10, 1772, and he m. 2d Lucy . 

He sold a number of building lots at Derby Narrows when that village 
began to be built. Children : 

37. Sally, b. Oct. 2, 1774; m. Jesse Beach, 40. Whittlesey, b. Sept. 19, 1784. 

1792. 41. Joseph, b. Aug. 11, 1787. 

38. William, b. Apr. 3, 1779. 4-- Polly, b. May 19, 1791. 

39. Nancy, Is. Mar. i, 1782. 

9. Moses, son of Capt. James Wheeler, m. Lucy Hecock of Water- 
bury, Dec. 26, 1770. Children: 

43. Moses, b. July 20, 177 1. 48. David, b. Sept. 7, 1779. 

44. Lucy, b. Mar. 9, 1773. 49. Daniel, b. Mar. 14, 1782. 
41^. Betty, b. Feb. 20, 1775. 50. Asa, b. June 23, 1783. 

12. John, son of Capt. James Wheeler, m. Sibyl Todd, July 10, 

1776, who died May 11, 1777 ; and he m. 2d Sarah Johnson, Nov. ig, 

1777. Children : 

51. John Todd, b. May 4, 1777. 53. Samuel, b. Jan. 17, 1781. 

52. Elijah, b. Dec. 4, 1778. 54. Sibyl, b. Apr. 14, 1783. 

WHEELER, Samuel, who may have been brother to Capt. James 
Wheeler, m. Abigail Wheeler, Dec 2, 1739. Children: 

1. Samuel (probably). 3. Robert, b. May 14, 1746. 

2. Abigail, b. Jan. 17, 1744. 4. Agnes, b. Sept. 26, 1748. 



GENEALOGIES. 'J'J'J 

3. Robert, son of Samuel and Abigail Wheel r, m Ruth Wheeler 
of Stratford, June 23, 1768. Children : 

5. Samuel, b. July 2, 1769. 7. Moses, b. Mar. 4, 1773. 

6. Elisha, b. Jan. 29, 177 1. 

WHITMORE, Elias, m. Rachel Wisebury, Feb. 21, 1755. Chil- 
dren : 
I. Elizabeth, b. Sept. 21, 1757. 2. Sarah, b. Oct. 13, 1760. 

1. WHITNEY, Henry, born in England about 1620; came to 
America and was associated with others in buying land in Southold, L. 
I., in 1649. He afterwards settled in Huntington, L. I., and Jamaica, 
L. I., where he was selectman. He came to Norwalk, Conn., about 
1665, where he deceased, probably in the autumn of 1673. 

2. John, son of Henry, m. Elizabeth, dau. of Richard Smith of 
Norwalk, and followed his business of millwright and miller. Chil- 
dren : 

3. John, b. Mar. 12, 1676-7 ; a miller. 9, Anne, b. about 1691. 

4. Joseph, b. Mar. i, 1678-9; millwright. 10, Eleanor, b. Jan. 27, 1693. 

5. Henry, b. Feb. 21, 16S0; a weaver. 11. Nathan. 

6. Elizabeth, b. about 16S4. 12. Sarah. 

7. Richard, b. Apr. iS, 16S7. 13. Josiah. 

8. Samuel, b. 16S8. ' 

13. Josiah, son of John and Elizabeth Whitney, m. Eunice Hanford 
of Norwalk, Oct 30, 1729 ; settled in Norwalk where he died as early 
as 1750. Children : 

14. John, b. Feb. 10, 1730-31 ; cl. young, 17. Eliezer, b. Mar. 7, 1737-38. 

15. Stephen, b. Feb. 10, 1732-33. 18. Isaac, b. Mar. 27, 1741. 

16. Henry, b. Feb. 19, 1735-36. 

15. Stephen son of Josiah and Eunice Whitney, settled in Derby, at 
the Narrows, where he m. ist Sarah, dau. of Capt. James Wheeler, who 
died Mar. 31, 1764; m. 2d Eunice Keeney, Nov. 5, 1764. He m. 3d 

Hannah Hull, widow of Morse. She died in 1793 or 4. Stephen 

Whitney started the lirst store at the Narrows in 1762 or 3, in which 
he continued until 1768, when he gave up all to his creditors. At this 
time there were but a few houses at the Narrows, most of the trade cen- 
tering at the old village of Derby and at Hawkins I'oint, and hence 
the trade was not sufficient at the Narrows to sustain a store. After 
this he engaged more entirely in the West India trade, and in which 
" he had gained a modest competency a second time, when the sinking 
of a brig, the cargo of which belonged to him, brought him to poverty 
once more ; aftor which he made a living, in his old age by trading in a 
small way in the towns about Derby.'"* Children : 

19. Samuel, b. Mar. 24, 1759; m. Esther 24. pAuiice, bajjt. May 30, 1771; d. in 

Smith, Jan. 31, 1793. No children. 180S, age 37 years. 

20. Isaac, b. Nov. 17, 1761. 25. Abigail, ( b. Mar. 24, 1772; d. Apr., 

21. James, b. Mar. 23, 1764 ; d. m. June, Stephen, i 1772. 

1794. 26. Nabby, b. Apr. 4, 1774; m. Capt. 

22. Sarah, b. Aug. 11, 1765; d. in Sey- Amos Sherman, a master-mariner, 
mour about 1849, aged 84. who d. in Derby in 1834. She d. in 

23. Eucinda, b. Apr. 2, 1768; d. Sept. 18, Oxford, Oct. i, 1862, aged 87. 

1769. 

16. Henry, son of Josiali and Eunice Whitne)-, m. Eunice, dau. of 

1''" The Whitney Familv-" 1,42- 
98 ^ 



77^ 



HISTORY OF DERBY. 



William Clark about 1761. who died Aug. 21, 1794., aged 48 ; he died 
May I, i8[i,aged 75 years He was a master-mariner and farmer ; 
founder of King Hiram's Lodge. (See inscription in Episcopal ceme- 
tery.) Children : 

27. William Clark, bapt. Apr. 11, 1762. 31. 

28. Josiah, b. about 1764. 32. 

29. Isaac, b. Mar., 1767; d. Oct., 1769. 

30. Sheldon, b. about 1769; probably d. 2,1,. 
young. 34- 



Henry, b. July 30, 1772. 

Susan, b. Oct. 11, 1774; died not m. 

Dec. 22, 1S51. 

Stephen, b. Sept. 15, 1776. 

Archibald, b. Mar., 1780. 



20 Isaac, son of Stephen and Sarah Wheeler, m. Betsey Waterman, 

and died in 1794. His widow Betsey m. Justus Butler of New Haven, 

July 17, 1803, where she afterwards resided. Children : 

35. James, d. before Jan. 5, 1796. 36. Sarah Wheeler, b. in 1789; dwelt in 

New Haven and New York city. 

27. William Clark, son of Henry and Eunice Whitney, m. Mary 
Thompson of Huntington ; settled in Derby, where she died Nov. 7, 
1807, aged 41. He died Oct. 26, 1838, in his 77th year. Tradition 
says he went to the West Indies as a mate of a vessel, before he was 
twenty-one, and the captain dying on the voyage, he disposed of the 
cargo and brought the vessel home showing great prudence and skill. 
He was wounded in the Revolution and received a pension. Children : 
37. George Henry, b. about 1784; d. in 42. Eunice, b. Apr. 5, 1794; m. Zina 



38 



New York aged 25, not m. 

Harriet, bapt. Sept., 1785; m. Lucius 
Kellogg, a physician in Derby until 
18 10; they then settled on Long 
Island. 
39. Mary, bapt. July 6, 1788; m. Truman 
Plumb, a mariner of Milford, Dec. 
24, 1807. They afterwards settled in 
New Haven where she d. in 1S17. 

Mark William Embleton, bapt. June 
20, 1790; not ni. ; was a mariner and 
d. in London, Eng., aged 25. 

Giles Marlborough, b. in 1792; a 
merchant in New York city; m. Cor- 
nelia Anne Heyer,Oct. i, 1S17; d. in 
1825. 



40 



41 



Chatfield of New Milford ; resided 
in Huntington oppo^ite Derby Nar- 
rows until 1821 ; then settled at 
Oyster Bay, L. I., where he d., and 
she m. David Marcus Clark of O.x- 
ford, where they resided. 

43. Sheldon Clark, b. Apr. i, 1799; went 

South, m., had a family. 

44. Barnard, b. Dec. 24, 1801 ; m. Sarah 

Elvira Kane of Derby ; was merchant 
at Oyster Bay, L. I., then removed to 
Paterson, N. J. 

45. Charles Dennis, b. in 1803; a whole- 
sale merchant in New York city. 

46. Elizabeth, b. May 29, 1805 ; m. Theo- 
dore E. Bliss, a merchant of New 



York. 

28. Josiah, son of Henry and Eunice Whitney; m. Hannah, dau. 
of Capt. Joseph Kiggs in 1784, and dwelt in Derby ; was commander 
of a vessel in the South American trade ; was cast away in 1794, and 
died in consequence of his sufferings in Demarara, in August of that 
year. She afterwards m Philo Northrop of Woodbridge and had two 
children: Deborah Ann Northrop and George Northrop. Children: 



47. Hannah, b. June 20, 1785; m. Aug. 

ID, 18015, Henry Remer, who carried 
on a large business as shoe-maker in 
Derby until May, 1827, when they 
removed to Seneca Falls, N. Y. 

48. Maria, b. Mar. 14, 17S7; m. George 

Finley, grandson of Rev. Samuel 
Finley, D. D., of New Jersey. He 
d. at Bridgeport. She d. at Tremont, 
N. Y. 

49. Josiah Clark, b. Apr. i, 1789; m. in 

1811, Esther E. Mosier of Derby; 



5i' 



was a cooper ; d. in New York ; she 
d. in Trumbull, Conn., in 1873. 
Martha, b. Mar. 26, 1792; m. Mar. 4, 
1808, at Hinesburgh, Vt., Jonathan 
Stone, where they resided ; had 
family. 

Stephen Merit, b. Feb. 17, 1794; a 
master mariner ; m. Charlotte Lewis 
Sept. 22, 1822 ; resided a time in 
New York city; removed to Mount 
Vernon, O. 



GENEALOGIES. 779 

31. Hi£NRY, son of Henry and Eunice Whitney, was a merchant in 
New York city of very lionorable character, and success ; m. July 30, 
1808, Mary, dau. of Hendrick Snydam of Hallett's Cove, L. I.; resided 
in 1811, at 75 Broadway. New York, where he died Mar. 12, 1812. of 
malignant croup ; buried in Greenwood. His widow m Adrian Van 
Sinderen, a retired merchant of Newtown L I. Mr. Whitney was a 
member about 20 years of the honorable firm of Lawrence and Whit- 
ney, shippers of New York city. 

33. Stephen, son of Henry and Eunice Whitney, was a merchant 
in New York city ; m. Aug. 4, 1803, Harriet Snydam, sister to his 
brother Henry's w-ife, and dwelt in the city. He died Feb 16, i860 ; 
she May 12, t86o ; buried in Greenwood, of which cemetery he was 
one of the original incorporators, and a director through liis life. He 
went to New York when 18 or 20 years of age, having had only ordi- 
nary advantages at Derby, and engaged himself as clerk to the firm of 
Lawrence and Whitney, shippers, in which his brother Henry was a 
partner. By energ}' and business talent he soon acquired means to 
enter copartnership with John Currie, a Scotchman, in the wholesale 
grocery trade. He traded largely in wines, then in cotton, then 
engaged in ship-building and the shipping trade*to nearly all pans of 
the world ; then in canals and railroads, and finally in banks, accumu- 
lating great wealth. Children : 

52. Samuel Snydam, b. Nov. 26, 1804; d. 56. Stephen, b. Oct. 11, 1S14; d. of con- 

unm. at 7 Bowling Green, New York, sumption at his father's residence, 

Dec. 21, 1S58. New York, Nov. 21, 1S5S; not m. 

53. Emeline, b. June 7, 1806; m. June 57. William, b. July 6, 1816; m. Mary 
25, 1S28, John Dore, and were resid- Stuart McVickar, and d. June 12, 
ing at 127 Madison Ave., New York, 1S62 at his city residence. 

in 1877. 58. Edward, b. Nov. 29, 1818; d. at 

54. John Currie, b. Dec. 28, 1808; d. Flushing, T.. I., Apr. 7, 1S51 ; not m. 

Dec. 28, 1808. 59. Caroline, b. June 11, 1823; m. ist 

55. Mary, b. Apr. 5, 1810; m. Oct. 28, her cousin Ferdinand Snvdam, who 

1829, at 7 Bowling Green, Jonas d. at " Ivy Nook " near New Haven, 

Philips PhcEnix, who was a promi- June 25, 1872; m. 2d Oct. 29, 1874, 

nent citizen of New York. John Jacob Crane, a physician; 

56. Henry, b. Aug. 23, 1812, was gradu- reside at Ivy Nook. 

ated at Yale College, where he 
resided until his death Mar. 21, 1856; 
m. 1st Hannah luigene Lawrence, 
Jan. 27, 1835 ; 2d Maria Lucy Fiti h. 

33 Archibald, son of Henry and Eunice Whitney, was a wholesale 
groc r in New York, where he m Nancy Brower, Sept. 2, 1801. In 
1802, he formed a co-partnership with Elijah Humphreys from Derby, 
which continued under the name of Humphreys and Whitney until 
1814, some of the time at No. 5, Burling Slip. From 1816 to 1825, 
he was a partner with his nephew Giles M. Whitney. He then re- 
moved to Derby where he died of apoplexy Sept 28. 1842. His wife 
joined the Congregational church at Derby, May 29, 183 1, and died 
Nov. 22, 1869. Children: 
60. Henry, b. Nov. 14, 1802, in New year. She returned to Birmingham 

York. to reside. 

6r. Maria, b. P>b. 19, 1804; m. Jo>iah 62. Alfred, b. May 26, 1806; d. not m. 

Mann of New York, Dec. i, 1840, in Derby May 28, 1839. 

where he d. Feb. 8, 1873, in his 81st 



780 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

63. Archibald, b. Apr. 19, 180S : d. not 66. Susan Augusta, b. Jan. 10, 1816; m. 

m. in Derby, Jan. 10, 1849. in Derby, Apr. 17, 1S43, James M. 

64. Thomas Vose, b. Aug. 15, 1810; m. Mann; residence, Birmingham. 

Nancy IM. Povve, dau. of Mayor Fowe 67. Jane Alida, b. Nov. 15, 1818; notm.; 

of Derby. He died at Ansonia of residence, Birmingham, 

apople-xy May 15, 1873. The local 68. William, b. Dec. 16, 1S21, in New 

paper said: "Mr. Whitney was a York; appointed deputy-consul for 

citizen of Derby for fifty years, and the United .States at Bermuda, Dec. 

well known in all this region ; and 10, 1S72, where he m. Francis Mary 

his sudden death will be deeply Hill, Jan. 27, 1875. 

lamented by the whole community." 69. Theophilus Brower, b. Nov. 5, 1824, 

Their children all died in infancy. at Derby ; d. Apr. 4, 1825. 

65. Ann Eliza, b. Mar. 15, 1813; m. in 70. John Dore, b. May 25, 1827 ; a manu- 
Derby, Nov. 23, 1836, Peter P. facturer of hoop-skirts; m. Oct. 17, 
Phelps a book-keeper; lived at 1866, Mary Frances Parrott of 
Ottawa, 111., and Georgetown, Col. Bridgeport, where they reside. 

60. Henry, son of Archibald and Nancy (Browerj Whitney ; m. 
Maria Frances, dau of John Phillips of Bridgeport, Conn. They set- 
tled at Derby where he held the offices of town clerk, justice of the 
peace, judge of probate and postmaster, and was much respected as a 
citizen. He died July 29, 1S62 ; she died Feb. i, 1852. Children : 

71. Alfred, b. July 25, 1S40 ; d. at Derby, Derby; settled in New Britain, Conn. 

Nov. 4, 1859. He served in the navy during the 

72. Maria Sherwood, b. Oct. 28, 1841 ; d. late war, and in the United States 

Aug. 20, 1842. army after the war; resides in New 

73. Thomas Hart Benton, b. Sept. 18, York city. 

1843; a merchant and broker in 75. Edward Huntington, b. June 3, 1849 ; 

Birmingham ; served three months d. Sept. 8, 1856. 

ia Connecticut volunteers. 76. Albert, 1 b. May 3, 1850; d. July 

74. Henry Archibald, b. Dec. 25, 1846; I 23,1850. 

a clerk; m. at Port Chester, N. Y., 77. Arthur, j said to be living at Ottawa, 
Mary Ella, dau. of Nathan Bassett of J III. 

70. John Dore, son of Archibald and Nancy (Brower) Whitney; 
m. Mary Frances Parrott. Oct 17, 1866; a manufacturer of hoop- 
skirts, at Bridgeport. Conn. Children : 

78. Henry Parrott, b. Feb. 26, 1868 ; d. 79. Frank Archibald, b. July 18, 1S69. 

WHITNEY, Ranford; m. Ruth Canfield, Sept. 26, 1773. Chil- 
dren : 
I. Sarah, b. Apr. 3, 1774. 2. Joseph Lyman, b. Sept. i, 1775. 

WILLIAMS, Thomas; Winifred, wife of, died Mar. 4, 1738. 

WOOD, John, m Mary . Children : 

1. Samuel, b. July 18, 1704. 3. George, b. Mar. 20, 1717. 

2. Caleb, b. Dec. 27, 1714. 4- Mary, b. Mar. 25, 1719. 

WOODEN, David, m. Lorania . Children : 

I. Sarah, b. Dec. 9, 1765. 2. David, b. Jan. 14, 1778. 

WOODEN, Hezekiah, m Eunice . Children : 

I. Thomas, b. Dec. 22, 1775. 2. Eliza, b. Aug. 28, 1789. 

WOOSTER, Edward, appears early in Milford, as indicated by the 
following record : "A general court, Oct. 24. 1651, considering rhe 
pressing need for hops, the town grants to Edward Wooster an acre, 
more or less, lying up the Mill river, to be improved for a hop garden, 



GENEALOGIES. 781 

according to liis request. This is not to pay rates while improved for 
hops " "' 

In 1654. he witli three other families settled at Pangasuck, and one 
object on his part, probably, was to raise hops on the meadow lands 
below Ansonia, which were well adapted for tnat business, and it was 
in the pursuit of this object that he dug a trench or race, from where 
the lower Ansonia bridge now is, down into the meadow where the bed 
of the Naugatuck now is, to irrigate that part of the meadow or low 
land, and by this race the river course became changed in about fifty 
years. Tradition says, and it seems correcr, that his house stood on 
the east side of the river road at Old Town, a little south of the part- 
ing of the two roads going north, one to Ansonia along the river bank 
and the other up to the Episcopal burying-ground. On his decease 
this property was sold to Doct. John Durand, and the first bridge built 
over the Naugatuck is said to have been located at or opposite this 
house The house of Francis French, another of the first four fami^ 
lies, was half a mile to the east on the hill ; that of Edward Riggs, also 
of the first four, was about one mile east on the hill, the farm still 
remaining in the family ; and the house of Thomas Langdon was near 
Edward Wooster's, in what was called the village, and known many 
years as Derby village ; now Old Town. Here Edward Wooster 
resided until the close of life, July 8, 1689, his age being 67, which 
warrants the conclusion that he was born in England in 1622. Of his 
first wife nothing is definitely known, but there are indications that he 
was connected with Francis French, possibly by marriage. His first 
wife died, and he m in 1669. Tabitha, dau of Henry Tomlinson of 
Stratford. Twelve of his children shared in the distribution of his 
estate in 1694; Samuel Riggs being guardian for Edward, Sylvester 
and Ebenezer, and Ephraim Stiles for Jonas and Tabitha. Here in 
the deep wilderness he lived with his family and three neighbors eleven 
or twelve years, a hero in this respect. He was not a man of notions 
and changes, but continued steady and faithful at his post, providing as 
best he could for those who were dependent upon him. little dreaming 
that his grandson and his family would be celebrated in greatness the 
world over, and that his own name, thereby, would go down in sublime 
honor to the end of the greatest republic ever established in the world 
For twenty years he was the leading man of the little plantation that 
seemed unlikely to become greater than a man's hand, but has attained 
in business and in war an enviable fame. All honor to the first, reli- 
able, and most noble hero of Derby ! Children : 

1. Elizabeth; ni. Col. I*]]>ene/.cr John- 7 Henry, b. Aug. 18, 1666; enlisted in 
son. Queen Anne's army and d. at Nova 

2. Mary, b. Nov. 1654; d. young; prob- Scotia about 1700. 

ably the first white child born in 8. Ruth, b. Apr. 8, 1668 ; ni. Samuel 
Derby. liowcrs in 16S7. 

3. Thomas. 9. Timothy, b. Nov. 12, 1670. 

4. Abraham. 10. Hannah, b. 

5. Edward, bapt. 1670; not m. 11. Jonas, b. 

6. David, bapt. 1670. 12. Tabitha, b. 



13. Sylvester, b. 

14. Ebenezer, b. 



1'' Lambert's Miiford, 122. 



782 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

U. Ol 

3. Lieut. Thomas, son of Edward Wooster, m. Phebe, da 
Henry Tomlinson, of Stratford, and lived a little north of his father's 
some years, if not until his death! He was a substantial, successful 
farmer, and died Jan. 26, 1713, aged about 57. Children: 

15. Phebe Leavenworth, d. Mar. 26, 1696. 19. Thomas, b. Feb. 18, 1692. 

16. Zervia, d. Aug. 19, 1682. 20. Thankful, b. Nov. 7, 1695; d- Nov. 

17. Alice, b. Sept. 6, 1680; d. 16S2. 18, 1706. 

18. Elizabeth, b. Sept. i, 1685; m. John 
Tomlinson. 

4. Abraham, son of Edward Wooster, m. Mary Walker, of Strat- 
ford, Nov. 22, 1697. In 1696, he and his brother Timothy exchanged 
their lands in the meadows, inherited from their father, for other lands 
(probably in Quaker's Farm) in the town. Abraham removed to 
Stratford about 1706, and remained there until about 1719. In a 
deed of 1722 he is said to be of Derb3% and was living at Quaker's 
Farm, and the same in several deeds between that and 1743 ; in . two 
of which he is said to be a mason : " Know ye, that I. Abraham 
Wooster, Senr., of the town of Derby ... in consideration of one cer- 
tain gun in hand received of Abraham Wooster, Junr., of said Derby, 
now resident in Stratford, have therefore given, granted, . . . sold, a 
certain lot of land within the bounds of said Derby, situate in Oxford 
Parish, in that tract of land known by the name of Quaker's Farm 
Purchase . . in number four in that division July 16, 1743. 
Abraham Wooster." Children: 

21. Abraham, b. 25. Mary, b. April 3, 1707. 

22. Ruth, b. Sept. 26, 1700. 26^ Hannah, b. Feb. 23, 1709. 

23. Joseph, b. Jan. 16, 1702. 27. David, b. Mar. 2, 17 10. 

24. Sarah, b. April 2, 1705. 

6. David, son of Edward Wooster, m. Mary . At his death. 

Mar. 29, 17 1 1, he left his wife Mary to administer his estate. Children : 

28. Jerusha, b. 1702. 30. Tamar, b. June 16, 1707. 

29. Persis, b. May 30, 1704. 

9. Timothy, son of Edward Wooster, m. Anna Perry, May 23, 1699. 
Children : 

31. Timothy, b. Dec. 29, 1699. 35. Samuel, b. April 17, 1706. 

32. Tabitha, b. May 3, 1701 36. Damaris, b. Feb. 20, 170S; m. Eleazer 

33. Edward, b. Sept. 17, 1702. Hawkins. 

34. Anne, b. Jan. 17, 1705; m. Daniel 37. Henry, b. Feb. 19, 1710. 

Hawkins. 38. Arthur, b. Mar. 26, 17 13. 

39. Eliezer, b. Oct. 16, 17 15. 

13. Sylvester, son of Edward Wooster, m. Susannah . He d. 

Nov. 16, 17 12. Children: 

40. Moses, b. 1699. 43. Nathaniel, b. 1707. 

41. Tabitha, b. 1701. 44. Sylvester, b. 1710. 

42. Samuel, b. 1704. 45. Susannah, b. July 23, 1713. 

14. Ebenezer, son of Edward Wooster, m. Margaret, dau. of 
Zechariah Sawtell, of Groton, and settled in the town of Stratford. 
Children : 

46. Harvey, b. May 27, 17 12. 48. Ebenezer, b. Jan. 5, 17 16. 

47. Zechariah, b. Mar. 17, 1714. 

19. Thomas, Jr., son of Lieut. Thomas Wooster, m. Sarah, dau. of 



GKXEALOGIES. 783 

Joseph Hawkins, Dec. 25, 1718, who d. Dec. 10, 1785, aged 91. He 
d. Feb. 2, 1777, aged 85. Children: 

49. John, h. Dec. 22, 17 19. 53. Daniel, b. July 14, 1729. >. 

50. Ruth, b. Mar. 30, 1722. 54. Joseph, b. June 30, 1732. 

51. Thomas, h. Oct. 11, 1724. \t 5S- David, b. fan. ;;, 173V 

52. Elizabeth, b. Mar., 1727. . \ 

21. Abraham, Jr., son of Abraham Wooster, m. Martha , and 

settled at Quaker's Farm, in Oxford parish, near his father. He 
resided a short time across the Ousatonic in Stratford, and then 
returned to Derby. Children : 

56. Wait, b. Apr. 22, 1732. 59. Miles, b. June lo, 1738. 

57. Mary, b. May 10, 1733. 60. Abraham, b. Sept. 20, 1740. 
5<S. Hinman, b. Apr. 26, 1735. 

23. Joseph. Of this family we have no account. A Joseph Woos- 
ter, Jr., resided at Good Hill, Quaker's Farm, in 1799, ^'^"^' deeded land 
at that place. If there was a Joseph, junior, there must have been a 
senior, who most probably was descended from Abraham Wooster, who 
owned land on this Good Hill. This Joseph Wooster, Sr , is said to 

have had 16 children, one of whom was Joseph, who m. Hannah . 

Children : 

61. Russell, b. Apr. 26, 1791 ; father of 62 Sally, b. Aug. 5, 1792. 
Col. \Vm. B. 63. Hannah, b. July 7, 1794. 

27. General David, son of Abraham Wooster, was graduated at 
Yale College in 1738, m. Mary, dau. of Thomas Clap, president of 
Yale College, Mar. 6, 1746. (See Biography.) Children : 

64. Mary, b. Jan. 21, 1747; d. Oct. 20, 65. Thomas, b. July 30, 1751. 
1748. 66. Mary, b. June 2, 1753. 

31. Timothy, Jr , son of Timothy Wooster, m Abigail Harger, Aug. 
18, 1727, probably dau. of Ebenezer, her birth not being recorded. 
She died Sept. 23, 1736, aged 30, and he m. 2d Sarah Bowers, Mar. 22, 
1737, who died Oct. 23, 1749, aged 43 years. She was probably dau. 
of Samuel Bowers, by his first wife, although not recorded. Children : 

67. Jabez, b. Oct. 15, 172S. 71. Edward, b. Feb. 18, 1740; d. Oct. 15, 

68. "Dorcas, b. Apr., 1731 ; d. Apr., 1737. 1746. 

69. Abigail, b. Aug 18, 1736. 72. Je>se, b. May 4, 1743. 

70. Dorcas, b. Mar. 25, 1738. 73. Walter, b. July 7, 1745. 

74. Edward, b. Sept. 28, 1747. 

^;^. Edward, son of Timothy Wooster, m. Child : 

75. Grace, b. Feb. 15, 1727. 

35 Samuel, son of Timothy Wooster, m. Ann Moss, Oct. 28, 1731. 
Child : 

76. Elisha, b. July 5, 1732. 

40. MosES, son of Sylvester Wooster, ni. Mary Hawkins, Apr. 5, 
1 720. 

42. Samuel, son of Sylvester Wooster, m. Hannah Johnson, May 
22, 1725. Child : 

77. Sarah, b. Nov. 28, 1725. 

44. Sylvester, Jr., son of Sjlvester Wooster, m. Mercy Hine, Feb. 
20, 1738. 



784 HISTORY OF DERBY. 

49. John, son of Thomas Wooster, Jr., m. Eunice, dau. of Samuel 
Hull, June 18, 1746. Children : 

78. Anne, b. Apr. 13, 1747; d. Aug. 3, 80. Hannah, b. July 8, 1750. 

1751. 81. John, b. Oct. II, 1752. 

79. Elizabeth, b. Nov. 26, 1748 ; d. Aug. 82. Anne, b. Nov. 13, 1754. 
8, 1751. 

51. Thomas, son of Thomas Wooster, Jr., m. Lois . Child : 

83. Sarah, b. Feb. 2, 1749. 

53. Daniel, son of Thomas Wooster, Jr., m. Sarah Hawkins, May 
II, 1780, who died Oct. 13, 1790. Children : 

84. Isaac, b. July 24, 1781. 88. Sally, b. Apr. 20, 1788. 

85. Aramy, b. Dec. 26, 1782. 89. Joseph, b. Mar. 22, 1790; d. June 14, 

86. Rama, b. Nov. 11, 1784. 1790- 

87. Daniel, b. Mar. 14, 1786. 

54. Joseph, son of Thomas Wooster, Jr., m. Hannah . Child : 

90. David, b. Dec. i, 1774. 

55. David, son of Thomas Wooster, Jr., m. Mary . Child : 

91. Amy, b. Dec. 9, 1754. 

70. Walter, son of Timothy, Jr., m. Ursula Beebe of Waterbury, 
Nov. 15, 1780. 

WOOSTER, Moses, m. Mindwell Chatfield, June 20, 1759. Child : 
I. Lemuel, b. June 23, 1760. 

WOOSTER, Henry, m Elizabeth Twitchell, Jan. 24, 1762. Chil- 
dren : 

I. Henry, b. Oct. 25, 1762. 2. Enoch, b. May 7, 1765. 

WOOSTER, Twitchell, m. Elizabeth Hull, Oct. 11, 1764. Child : 
I. Ebenezer, b. July 30, 1765. 

WOOSTER, Henry 3D, m. Rebecca . Child : 

I. Abigail, b. June 3, 1789. 
WOOSTER, Zerviah, died Feb. 20, 1698. 

YALE, Thomas, of Farmington, m. Mrs. Elizabeth Mills, of Derby, 
June 15, 1768. Children: 

1. Thomas, bapt. Apr. 15, 1769; d. 5. Samuel, bapt., Dec, 1777. 

2. Thomas G., b. Sept. 22, 1770. 6. Benjamin, bapt.. Mar. 5, 1780. 

3. Rebecca, b. Jan. 28, 1773. 7. Sally, bapt. June 9, 1782. 

4. John, bapt. Apr. 16, 1775. 



APPENDIX. 



CHRIST CHURCH, QUAKER'S FARM.' 

The following record indicates the commencement of the work for 
the erection of the church edifice : 

"Oct. II, i8ri. 

We Quaker's Farm people have begun to build a church, and I, 
Cyrus Perry, drew the first stick of timber, 64 feet long." Mr. Wil- 
liam DeForest relates that when he went to Quaker's Farm as an 
apprentice to Tomlinson and Bassett in Oct, 1812, the carpenters 
were hewing the timber for the church. 

The building committee were David Tomlinson, Nathaniel VVooster 
and Wells Judson ; the last being treasurer. The subscriptions were 
due Jan. i, 1813. The principal contributors, and those most active 
in personal influence, were members of the congregation of St. Peter's 
church at Oxford, then under the care of the Rev Dr Mansfield ; 
the most liberal of these being David Tomlinson and his wife Laura, 
Wells Judson. Nathaniel Wooster and Russell Nichols. Many otliers 
however, contributed according to their ability and the need 

Nathaniel Wooster was perhaps the most decided and best informed 
churchman among the contributors ; and gave his influence to the more 
churchly character of the building, as well as to its final consumma- 
tion, as a regularly constituted Episcopal church. 

The architect and builder of the church was George Boult of South- 
ford, a gentleman of extraordmary skill in. the art of building. 

The Rev. Aaron Humphrey, the first minister of the church at 
Quaker's Farm, came to it in the fall of 1814, the house of worship 
having been previously finished. He came from Gardiner, Me., where 
he had ministered some time to the Episcopal congregation in that 
place. In the spring of 1S16 he accepted the charge of St. Peter's 
of Oxford in connection with Christ church at Quaker's Farm, which 
was then denominated a chapel, when he made his residence at Oxford, 
and in this relation he continued until 18 19, when he accepted the 
appointment by the Diocesan convention of itinerant missionary in 
New Haven county. The church of Quaker's Farm was consecrated 
by Bishop Hobart, Sept. 3, 18 17. After the retirement of Mr. Hum- 
phrey, temporary services were supplied by the Rev. Sturgis Gilbert, 
Rev. Chauncey Prindle, Rev. Nathaniel (Jarfield, Rev. Dr Bronson, 
but perhaps more efiiciently by Rev. Dr. Burhans of Newtown. 

In 1826 a movement was made for the incorporation of the church 
at Quaker's Farm as a separate parish, which was accomplished, and 

1 All matter in this Appendix was received or completed too late to be placed in 
the regular order of the book. 

99 



786 APPENDIX. 

by the agreement with St. Peter's this church received one-third of the 
fund then possessed, amounting to $!66o. A legacy was received in 
1846 from the estate of Mrs. Ruth Tyrrel of Oxford of $200, and a 
subsequent legacy from the estate of Ira Hawkins of Quaker's Farm 
of $100. 

The first stove for warming the church was presented by Rev. Ash- 
bel Baldwin, who had charge of the parish from 1828 to 1834. The 
first bell was a failure ; the second cast by the celebrated founder, G. 
Ford of New York, in 1836, was procured by subscription, weighing 
six hundred pounds During the interval between 1834 and 187 1 the 
p.irish was supplied by several clergymen, sometimes alone and some- 
times in connection with St. Peter's ; the difficulty being always the 
same — the want of adequate support Since 1875 the church has 
revived, the building has been repaired, and movements have been 
inaugurated which seem to assure a permanent basis for future pros- 
perity. 

BURYING GROUND. 

Birmingham Burying Ground Association was organized Aug. 15, 
1844; reorganized Mar. 29, 1864. Present officers: President, Rob- 
ert O. Gates ; secretary and treasurer, Charles H. Coe ; directors, 
Henry Somers, S. M. Gardner (deceased), C. H. DeForest, G. M. 
Spring. Agent for sale of lots, Robert O. Gates. Area of grounds 
about fifteen acres, and is most charmingly situated on the banks of 
the Ousatonic. 

NAUGATUCK LODGE, NO. 63, I. O. O. F. 

This society was instituted March i6, 1849, with the following char- 
ter members : 

Robert R. Wood, Hiram N. Hubbard, 

John Lindley, William B. Bristol, 

Charles Cooper, Julius R. Pond, 

Edward Root, Hiram Lyman, 

Timothy E. Miller, • John R. Johnson, 

David T. Johnson, Richard M. [ohnson, 

Charles Root, Giles B. Allen, 

Jonah Clark, A. N. Prindle, 

Abijah Hawkins, H. Skinner. 

The first officers were: Robert R. Wood, N. G.; Hiram N. Hub- 
bard, V. G.; John Lindley, secretary ; William B. liristol, treasurer. 

The present officers are : Verrenice Munger, N.G.; Wallace B. Jack- 
son, V G ; B. A. Bradley, secretary; John Jackson, treasurer; H. A. 
Hooper, chaplain ; T D. L. Manville, district deputy. The total nieiu- 
bership is 184. 

The first meetings were held at Creamer's Hall, afterwards they rented 
Remer's Hall. Then they occupied for a time Benedict's Hall, then 
moved to the hall over Randall's store, then to a hall in the Opera House, 
and then to their present location in the Hotchkiss Block. List of Past 
Grands : 

Robert R. Wood, Abijah Hawkins, 

William I>. Bristol, D. T. Johnson, 

Edward Root, Hiram Lvman, 

Edwin Ells, A. N. Prindle, 

John Lindley, Joseph A. Bunnell, 



APPENDIX. 787 

Frederick L. Smith, C. J. Richardson, 

Wales Terrell, H. E. Mendryx, 

Ilobart Sperry, R. Y. Stephenson, 

P. S. Beach, H. C Spencer, 

II. Skinner, John T. Ilillhoiise, 

J. N. liooth, II. M. Jackson, 

Edward Kimberly, T- I- Barrett, 

David Tucker, John Jackson, 

W. W. Clinton, Jacob A. Fisk, 

Frederick Ilolbrook, B. W. Stocking, 

B. A. Bradley, S. G. Redshaw, 

M. A. Hill, Edward Klebart, 

William Crook, A. H. Bartholomew, 

W. R. Mott, II. A. Hooper, 

J. H. Miller, James Jackson, 

S. S. Stocking, T. D. L. Manvillc, 

J. M. Blackman. Luke Tiffany, 

J. A. Bristol, George C. Alunger, 

Oliver Povve, George E. May, 

J. H. Duxbury, H. A. Peck. 

DENTISTS IN DERBY. 

Dr. C. W. Grant came to Derby about 1838 and was the first den- 
tist located in Derby- He practiced here two years, when he removed 
to Poughkeepsie, where he engaged in the cuhure of grapes in con- 
nection with the practice of his profession. 

Dr, P"oster p. Abbott commenced the practice of dentistry in 
Derby about 1842. and continued until his death in 1863. A jovial, 
good-natured man, a little fast in his younger days, in his later years 
he made a profession of faith and united with the M. E. church, where 
he remained a consistent and valuable member until called to his re- 
ward. For several years he was the trying justice of the place. 

Dr. W. B. Hurd practiced dentistry in Derby from 1851 to 1853. 

Dr. S. D. Tuttle followed in the same practice from June 1853 to 

1855- 

Dr. Henry A. Nettleton commenced dentistry with Dr Abbott in 
1854 and still continues in the profession. 

Dr. liouTWELL located in the practice of dentistry in Ansonia about 
1856, and continues in the profession. 

Dr. J. J. Abbott, a son of Dr. F. P. Abbott, succeeded to his father's 
business in 1863, and continues in active practice 

Dr B F Leach came to Birmingham and enjoys a large and lucra- 
tive practice in dentistry. 

Dr. M. C. Hitchcock located in Ansonia in 1878, and has secured 
a good share of public patronage. 

FRENCH war, 1755 ^7^3- 

The following is all the account that has been obtained concerning 
the soldiers in the French War, from 1755 to 1758 : 

Charles Bunnell, son of Benjamin, died July 26, 1758, "being 
killed by the enemy, between Fort Edward and Lake George, in the 
twentieth year of his age, in the king's service." 

Luke Bunnell, son of Benjamin, died Oct 23, 1756, "at Canaan, 
in the king's service." 



788 APPENDIX. 

Lemuel Chatfield died at the camp at Lake George, Sept. 3, 

1758- 

Levi Chatfield died Oct. 15, 1758, having returned home from the 

camp. These were twin brothers, nineteen years and nine months of 

John French died Oct. 17, 1761, at Crown Point, in the twenty- 
first year of his age. 

Nehemiah, son of Nicholas Moss, was taken ill near Oswego, re- 
turned home, and died soon after, Jan. 3, 1762. 

Lieut. John Griffin was three years in the French war. 

Linus Lounsbury, of Nyumphs, was in the French War and in the 
Revolution. 

Daniel Munson died at Fort Edward, Aug. 2, 1756. 

soldiers in the revolution. 

Gen. William Hull served with great credit throughout the war. 

Gen. David Wooster served with peculiar honor until his death in 
1777. 

Lieut. Joseph Hull went with his company to New York in 1776 ; 
was taken prisoner, and exchanged after two years, and after that 
served efficiently on Long Island Sound. 

Gen. David Humphreys served nobly throughout the war. 

Elijah Humphrey was a major in the Revolution, and had three 
horses shot under him. 

Samuel Hull, brother of Gen. William, was a lieutenant for a time 
in the war. 

William Clark was captain of volunteers. 

Jabez Thompson went out as first major of the ist Regiment and 
captain of the 3d Company, in 1775. 

Capt. Thomas Horsey went from Derby, in 1775, as lieutenant on 
the brig Minerva, and was promoted to be captain. He died in 1789, 
aged 46. 

Braidford Steele went, in 1775, as first lieutenant 3 was promoted 
to be captain. (See his Biog.) 

Nathan Pierson went, in 1775, as ensign, and was promoted to be 
captain. 

Nathaniel JOHNSON'went as captain, in 1775. 

Jabez Pritchard was in the war. (See his Biog.) 

Capt. Bradford Steele was in the war. 

John White, son of Daniel, was in the war. He died Feb 19, 
1830, aged 73. 

Mr. Leach was under Washington seven years ; was several times 
severely wounded. 

Abram Bassett, son of Abraham, was in the war. 

Theophilus Miles was in the war; he died in 1822, aged 8^. 

Truman Loveland was in the w'ar. 

SEkG. James Baldwin. 

Jesse Baldwin, brother to James. 

Isaac Johnson, son of Benajah. He died April 10, 1813, aged 78. 

Ezra Butler was in the war. 



APPENDIX. 789 

Jethro Martin (colored), servant to Gen. Humphreys, was a long 
time in the war. He died in New Haven, having received a pension 
many years 

Joseph Mauwehu (Chuse) is said to have been in the war. 

Fhineas Johnson, from Pine's Bridge. 

David Wheei.er 

Dr. J ESSE Baldwin was surgeon. 

Joseph Sandkord 

John Holbrook, Nathaniel Holbrook, Abel Holbrook. These 
three were in the war, and afterwards drew a pension many years. 

Major Nathan Smith was in the war. 

Jonathan Lvman, son of Rev. Jonathan, served some time as 
captain. 

Joel Johnson, son of Asahel and Lois, died at King's Bridge, N. Y., 
Aug. 23, 1777. 

James Humphrey. 

Michael Clark. 

Abiel Canfield enlisted May 8, 1777. 

Moses Riggs. 

William Clark Whitney was wounded, and drew a pension some 
years. 

Wilson Hurd. 

The following were soldiers from that part of Derby which is now 
Oxford, and who drew pensions afterwards : 

Capt. Samuel Candee, Timothy Johnson, 

Capt. Job Candee, Phineas John.son, 

David Peck, Jeremiah M. Kelly. 
Isaac Chatfield, 

The memorandum of Lieut. Jabez Pritchard, who was taken pris- 
oner with Bradford Steele and others, was brought home by Lieut. 
Steele, and contains the list of guards detailed at Horseneck from 
September 15th to the 21st. A large part of the company was from 
the town of Derby. The names are : 

Gideon Ailing, Isaac Durand, 

Samuel Andress, Vespasian Eastman, 

Abraham liarnes, Corp. Foot, 

Nathaniel Black, Amos Fox, 

Edward Bassett, Joseph Hulse, 

David Blakesley, Jonathan Lyman, 

Corp. Bristol, James Leach, 

Corp. Candee, James Lines, 

Oliver Chatfield, Nathan Mallory, 

Caleb Chatfield, Major Morris, ' 

Reuben Canfield, Abraham Murray, 

Martin Clark, Asahel Newell, 

George Clark, Iilnsign Osborn, 

Chauncey Clark, Lieut. Pierson, 

Amos Collins, Noah l^eck, 

Jonathan Cartright, John Prindle, 

Jairus Congdon, Jabez Pritchard, 

Joseph Deremore, John Priestly, 

George Dachester, Oliver Root, 

Samuel Durand, - Joseph Sanford, 

Kbenezer Durand, Philo Sperry, 



790 APPENDIX. 

Jabin Sperrv, Thomas Torrance, 

Job Sperry,' Adam Vose, 

Alexander Sperry, David Whittemore 

Jonathan Sperry,' Samuel Wood, 

Corp. Smith, Hezekiah Wooding, 

William Smith, Eli Washband, 

Lieut. Steel, Aaron Webster, 

John Swift, Bowers Washburn, 

Wm. Tomlinson, James Yatman. 



CHARLES LINDLEY, 

Son of Curtiss Lindley, born at O.Kford, Conn. Studied law at New 
Haven with Judge Hitchcock also with Shelton and Flagg. Admitted 
to the bar in 1844. Commenced practice at Birmingham 1844 and 
remained there about three years ; went to California in 1849 by the 
overland route ; is now in active practice in California. 

SYLVESTER BARBOUR, 

Son of Henry Barbour, born in Canton, Conn ; studied law with H. 
H. Barbour at Hartford, Conn., and at the Poughkeepsie Law School ; 
was admitted to the bar July. 1856, Hartford county ; commenced 
practice at Ansonia, Dec , 1861, and remained there until July, 1875, 
when he went to Hartford, where he now is. He held offices as fol- 
lows : Judge of Probate, District of Derby, 1866-7 ^"<^1 1867-8; 
Town Clerk for year 1863-4 ; Register of births, marriages and 
deaths, 1862-3 ; Secretary and Treasurer of Ansonia Savings Bank, 
1862-1874; Chairman 4th School District four years; Chairman of 
the Congregational Society three years ; Board of Education, 1869- 
1873- 

JOHN D. BALLOU, 

Son of Francis X. Ballou, born at Killingly, Conn. ; studied law with 
Mahlon R. West of Stafford Springs ; admitted to the bar Apr. term, 
1869, Tolland county ; commenced practice at Ansonia, 1869, and 
continued there until 1872, then went away but returned in 1878 and 
still remains. 

VERENICE HUNGER, 

Son of Rufus E. Munger, born at Litchfield, Conn. ; studied law with 
William Cothren of Woodbury, Cliarles W. Johnson of New Haven 
and George Hine of Naugatuck ; was admitted to the bar in 1869 ; 
commenced practice at Ansonia Mar. 1872, and still continues. Judge 
of Probate, District of Derby, 1873 — 1877 ; chairman and clerk 
Congregational Society, 1879. 

DANIEL E. MC MAHON, 

Son of Thomas McMahon, born in Derby ; studied law at Yale and 
Albany Law School ; was admitted to the bar June 13, 1877 ; com- 
menced practice at Ansonia as soon as admitted and has remained 
there since. Town clerk for the year 1879. 



APPENDIX. 



791 



CHARLES KEEU, 

Son of Ezekiel Reed, born at Abington, Mass. ; graduate of Yale in 
1871 and law in 1874 ; was admitted to the bar May term, 1874; com- 
menced practice at Ansonia, Sept. 1, 1875, and is still there. 

WM. SIDNEY DOV/NES, 

Son of Sidney A. Downes, born in Derby ; graduate Albany Law School, 
'79. also studied with Samuel M. Gardner at Birmingham ; was admit- 
ted to the bar June 26, 1879; commenced practice at Birmingham in 
1879, where he remains. 

POSI-OFFICES. 

Derby Post-Office was established April i, 1798, and Joel Atwater 
was appointed Postmaster. 

Samuel J. Andrews was appointed July i, 1790- 



Russell Hitchcock 
Thomas Durham 
Russell Hitchcock 
Robert Gates 
Henry Whitney 
Robert Gates, Jr., 
Henry Atwater 
Thos. Shelton 
Thads. G. Birdseye- 
Robert C. Naramore 
Ezra Sprague 



Jan. I, 18 16. 
April I, 1828. 
June 22, 1832, 
Oct. 28, 1833. 
June 12, 1849. 
Feb. 3, 1853 
May 5, 1853 
Sept. 30, 1854. 
Jan. 18, i860. 
July 26, 1861. 
July I, 1874. 



Name of office changed to Birmingham, June 9, 1876, and Ezra 
Sprague re-appointed its Postmaster. 

Wm. J. Clark appointed Jan. 21, 1880. 

Office was moved to its present site May 20, 1869. 

Ansonia Post-Office was established June, 1846, and George Bristol 
was appointed Postmaster. 

John Lindley was appointed Jan., 1858. 

George Bristol " " April, 1861. 

Charles E Bristol " " May, 1869. 



SELECTMEN FOR THE TOWN OF DERBY. 



-1677. 



-1678. 



1679. 



16S0. 



Samuel Riggs. 
Ebenczer Johnson. 
John Hulls, 
i'lbenezer Johnson. 
Samuel Riggs. 
William Tomlinson. 
Samuel Riggs. 
Ebenezer Johnson. 
William Tomlinson. 
I'.dvvaifl Wooster. 
John Hulls. 
William Tomlinson. 



1 68 1. Sergeant Hulls. 
Jeremiah Johnson, Sr. 
Isaac Nichols. 

1682. John Hubbell. 
Francis French. 
Ephraim Smith. 

1683. Serg. John Hulls. 
Samuel ixiggs. 
Abel (num. 

1685. Jeremiah Johnson. 
Phil!]) Denman. 
Samuel Nichols. 



■■^March 26, 1S60, office was made a presidential one, and Mr. Birdseye was the 
appointee. 
•'These were called townsmen, nearly one Ininched years. 
The list for several years could not be found. 



792 



APPENDIX. 



1691. Mr. John Davis. 1714- 

William Tomlinson. 
Samuel Nichols. 

1700. Captain Johnson. 17 15- 
Samuel Riggs. 

Nathan Nichols. 

Samuel Brinsmade. 1716. 

Thomas Wooster. 

1701. Jeremiah Johnson, Sr. 

John Bowers. 1717- 

Joseph Hulls. 

"William Tomlinson. 

Samuel Nichols. 1718. 

1702. Ens. Sanmel Riggs. 
Abel Holbrook. 

John Tibbals. 1719. 

Isaac Nichols. 
Sergeant Brinsmade. 

1703. Wm. Tomlinson, Sr. 1720. 
Jonathan Lumm. 

Stephen Pierson. 

Ebenezer Harger. 172 1. 

Jeremiah Johnson, Jr. 

1704. Stephen Pierson, Sr. 

Jeremiah Johnson. 1722. 

Ebenezer Harger. 

1705. Ens. Samuel Riggs. 

Abel Holbrook. 1723. 

Isaac Nichols. 
Joseph Hawkins. 
Joseph Hulls. 

1706. Lieut. Thomas Wooster. 

Mr. Samuel Nichols. 1724. 

Serg. .Samuel Brinsmade. 
Adino Strong. 

Joseph Hulls. 1725. 

17(37. Jeremiah Johnson. 
Abel Gunn., Jr. 

Ebenezer Harger. 1726. 

John Riggs 

1709. Lieut. Wooster. 
Lieut. Hulls. 

Ens. Samuel Riggs. i7-7- 

Samuel Brinsmade. 

1 7 10. Joseph Hawkins. 

Stephen Miles. 1728. 

Edward Riggs. 
Ebenezer Harger. 

1711. Jeremiah Johnson. 17-9- 
Abraham Pierson. 

John Pringle. 

John Davis. 1730. 

Abraham Tomlinson. 

17 12. Josiah Baldwin. 

John Twitchell. 1731. 

John Hulls. 

Jonathan Lumm. 

Andrew Smith. 1732- 

1713. Lieut. Joseph Hulls. 
Ens Samuel Nichols. 

Serg. .Samuel Brinsmade. ^733- 

Samuel Bowers. 
Serg. John Riggs. 



John Riggs. 
Joseph Hulls. 
\Villiam Moss. 
Joseph Hawkins. 
Jeremiah Johnson. 
Abel (lunn. 
Capt. Joseph Hulls. 
Lieut. John Riggs. 
Serg. Timothy \Vooster. 
Jeremiah Johnson. 
Joseph Hawkins. 
Abel Gunn. 
Capt. Joseph Hulls. 
Lieut. John Riggs. 
Serg. Samuel Brinsmade. 
Mr. Joseph Hawkins. 
Francis French. 
Abel Gunn. 
Samuel Brinsmade. 
Francis French. 
Abel Gunn. 
Lieut. John Riggs. 
Ens. Ebenezer Johnson. 
.Serg. Samuel Brinsmade. 
Jeremiah Johnson. 
Francis French. 
William Moss. 
Serg. Samuel Brinsraade. 
Mr. Samuel Bowers. 
Lieut. Ebenezer Johnson. 
Ens. Samuel Bassett. 
Serg. Abraham Pierson. 
Ens. Samuel Bassett. 
Abraham Pierson. 
John Davis. 
Capt. John Riggs. 
Jonathan Lumm. 
Ebenezer Harger. 
Timothy Wooster. 
Capt. Joseph Hull. 
Mr. P^ancis French. 
Timothy Russell. 
Francis French. 
Abraham Pierson. 
Timothy Russell. 
Ensign Samuel Bassett. 
Joseph Johnson. 
Thomas Wooster. 
Francis French. 
Ens. Samuel Bassett. 
Joseph Tomlinson. 
Gideon Johnson. 
.Samuel Hull. 
Isaac Tomlinson. 
Isaac Tomlinson. 
Samuel Hull. 
Gideon Johnson. 
Lieut. (Ebenezer) Johnson. 
Samuel Tomlinson. 
Thomas Wooster. 
Lieut. Ebenezer Johnson. 
Samuel Tomlinson. 
Thomas Wooster. 



APPENDIX. 



793 



1734- 

173^. 

I739- 

1740. 

1741. 
1742. 
1743- 

1744. 
1745- 

1746. 

1747- 
1748. 
1749. 
1751- 



Samuel Tomlinson. 
Serg. William Moss. 
Samuel Riggs. 
Joseph fohnson. 
Joseph "Hull, Jr. 
William Moss. 
Isaac Tomiinson. 
Joseph Johnson. 
.Samuel Riggs. 
Joseph Hull. 
"Capt. Samuel Bassett. 
Ens. Johnson. 
Moses Hawkins. 
Thomas Wooster. 
Samuel Riggs. 
Capt. Samuel Bassett. 
Dea. Gideon Johnson. 
Thomas Wooster. 
Serg. Moses Hawkins. 
Samuel Riggs. 
Francis French. 
Abraham Pierson. 
Joseph Hull. 
Samuel Bassett, Esq. 
Moses Hawkins. 
Joseph Hull. 
Joseph Johnson. 
Samuel Riggs. 
Abiram Canfield. 
Ebenezer Riggs. 
Samuel Riggs. 
Joseph Johnson. 
Joseph Hull. 
.Samuel Tomiinson. 
Capt. Moses Hawkins. 
Samuel Botsford. 
Capt. Timothy Russell. 
Capt. John I.umm. 
Capt. Timothy Russell. 
Capt. John Lumm. 
Capt. Moses Hawkins. 
Mr. Samuel Tomiinson. 
Mr. Samuel Botsford. 
Capt. Timothy Russell. 
Capt. Moses Hawkins. 
Capt. John Lumm. 
Lieut. Joseph I lull. 
Samuel Tomiinson. 
Capt. Timothy Russell. 
Capt. Moses Hawkins. 
Capt. John Lumm. 
T,ieut. Joseph Hull. 
Mr. Samuel Tomiinson. 
Capt. Timothy Russell. 
Capt. John Lumm. 
Capt. Moses Hawkins. 
Mr. Samuel Tomiinson. 
Lieut. Joseph Hull. 
Capt. Timothy Russell. 
Capt. Moses Hawkins. 
Capt. Josc])h Hull. 
Capt. John Lumm. 
"Mr. Jonah Smith. 



1753. Abiel Fairchild. 
Lieut. Ebenezer Riggs. 
.Serg. Thomas Wooster. 
Samuel Botsford. 
Agur Tomiinson. 

1754. Timothy Russell. 
Thomas Wooster. 
Samuel Botsford. 
Agur Tomiinson. 
Abiel Fairchild. 

1755. Timothy Russell, Esq. 
.Samuel Botsford. 
Abiel Fairchild. 
Thomas Wooster. 
Agur Tomiinson. 

1756. Abiel Fairchild. 
.Samuel Botsford. 
Capt. Abe! Cunn. 
Capt. James Wheeler. 
Charles French. 

1757. Abiel P'airchild. 
Capt. Abel Ounn. 
Capt. James Wheeler. 
Samuel Botsford. 
Charles French. 

1758. Abiel Fairchild. 
Samuel Botsford. 
Abel (runn. 
James Wheeler. 
Charles French. 

1760. Samuel Botsford. 
Abel (hmn. 
James Wheeler. 
Charles French. 
John Wooster. 

1 761. Capt. .Abel Gunn. 
Charles French. 
William Clark. 

Capt. Jabez Thompson. 
Ens. John Wooster. 

1762. William Clark. 

Capt. Jabez Thompson. 
Ens. John Wooster. 
Capt. Zachariah Hawkins. 
James Beard. 

1763. Capt. Jabez Thompson. 
Capt. Zachariah Hawkins. 
Ca]3t. James Wheeler. 
Lieut. Joseph Osborn. 
Abraham Hawkins. 

1764. Capt. James Wheeler. 
Capt. Zachariah Hawkins. 
Capt. Joseph ( )sborn. 
Capt. Jabez Thompson. 
Mr. Abraham Hawkins. 

1765. Capt. Zachariah Hawkins. 
Capt. Joseph Osborn. 
James lieard. 

f()sej)h Hull, Jr. 
John Holbrook. 

1766. Zachariah Hawkins. 
Joseph Osborn. 
James Beard. 



794 



APPENDIX. 



1766. Joseph Hull. 1779- 
John Holbrook. 

1767. Joseph Hull, Jr. 
[oseph Tomlinson. 

Joseph Riggs. 1780. 

Noah Tomlinson. 
Joseph Osborn. 

1768. Joseph Hull, Jr. 
Capt. Joseph Riggs. 

Capt. Joseph Osborn. 1781. 

Noah Tomlinson. 
|ohn Tomlinson 

1769. Joseph Hull, Esq. 
Capt. Joseph Riggs. 

Lieut. Thomas Clark. 1782. 

Samuel Bassett. 
Joseph Tomlinson. 

1770. Joseph Kiggs. 

Capt. Timothy Baldwin. 

Capt. Thomas Clark. 1783- 

Samuel Bassett. 

Lieut. John Bassett. 

1 77 1. Capt. John Tomlinson. ■ 
Lieut. John Bassett. 

Samuel Bassett. 1784- 

Capt. Thomas Clark. 
Dea. Eliphalet Hotchkiss. 

1772. Dea. Eliphalet Hotchkiss. 
Capt. Thomas Clark. 

Isaac Smith. 1785- 

Capt. John Tomlinson. 
Lieut. John Bassett. 

1773. Elijah Hotchkiss. 
John Tomlinson. 

Isaac .Smith. 1786. 

John Riggs, Jr. 
Abijah Hyde. 

1774. Capt. John Tomlinson. 
Capt. Nathaniel Johnson. 

Maj. Jabcz Thompson. 1787. 

Ens. Isaac Smithi 
John Riggs, Jr. 

1775. Col. Jabez Thompson. 
Capt. Nathaniel Johnson. 

Capt. Nathan Smith. 178S. 

John Riggs, Jr. 
Isaac Smith. 

1776. Capt. Nathan Smith. 
James Read. 

Abraham Hawkins. 1789- 

Isaac Smith. 
John Riggs, Jr. 

1777. Abraham Beecher. 
James Beard, Esq. 

Abraham Hawkins. 1790- 

Capt. Nathan Smith. 
Ens, John Humphrey. 

1778. Abraham Hawkins. I79'- 
Capt. Nathan Smith. 

— James Beard, Esq. 

Ens. John Humphrey. 1792- 

Abraham lieecher. 

1779. Abraham Hawkins. 



James Beard, Esq. 
John Humphrey. 
Abraham Bassett. 
Henry Tomlinson. 
Abraham Hawkins. 
James Beard, Esq. 
John Humphrey. 
Abraham Beecher. 
Capt. Micah Pool. 
Abraham Hawkins. 
James Ileard, Esq. 
John Humphreys. 
Capt. Abraham Bassett. 
Capt. Micah Pool. 
John Humphrey. 
Micah Pool. 
Abraham Bassett. 
John Howd. 
Samuel Hull. 
Capt. Daniel Holbrook. 
John Howd. 
Samuel Hull. 
Capt. Micah Pool. 
Capt. Abraham Bassett. 
Capt. Daniel Holbrook. 
John Howd. 
Capt. Abraham Bassett. 
Samuel Hull. 
Capt. Micah Pool. 
Capt. Daniel Holbrook. 

Mr. John Howd. 
Capt. Joseph Riggs. 

Mr. Caleb Candee. 

Mr. Joseph .Strong. 

Capt. Daniel Holbrook. 

Capt. Joseph Riggs. 

Mr. Josiah .Strong. 

Mr. Caleb Candee. 

Mr. David Tomlinson. 

Isaiah Strong. 

Caleb Candee. 

Webb Tomlinson. 

Abijah Hull. 

David Hitchcock. 

Abijah Hull. 

Webb Tomlinson. 

Capt. John Riggs. 

Mr. Caleb Candee. 

Capt. Reuben Tucker. 

Eliphalet Hotchkiss. 

Capt. John Riggs. 

Webb Tomlinson, Esq.. 

John Howd. 

Capt. Reuben Tucker. 

Abijah Hull. 

Capt. John Riggs. 

Webb Tomlinson, Esq. 

Capt. John Riggs. 

Mr. Abijah Hull. 

Mr. Reuben Lumm. 

Reuben Lumm. 

Abijah Hull. 

Capt. John Riggs. 







APPENOrX. 


1793- 


Mr. Aljijah TTiill. 
Capt. John Kiggs. 
Mr. Reuben Lunim. 


1814. 


1794- 


Capt. Ebenezer Riggs. 
Mr Abijah Hull. 
Mr. Reul)en Lumm. 


1815. 


1795- 


Reuben Lumm. 

Abijah Hull. 

Capt. Ebenezer Riggs. 


1816. 


1796. 


Capt. Ebenezer Riggs. 
Mr. Reuben Lumm. 
Capt. Joseph Riggs. 


1S17. 


1797- 


Capt. Joseph Riggs. 
Capt. Ebenezer Riggs. 
Mr. Reuben Lumm. 


18 18. 


179S. 


Reuben Lumm. 
David Hitchcock. 
Nathan Stiles. 


1819. 


1799- 


David Hitchcock. 
Reuben Lumm. 
Nathan Stiles. 


1S20, 


iSoo. 


Levi Hoichkiss. 

Capt. Amadeus Dibble. 

Reuben Lumm. 


1821. 


iSoi. 


Levi Hotchkiss, Esq. 
Capt. James Lewis. 
Mr. Reuben Lumm. 


1822. 


1802. 


Reuben Lumm. 
Levi Hotchkiss. 
Capt. James Lewis. 


1823. 


1803. 


Reuben Lumm. 

Capt. Amadeus Dibble. 

David Hawkins. 


1824. 


1S04. 


Reuben Lumm. 
David Hawkins. 
Amadeus Dibble. 


1825. 


1805. 


David Hawkins. 
Philo Bassett. 
David Hitchcock. 


1826. 


1806. 


David Hitchcock. 
Philo Bassett, Esq. 
David Hawkins. 


1827. 


1S07. 


David Hitchcock. 
Wilson Hurd. 
Sheldon Curtiss. 


1S2S. 


iSoS. 


Sheldon Curtiss. 
Joseph Riggs. 
Wilson Hurd. 


1829 


1S09. 


Wilson Hurd. 
Sheldon Curtiss. 
William C. Smith. 


1S30. 


iSio. 


Sheldon Curtiss. 
Nathan Wheeler. 
William C. Smith. 


1831. 


iSii. 


Reuben Lumm. 
Sheldon Curtiss. 
Nathan Wheeler. 


1832. 


1812. 


Reuben Lumm. 
Amasa Porter. 
Levi Hotchkiss. 


1833- 


1S13. 


Reuben Lumm. 
Levi Smith. 
Amasa I'orter. 


1834. 



795 



Reuben Lumm. 
Amasa Porter. 
Levi Smith. 
Reuben Lumm. 
John Humjihreys. 
Josiah Holbrook. 
Sheldon Curtiss. 
Wilson Hurd. 
John Riggs. 
.Sheldon Curtiss. 
Daniel Tolles. 
Philo Bassett. 
Sheklon Curtiss. 
John Humphreys, Jr. 
Reuben Lumm. 
Sheldon Curtiss. 
John Humphreys, Jr. 
Robert Gates. 
Robert Gates. 
William Humphreys. 
Peter Tomlinson. 
Sheldon Curtiss. 
William Humphreys. 
Robert Gates. 
.Sheldon Smith. 
William Humphreys. 
Robert Gates. 
.Sheldon Curtiss. 
Peter Tomlinson. 
John Humphreys, Jr. 
Sheldon Curtiss. 
Peter Tomlinson. 
John Humphreys, Jr. 
Sheldon Curtiss. 
John Humphreys. 
Peter Tomlinson. 
Abiram Stoddard. 
Luther Fowler. 
Sheldon Curtiss. 
Sheldon Curtiss. 
William J. P'rench. 
Josiah Nettleton. 
Sheldon Curtiss. 
Wm. J P'rench. 
Josiah Nettleton. 
Josiah Nettleton. 
Wm. J. French. 
Sheldon Curtiss. 
Isaac Tomlinson. 
Daniel L. Holbrook. 
.Sheldon Curtiss. 
Lyman Chatfield. 
.Sheldon ('urtiss. 
Bennett Lumm. 
William Lumm. 
Sheldon Curtiss. 
Josiah Bassett. 
Sheldon Curtiss. 
Ezekiel (iillett. 
Josiah Nettleton. 
ICzekiel Gillett. 
Isaac J. (Jillett. 
fosiah Nettleton. 



796 



APPENDIX. 



1835. Daniel L. Holbrook. 
Samuel Bassett. 
Sheldon Smith. 

1836. Sheldon Smith. 
""Sheldon Keeney.--" 

Joseph P. Canfield. 

1837. Daniel L. Holbrook. 
Daniel Hitchcock. 
Joseph P. Canfield. 

1838. Leman Chatfield. 
Sheldon Smith, Jr. 
Judson English. 

1839. Sheldon Smith, Esq. 
Daniel Hitchcock. 
Luther Fowler. 

1840. Leman Chatfield. 
Sheldon Smith, Jr. 
Judson English. 

1841. Leman Chatfield. 
Daniel L. Holbrook, ' 
Abijah Wallace. 

1842. Leman Chatfield. 
Samuel French. 
Augustus Tomlinson. 

1843. Robert Gates. 
Samuel French. 
Sheldon Keeney. 

1844. Samuel French. 
Sheldon Keeney. 
Sidney A. Downs. 

1845. Robert Gates, Jr. 
Sheldon Keeney. 
Daniel White. 

1846. Sidney A. Downs. 
Daniel White. 
Abel Holbrook. 

1847. Sheldon Smith, Jr. 
Daniel White. 
Abel Holbrook. 

1848. Sheldon Smith, Jr. 
Daniel White. 
Edward B. Crafts. 

1849. Sheldon Smith, Jr. 
Daniel White. 
Abraham Hubbard. 

1850. Sidney A. Downes. 
John Lindley. 
Stephen G. Wilcoxon. 

1851. Sidney A. Downs. 
John Lindley. 
Stephen G. Wilcoxon. 

1852. Sheldon Smith. 
Samuel French. 
Truman Gilbert. 

1853. Truman Gilbert. 
John Coe. 

Hiram W. Hubbard. 

1854. Sheldon Smith, Jr. 
Truman Gilbert. 
William S. Judson. 

1855. Sheldon Smith, Jr. 
Nelson H. Downs. 
Horace Casterline. 



1S56. Sheldon Smith, Jr. 
Lyman L. Loomer. 
Jeremiah H. Bartholomew. 

1857. Sheldon Smith, Jr. 
Willett Bradley; 
Horace Casterline. 

1858. Sheldon Smith, Jr. 
Willett Bradley. 
William M. Hull. 

1859. Sheldon Smith, Jr. 
Horace Casterline. 
William M. Hull. 

i860. Sheldon Smith, Jr. 
Willett Bradley. 
William M. Hull. 

1 861. Fitch Smith. 
Horace Casterline. 
J. M. Colburn. 

1862. Fitch Smith. 
Horace Casterline. 
Nathan S. Johnson. 

1863. Fitch Smith. 
Jonah Clark. 
Egbert Bartlett. 

1864. John Lindley. 
Horace Casterline. 
Edwin C. Johnson. 

1865. Egbert Bartlett. 
Horace Casterline, 
Amos H. Ailing. 

1866. Egbert Bartlett. 
Horace Casterline. 
Amos H. Ailing. 

1867. Willett Bradley. 
Horace Casterline. 
Henry Somers. 

1868. Horace Casterline. 
William Hawkins. 
John Lindley. 

1869. Nathan C. Treat. 
Henry Somers. 
Joseph H. Remer. 

1870. Egbert Bartlett. 
Henry Somers. 
Luzon Rowell. 

187 1. Egbert Bartlett. 
Henry Somers. 
Luzon Rowell. 

1S72. Egbert Bartlett. 
Henry Whipple. 
Luzon Rowell. 

1873. Egbert Bartlett. 
Henry Whipple. 
Luzon Rowell. 

1874. Wm. B. Bristol. 
Lewis Hotchkiss. 
Luzon Rowell. 

1875. Wm. B. Bristol. 
Sidney A. Downs. 
Luzon Rowell. 

1S76. Wm. B. Bristol. 
Sidney A. Downs. 
Luzon Rowell. 



APPENDIX. 



797 



1877. Henry Somers. 
Erwin W. Webster. 
Patrick McEnernev. 

1878. Erwin \V. Webster. 
Patrick .McEnerney. 
Wm. C. Atwater. 



1879. Erwin W. Webster. 
Patrick MclMierney. 
Albert F. Sherwood. 

1880. luwin W. Webster. 
Patrick McEnerney. 
Henry A. Shipman. 



REPRESENTATIVES FROM DERBY TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE. 

None recorded. 
None recorded. 
Major Ebenezcr Johnson. 
Mr. Samuel Prinsmadc. 
Major I'^benezer Johnson. 
Mr. Samuel lirinsmade. 
Mr. John Bowers. 
Major Ebenezer Johnson. 
Mr. Samuel Prinsmade. 
Mr. Samuel Prinsmade. 
Mr. Samuel Prinsmade. 
Mr. John Riggs. 
Mr. John Riggs. 
Mr. Joseph Hull. 
Col. Ebenezer Johnson. 
Col. Ebenezer Johnson. 
Mr. John Riggs. 
Mr. Joseph Hawkins. 
None recorded. 
Lt. Joseph Hulls. 
Lt. Joseph Hulls. 
Mr. John Riggs. 
Mr. John Riggs. 
Mr. John Riggs. 
Col. Ebenezer Johnson. 
Mr. John Riggs. 
Col. Ebenezer Johnson. 
Serg. John Riggs. 
Capt. Joseph Hulls. 
Mr. John Riggs. 
Col. Ebenezer Johnson. 
Mr. John Riggs. 
Col. I'-benezer Johnson. 
Mr. John Riggs. 
Col. ICbenezer Johnson. 
Et. John Riggs. 
Col. Ebenezer Johnson. 
Mr. John Riggs. 
Col. Ebenezer Johnson. 
Mr. John Riggs. 
Col. P^bcnezer Johnson. 
Mr John Riggs. 
Et. John Riggs. 
Mr. John Riggs. 
Col Ebenezer Johnson. 
Col. I'^benezer Johnson. 
Isaac Tomlinson. 
Samuel Hull. 
Ciideon Johnson. 
Col. Ebenezer Johnson. 
Et. John Riggs. 
Col. I'^benezer Johnson. 

e inliabitants paiil no taxes to tlie 



1685, 


Oct. 


1686, 


May. 




July. 




Oct. 


1687, 


Mar. 




May. 




June. 




Oct. 


1788, 




1789, May. 




Oct. 


1690, 


Apr. 




May. 




Oct. 


1691, 


May. 




Oct. 


1692, 


May. 




June. 




Oct. 


1693, May. 




Oct. 


1694, May. 




Oct. 


1695, May. 




Oct. 


1696, May. 




Oct. 


1697, 


May. 




Oct. 


1698, May. 




Oct. 


1699, 


, May. 




Oct. 


1700, 


, May. 




Oct. 


1701, 


, May. 




Oct. 


1702, 


, May. 




Oct. 


1703, 


, May. 




Oct. 


1704, 


, May. 




Oct. 


1705 


, May. 



Ebenezer Johnson. 


1706, 


Oct. 


Mr. Abel Gunn. 


1706, 


May. 


Lt. Ebenezer Johnson. 




( )ct. 


Mr. Abel (.Junn. 






Lt. Ebenezer Johnson. 


1707, 


May. 


Lt. Ebenezer Johnson. 




Oct'. 


Lt. Ebenezer Johnson. 


1708, May. 


Mr. Abel Gunn. 




Oct. 


Lt. Ebenezer Johnson. 






Lt. Ebenezer Johnson. 


1709, 


May. 


Lt. Ebenezer Johnson. 




June. 


Sir Edmond Andros here, 




Oct. 


and no court records. 


1 7 10, 


May. 


Lt. Ebenezer Johnson. 




Oct. 


Mr. John Hulls. 


1711, 


May. 


None recorded. 




June. 


Lt. Ebenezer Johnson. 




Oct. 


None recorded. 


1712, 


May. 


Capt. Ebenezer Johnson. 




Oct. 


Capt. Ebenezer Johnson. 


1713. 


Mar. 


Capt. Ebenezer Johnson. 




May. 


None recorded. 




Oct. 


Ens. Samuel Riggs. 


1714, 


May. 


Ens. Samuel Riggs. 




Oct. 


None recorded. 


•715. 


May. 


Mr. Jeremiah Johnson. 






None recorded. 




Oct. 


None recorded. 






Capt. Johnson. 


17 16, 


May. 


Ensign Riggs. 






Capt. Eben Johnson. 


1717, 


May. 


None recorded. 






Ens. Samuel Riggs. 




Oct. 


None recorded. 






None recorded. 


1718, 


May. 


Capt. Ebenezer Johnson. 






Capt. Ebenezer Johnson. 




Oct. 


Capt. Ebenezer Johnson. 






Capt. Ebenezer Johnson. 


1719. 


May. 


Capt. Ebenezer Johnson. 






Capt. Ebenezer Johnson. 




Oct. 


Capt. Ebenezer Johnson. 






Capt Ebenezer Johnson. 


1720, 


, May. 


Ens. Samuel Riggs. 




Oct. 


Capt. Ebenezer Johnson. 


1721, 


, May. 


Capt Ebenezer Johnson. 




Oct. 


Capt. Ebenezer Johnson. 




Dec. 


Mr. John Power. 






Capt. Ebenezer Johnson. 






Capt. Ebenezer Johnson. 


1722, 


, May. 


Capt. Ebenezer Johnson. 






None recorded. 




Oct. 



^During ten years from the organization of the town (1675), it 
Colony, and had no representatives. 



7q8 



1722, 


Oct. 


i7-3> 


May. 




Oct. 


1724, 


May. 




Oct. 


1725. 


May. 
Oct. 


1726, 


May. 
Oct. 


1727, 


May. 




Oct. 


1728, 


May. 




Oct. 


1729, 


May. 




Oct. 


1730. 


May. 
Oct. 


1731. 


May. 




Oct. 


1732, 


, May. 
Oct. 


1733. 


, May. 




Oct. 


1734, 


, May. 




Oct. 


173s. 


May. 




Oct. 


1736, 


, May. 




Oct. 


1737: 


, May. 
Oct. 


1738 


, May. 




Oct. 


1739 


, May. 




Oct. 


174O: 


, May. 



APPENDIX. 


Capt. John Riggs. 


1740, Oct. 


Col. Ebenezer Johnson. 




Capt. John Riggs. 


1741, May. 


None reported. 




Capt. John Riggs. 


Oct. 


Mr. Joseph Hawkins. 




Capt. John Riggs. 


1742, May. 


Mr. Joseph Hawkins. 


Oct. 


Capt. John Riggs. 




Capt. John Riggs. 


1743, May. 


Capt. John Riggs. 




Capt. John Riggs. 


Oct. 


Capt. John Riggs. 




Mr. Samuel French. 


I744> May. 


Capt. John Riggs 




Mr. Francis French. 


Oct. 


Capt. John Riggs. 




Mr. Francis French. 


1745, Feb. 


Capt. John Riggs. 




Mr. P'rancis French. 


May. 


Capt. John Riggs. 




Mr. Francis French. 


Oct. 


Capt. John Riggs. 




Mr. Francis French. 


1746, May. 


Mr. Samuel Hull. 




Capt. John Riggs. 


Oct. 


Mr. Samuel Hull. 




Capt. John Riggs. 


1747, May. 


Mr. Francis French. 




Mr. Gideon Johnson. 


Oct. 


Mr. Timothy Russell. 




Mr. John Riggs. 


1748, May. 


Mr. John Riggs. 




Mr. Gideon Johnson. 


Oct. 


Mr. John Riggs. 




Mr. Samuel Bassett. 


1749, May. 


Mr. John Riggs. 




Mr. Samuel Ba.ssett. 


Oct. 


Mr. John Riggs. 




Mr. Timothy Russell. 


1750, May. 


Mr. John Riggs. 




Mr. Samuel Bassett. 


Oct. 


Mr. John Riggs. 




Mr. Gideon Johnson. 


1751, May. 


Mr. John Riggs. 




Mr. Samuel Bassett. 


Oct. 


Mr. John Riggs. 




Mr. Samuel Bassett. 


1752, May. 


Mr. John Riggs. 




Mr. Samuel Bassett. 


Oct. 


Mr. John Riggs. 




Mr. John Riggs. 


1753, May. 


Capt. Samuel Bassett. 




Capt. John Riggs. 


Oct. 


Capt. Samuel i3assett. 




Capt. John Riggs. 


1754, May. 


Capt. Samuel Bassett. 




Capt. John Riggs. 


Oct. 


Capt. Samuel Bassett. 




Capt. John Riggs. 


1755, May. 


Capt. Samuel Bassett. 




Mr. Abel Gunn. 


Oct. 


Capt. Samuel Bassett. 


1756, May. 



Mr. Abel Gunn. 
Mr. .Samuel Tomlinson. 
Mr. Samuel Tomlinson. 
Mr. Abel Gunn. 
Capt. John Riggs. 
Capt. Samuel Bassett. 
None recorded. 
Mr. Abel Gunn. 
Mr. Joseph Hull. 
Capt. John Riggs. 
Capt. Samuel Bassett. 
Capt. John Riggs. 
Mr. Abel Gunn. 
Mr. Samuel Riggs. 
Mr. Abel Gunn. 
Capt. John Riggs. 
Capt Samuel Bassett. 
Capt. John Riggs. 
Capt. Samuel Bassett. 
Capt. Samuel Bassett, 
Mr. Abel Ciunn. 
Capt. Samuel Bassett. 
Mr. Abel Gunn. 
Capt. Moses Hawkins. 
Mr. Abel Gunn. 
Capt. Moses Hawkins. 
Mr. Abel Gunn. 
Capt. John Riggs. 
Capt. Samuel Bassett. 
Capt. Moses Hawkins. 
Mr. Abel Ciunn. 
Capt. Moses Hawkins. 
Mr. Abel Cnmn. 
Capt. Moses Hawkins. 
Mr. Abel Gunn. 
Capt. Moses Hawkins. 
Mr. Abel Gunn. 
Capt Moses Hawkins. 
Mr. Abel Gunn. 
Capt. John Lumm. 
Isaac Tomlinson. 
John Lumm. 
Mr. Abel Gunn. 
Capt. Abel Gunn. 
Capt. Moses Hawkins. 
Capt. Moses Hawkins. 
Charles French. 
Capt. Abel Gunn. 
Charles French. 
Capt. Abel Gunn. 
Charles P'rench. 
Daniel Holbrook. 
Charles French. 
Abel Gunn. 
Charles French. 
Moses Hawkins. 
Charles French. 
Moses Hawkins. 
Charles French. 
Moses Hawkins. 
Charles French. 
Capt. Samuel Bassett. 
Capt. Abel Gunn. 



1S56, May. 
Oct. 

1757, May. 
Oct. 

1758, May. 

Oct. 

1759, May. 
Oct. 

1760, j\ray. 
Oct. 

1 761, May. 
Oct. 

1762, May. 
Oct. 

1763, May. 
Oct. 

1764, May. 
Oct. 

1765, May. 
Oct. 

1766, May. 
Oct. 

1767, May. 
Oct. 

1768, May. 
Oct. 

1769, May. 

Oct. 

1770, May. 

Oct. 

1771, May. 
Oct. 

1772, May. 
Oct. 



Charles Frencb. 
Capi. Samuel Hassett. 
Capt. Samuel I'.assett. 
Capt. Samuel Bassett. 
Capt. Samuel Bassett. 
Capt. .Abel Gunn. 
Capt. .Samuel llassett. 
Capt. Abel (hum. 
Capt. Samuel Bassett. 
Mr. Daniel Holbrook. 
Capt. Samuel Bassett. 
Capt. James Wheeler. 
Capt. .Samuel Bassett. 
Capt. James Wheeler. 
Capt. Samuel Bassett. 
Capt. James Wheeler. 
Capt. Abel Gunn. 
Capt. Samuel Bassett. 
Capt. .Samuel Bassett. 
Capt. James Wheeler. 
Capt. Abel Gunn. 
Capt. Samuel Bassett. 
Capt Abel Gunn. 
Mr. Charles French. 
Capt. Samuel Bassett. 
Mr. Joseph Hull, Jr. 
Capi. Samuel liassett. 
Mr. Charles French. 
Capt. Abel Gunn. 
Mr. Charles French. 
Mr. Charles French. 
Mr. Joseph Hull. 
Mr Charles French. 
Mr. Joseph Hull. 
Capt. Abel (junn. 
Mr. Josej^h Hull. 
Mr. Daniel H<jlbrook. 
Capt. Abel Gunn. 
Mr. Daniel Holbrook 
Capt. Abel Gunn. 
Mr. John Holbrook. 
Mr. Joseph Osborn. 
Mr. Daniel Holbrook. 
Mr. Charles French. 
Mr. John Holbrook. 
Mr. John Davis. 
Ca])t. Abel Gunn. 
Mr. Jonathan Davis. 
Capt. fohn Holbrook. 
Mr. Joseph Hull, Jr. 
Mr. Jo.seph Hull, Jr. 
Mr. John Holbrook. 
Mr. Joseph Hull. 
Mr. John Holbrook. 
Mr. Joseph Hull. 
Capt. John Wooster. 
Mr. Joseph Hull, 
(.apt. John Wooster. 
Mr. Joseph Hull. 
Capt: John Wooster. 
Mr. Jo.seph Hull. 
(Japt. John Wooster. 
Mr. Joseph Hull, Jr. 



APPENDIX. 




1773. 


May. 




Oct. 


1774, 


May. 




Oct. 


1775. 


May. 


Oct. 
1776, May. 


1777. 


Oct. 
May. 




Oct. 


i77«, 


May. 




Oct. 


1779. 


May. 
Oct. 


-f 1780, 


May. 




Oct. 


17S1, 


Oct. 


17S2, 


May. 




Oct. 


17S3. 


, May. 




Oct. 


17S4, May. 




Oct. 


1785, May. 




Oct. 


1786, 


, May. 




Oct. 


17S7: 


, May. 




Oct. 


17S8, 


, May. 




Oct. 


1789: 


, May. 




Oct. 



/99 



Capt. John W'ooster. 
Mr. Joseph Hull. 
Capt. John Wooster. 
Mr. Joseph Hull. 
(Japt. John Wooster. 
Mr. Joseph Hull. 
Capt. John Wooster. 
Mr. James Beard. 
Capt. John Holbrook. 
Mr. Joseph Hull. 
Capt. John Holbrook. 
Capt. John Holbrook. 
Mr. Eliphalet Hotchkiss. 
Mr. Eliphalet Hotchkiss. 
Mr. James Beard. 
Mr. Eliphalet Hotchkiss. 
Mr. Thomas Clark. 
Mr. Eliphalet Flotchkiss. 
Mr. David De Forest. 
Mr. Bradford Steele. 
Mr. Eliphalet Hotchkiss. 
Mr. Thomas Clark. 
Mr. James Beard. 
Mr. James Beard. 
Mr. Thomas Clark. 
Mr. Henry Tomlinson. 
Mr. Thomas Clark. 
Mr. Abraham Hawkins. 
Mr. Daniel Holbrook. 
Mr. Daniel Holbrook. 
Mr. Thomas Clark. 
Mr. Daniel Holbrook. 
Mr. John Howd. 
Mr. Daniel Holbrook. 
Mr. Thomas Clark. 
Mr. Daniel Holbrook. 
Mr. John Holbrook. 
Mr. Daniel Holljrook. 
Mr. Sheldon Clark. 
Mr. Daniel Holbrook. 
Mr. Thomas Clark. 
Mr. Daniel Holbrook. 
Mr. Thomas Clark. 
Mr. David Holbrook. 
Mr. Samuel Hull. 
Mr. James Beard. 
Mr. Thomas Clark. 
Mr. James ]5eard. 
Mr. Thomas Clark. 
Mr. David Humphreys. 
Mr. Samuel HalJ. 
Mr. Samuel 1 lull. 
Mr. John Wooster. 
Mr. Samuel Hull. 
Mr. John Wooster. 
Mr. Daniel Holbrook. 
Mr. John Wooster. 
Mr. Daniel Holbrook. 
Mr. John Wooster. 
Mr. Daniel Holbrook. 
Mr. John Wooster. 
Mr. "Samuel Hull. 
.Mr. John Wooster. 



8oo 



APPENDIX. 



1790, May. Mr. Thomas Clark. 1800, May. 

Mr. John Wooster. 
Oct. Mr. Thomas Clark. Oct. 

Mr. John Wooster. 1801, May. 

1791, May. Mr. Samuel Hull. 

Mr. Daniel Holbrook. Oct. 

Oct. Mr. Samuel Hull. 1802, May. 

Mr. Thomas Clark. Oct. 

1792, May. Mr. Samuel Hull. 1803, May. 

Mr. Leman Stone. Oct. 

Oct. Mr. Samuel Hull. 1804, May. 

Mr. Thomas Clark. Oct. 

1793, May. Mr. Samuel Hull. 1805, May. 

Mr. Thomas Clark. Oct. 

Oct. Mr. Leman Stone. 1806, May. 
Mr. Thomas Clark. Oct. 

i''94, May. Mr. Daniel Holbrook. 1807, May. 
Mr. Samuel Hull. Oct. 

Oct. Mr. Daniel Holbrook. 1808, May. 
^Mr. Thomas Clark. Oct. 

1795, ^lay. Mr. Daniel Holbrook. 1809, May. 

Mr. John Humphrey. Oct. 

Oct. Mr. Thomas Clark. 1810, May. 
Mr. Daniel Holbrook. Oct. 

1796, May. Mr. Thomas Clark. ' 181 1, May. 

Mr. Daniel Holbrook. Oct. 

Oct. Mr. Thomas Clark. 1812, May. 

Mr. Daniel Holbrook. Oct. 

1797, May. Mr. James Lewis. 1813, May. 

Mr. Rufus Tomlinson. Oct. 

Oct. Mr. James Lewis. 1S14, May. 
Mr. Thomas Clark. Oct. 

1798, May. Mr. James Lewis. 181 5, May. 

Mr. John Riggs. Oct. 

Oct. Mr. Joseph Riggs. 1816, May. 

Mr. John Riggs. Oct. 

1799, May. Mr. Joseph Riggs. 1817, May. 

Mr. Elnathan Camp. Oct. 

Oct. Mr. Russell Tomlinson. 1S18, May. 



Mr. Rufus Hitchcock. 
Mr. Joseph Riggs. 
Mr. Russell Tomlinson. 
Mr. Rufus Hitchcock. 
Mr. Joseph Riggs. 
Mr. Joseph Riggs. 
Mr. Russell Tomlinson. 
Mr. Canfield Gillett. 
Mr. Joseph Riggs. 
Mr. Joseph Riggs. 
Mr. Joseph Riggs. 
Mr. Joseph Riggs. 
Mr. Joseph Riggs. 
Mr. Russell Tomlinson. 
Mr. Russell Tomlinson. 
Mr. Nathan Wheeler. 
Mr. Josiah Dudley. 
Mr. Josiah Dudley. 
Mr. Josiah Dudley. 
Mr. Josiah Dudley. 
Mr. Canfield Gillett. 
Mr. Reuben l.umm. 
Mr. Canfield Gillett. 
Mr. Canfield Gillett. 
Mr. Canfield Gillett. 
Mr. Canfield Gillett. 
Mr. Reuben Lumm. 
Mr. David Humphreys. 
Mr. David Humphreys. 
Mr. David Humphreys. 
Mr. David Humphreys. 
Mr. David Humphreys. 
Mr. John Humphreys, Jr. 
Mr. John Humphreys, Jr. 
Mr. John Humphreys, Jr. 
Mr. Reuben Lumm. 
Mr. Sheldon Curtis. 
Mr. John Humphreys, Jr. 
Mr. Sheldon Curtis. 



MAY SESSIONS ONLY HEREAFTER, EXCEPT A FEW SPECIAL. 



18 19. John Humphreys, Jr. 

1820. Wilson Hurd. 

182 1. Jeremiah French. 

1822. John Humphreys, Jr. 

1823. Truman Coe. 

1824. John Humphreys, Jr. 

1825. John S. Tomlinson 

1826. John Humphreys, Jr. 

1827. John H. DeForest. 

1828. Sheldon Curtiss. 

1829. Josiah Nettleton. 

1830. Ezekiel Gilbert. 

1831. William Lum. 

1832. Robert Gates. 

1833. Josiah Nettleton. 

1834. William Humphreys. 

1835. John B. Davis 

1836. Daniel S. Holbrook. 

1837. Nehemiah C. Sanford. 
183S. David W. Plumb. 
1839. Sheldon vSmith. 



1840. William Humphreys. 

1 84 1. Leman Chatfield 

1842. Luther Fowler. 

1843. Samuel French. 

1844. David Bassett. 

1845. Albert L Steele. 

1846. George Blackman. 

1847. Thomas Burlock. 

1848. Thomas Burlock. 

1849. Joshua Kendall. 

1850. Sylvester Smith. 

1851. Sidney A. Downes. 

1852. David W. Plumb. 

1853. Thomas Wallace. 

1854. Edwin Ells. 

1855. William E. Downes. 

1856. Lucas H. Carter. 

1857. Henry Hubbard. 

1858. William B. Wooster. 
1859 Josiah Clark. 

i860. David W. Plumb. 







AITENDIX. 


iS6i. 


William 1!. \\'oostcr. 


1874. 


1862. 


David W. Plumb. 


1875- 


1863. 


Robert N. liassett. 




1864. 


David W. Plumb. 


1876. 


1865. 


Amos H. Ailing. 




1866. 


Egbert Bartlett. 


1877. 


1867. 


Joseph Moore. 




1868. 


Egbert Bartlett. 


1878. 


1869. 


J. II. liartholomew. 




1870. 


Josiah H. Whiting. 


1879. 


1871. 


David Torrance.'^ 




1872. 


David Torrance. 


1880. 


iS73- 


George II. Peck. 





801 

C'harlcs Durand. 
Charles Durand. 
Thomas l*21mes. 
Thomas IClmes. 
Chester A Ilavvley. 
Henry Atwater. 
Tlfomas Wallace. 
Thomas \\'allace. 
Samuel M. Gardner. 
Thomas Wallace. 
Samuel M. Gardner. 
Samuel M. Gardner.'' 
Dana Bartholomew. 

PHYSICIANS IN DERBY. 

Dr. John HulLs resided in the town about 15 years, from 1674, 
then removed to VVallingford. 

Dr. John Durand, about 30 years, from a little before 1700 

Dr. Josiah Baldwin came to Derby about 1700, and continued his 
profession twenty or more years. 

Dr. Silas Baldwin began about 1755, and continued some years. 

Dr. Samuel Canfield followed Dr. Josiah Baldwin in about 1750. 

Dr. Josiah Canfield, brother to Samuel, commenced about 1765, 
and continued only three or four years. 

Dr. Noah Durand, son of Dr. John, was a physician. 

Dr. John Butler, of Stratford, was a resident in Quaker's Farm from 
about 1 79 1, a few years. 

Dr. Edward Crafts came to Derby in about 1778, and was a physi- 
cian of much energy and enterprise, and died in 1821. 

Dr. Pearl Crafts, son of Dr. Edward, practiced for a time, and died 
young. 

Dr. Liberty Kimberly was a practicing physician in Derby for some 
years, beginning a little after 1800. 

Dr. Leverett Hubbard, in 1767. 

Dr. James l^ierson, surgeon in 1712, removed to Wethersfield. 

\)r. Isaac Jennings (See Biog.) 

Dr. Abiram Stoddard. " " 

Dr. Thomas Stoddard. " " 

Dr A. Beardsley. " " 

Dr. Thomas Dutton. " 

Dr. Josiah i\I. Colburn. " " 

Dr. Joshua Kendall. " " 

Dr. S. C. Johnson. " " 

Dr. C. H. Perrv. " " 

Dr. C. H. Pinney. " " 

Dr. A. VV. Phillips. " " : 

Dr. Wm. Terry. " " 

Dr. F P. Blotlgett. " " 

Dr. William Johnson. " " 

Dr. Noah Stone. " " 



5The present Secretary of State. 
"Since deceased. 
lOI 



802 APPENDIX. 

Dr. Charles W. Sheffrey. (See Biog.) 

Dr. T. B. Jewetl. " 

Dr. S. R. Baker. " " 

Dr. T. J O'Sullivan. 

Dr. Beach was here about 1850, and died here. 

Dr. George L. Beardsley. (See Biog.) He came to Birmingham 
in 1874; is a practicing physician; has written several professional 
reviews, which were published, and been connected with a periodical 
as book reviewer. 

Dr. Charles Case ; 1858 ; practiced three years, and went to Detroit. 

Dr. Rogers ; 187 1 ; practiced two years ; went to Sag Harbor. 

Dr. H. Bowen ; 1861 ; homceopathic ; here in 1861-1862. 

Dr Paul Skiff; practiced here two years about 1855, and removed 
to New Haven. 

Dr. Stephen Hill ; practiced here about i860 ; now of Stepney. 

Dr, D. S. Lessey ; came to Derby about 1873, and died in 1874. 

Dr. Bailey came from Seymour to Ansonia about 1876 ; practiced 
a short time, and removed to Brewster Station, N. Y. 

Dr. S. C. Sanger ; came to Derby about 1874 ; died Dec. 21, 1876. 

Dr. W. B. De Forest; came to Derby in 1857, and, in i860, re- 
moved to New Haven. 

Dr. Edward Darkin ; was located here with Dr. I. Jennings nearly 
a year 

Dr. Josiah H. Whiting ; 1845 ; practiced here several years ; mar- 
ried daughter of Dr. J M. Colburn ; removed to New Haven. 

Dr. S P Church; 1850-1857 ; removed to Poughkeepsie, N. Y. 

Dr. A. H. Carrington ; 1850 ; a few years ; removed to New Haven. 

Dr. Egbert R. Warren; located in Seymour in 1876, where he re- 
mains. 

Dr. Samuel Sanford was the first physician located in Humphreys- 
ville, and died aged 39 years. 

Dr. Titus C Pratt opened an office in Humphreysville in 1823, and, 
after five years' practice, removed to northern New York. 



APPENDIX. 



803 



INSCRIPTIONS. — OLD GRAVE-YARD AT UP TOWN. 



Leander Bailey | died | Sept 13 1859 | 
ae 39 yrs 6 mo | 

Weep not lor me 
While we weep as Jesus weept 
'1 liou shalt sleep as Jesus selept 
There is rest in Heaven. 

Urb.ane E I son of | Mr and Mrs L A 
Bailey | died | Dec 25 184S | x 4 years. 
My parents dear as you come here 

Behold this little hand 
Weep not for me but for yourselves 
I am gone unto a better land 

Alhert Hazei>T()N I -son of | C H and 
W S Bailey | died July 11 1S63 | aged 
2 years and 4 mo. 
Etgene Thurston | son of | C H and 
W S Bailey | died June 9 1867 | aged 
20 j'ears. 
Mr Reuben Baldwin | died May 12 
1809 I in the 70 year | of his age | Also 
Mamre and Isaac infant | children of | 
Reuben and Catharine Baldwin. 
Mamre died Nov 21 1793 I 'iged 11 

months. 
Isaac died May i 1796 | aged i year 2 
months. 

Behold and see as you pass by 
As you are now so once was 1 
As i am now soon you w ill be 
Prepare for death and follow me. 

Here lies the body of | Mr James Bald- 
win who I departed this life Aug | ye 
27th 1760 in ye 57th | year of his age | 

The sleeping dust sabie drest 
Here cease from labor calmly rest 
Till conquered deatli shall be no more 
'J'he grave its captive prey restore. 

Chauncy Baldwin | died Oct 28 1S27 | 
ae 49 I Lucy his wife | died Sept 17 
1828 I 3e 48. 

Here lies ye body of | Zerviah Baldwin 
wife I to Timothy Baldwin | died the 
10 1734 I in the 37 year | of her age. 

In memory | of | Capt. Timothy Bald- 
win I who departed this life | Dec 22 
1800 I a; 8r. 

Inmemory | of | MrsSarah Baldwin | 
the wife of | Capt Timothy Baldwin | 
who departed this life | Sept 10 1794 in 
the I 75th year of her age. 
Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord. 

Inmemory | of | Mrs Lydia Baldwin I 
wife of I Mr Thaddeus Baldwin | 
who departed this life | Dec 10 A D 
1804 I in the 51st year of her age. 

In I memory of — Sarah Baldwin | died 
I June 6 1825 I X 46. 

In I memory of | Mr Thaddeus Bald- 
win I who died I Jan 2 1819 | in the 68 
year | of his age. 



Lydia Baldwin | died | June 24 1S54 | 
X 72. 

Rev Amos Bassett D I) | born in Derby 
1764 I graduated in Vale College 1784 
I Tutor in the same | four years: Or- 
dained I minister of the Gospel | and 
installetl Pastor in | Hebron 1794: Fel- 
low of Vale College seventeen | years: 
died at Monroe | April 3 1828 | in his 
64 year | High in attamments as a 
scholar and | Divine : esteemed and 
beloved wherever | known : judicious 
faithful and useful in | many important 
]>ublic stations : ami | able tender be- 
nevolent : giving none | offence in any 
thing : and to be long reinem | bered 
as the man of Clod | well furnished | to 
every good work. 

In memory of Glover Bassett | son of 
I Mr Amos and Mrs Olive Bassett | 
who dejDarted this life | .Sept 30 1793 | 
aged 27 years one month | and 25 days 

I Jesus said I am the resuireciion and the | 
Life, he that be ieveth in me tho he | were dead 
yet shall he live. 

Two children of | Jon and Nancy Bas- 
sett I Daniel Lee died Oct | 18 1819 
aged 7 1-2 years | Benjamin Samuel 
died I Oct 24 1819 aged 4 years 

These pleasant sons although our all 

.Must leave this world at (Jod'^first call 

A strong desire the one ejprest 

To go to Christ and be at lest. 

In memory of | Dea Amos Bassett | 
who departed this life | July i 1802 | 
a; 68 | This mortal shall put on immor- 
tality. 

Memorial | of | Mrs Olive Bassett | 
consort of Dea Amos Bassett | who 
departed this life | Nov 25 1822 | aged 
85 years. 

Inniemoryof | .Mr Euenezer Bassett | 
who died May 20th | A D 1760 in the 
30th I year of his age 
Life how short 
Eternity how long. 

Lucy M | daughter of | Sheldon and I 
Harriet Bassett | died Aug 28 183 1 ( 
aged 15 months and 8 days 
She's gone but where .' Ah pause and see 
Gone to a long eternity 
She's gone but where from toil and pain 
■J'o where eternal pleasures reign 
*-he's gone before her mind could know 
The ills attetiding all below 

LoRANiA Bassett | died Aug 15 1868 | 

3E87. 
Mr David Bassi i t | died May 21 1819 

I aged 69 years. 
Mrs Nahhy his wife | died Dec 20 1803 

I a.^ed 57. 



8o4 



APPENDIX. 



In I memory of | Benjamin Bassett 1 
who died | March 5 1S25 | aged 85 | 
He was the eleventh offspring of Sam- 
uel Bassett Esq nine of whom lived to 
see their grandchildren. 

Lucy | wife of | Marvin Bassett | died | 
Feb 27 1859 I X 77. 

Marvin Bassett | died | May 8 1854 | 

ae 72. 
In I memory of | Mary Bassett | wife 
of Benjamin Bassett | who died ( Nov 
I 1S23 I aged So. 
Samuel | Bassett | Esqr | 1764. 
Mary Bristol | died — June 30, 1S43 | 
36 23 yrs 10 mo | and 16 ds. 
Her soul has now taken its flight 
'I'o mansions of glory above 
To mingle with angels of lii;ht 
And dwell in the kingdom ot love. 

In memory of | Nehemiah Bristol | 
who died | Jan 19, 1829 | as 23, 

Richard Bristol | died Oct 21, 1835 | 
a; 22 years. 

Dr Warren Beach | died | Dec 14 
1851 I £632. I 

He withered, lingered, fell and died 
Yet sweet in death he lay. 
Ah ! many wept and many sighed 
Upon that mouinfiil day. 

Sally Maria | daughter of | Gideon and 
Sarah | Blackman | died Feb 15 1820 
I ae 18 yrs. 

Stop gay friend and drop a tear 
Kor youth and innocense lies here. 

Sarah Maria | daughter of Guy and 

Ann Blakeman | died | May 8 1833 | 

aged 12 years. 
Guy Blakeman | died | Sept 12 1863 | 

aged 69 yrs 6 mos. 
Anna Camp | widow of Guy Blakeman | 

died Jan 28 1872 | aged 73 yrs 8 mos. 
Almira I daughter of | Guy and Ann 

Blakeman | died | Feb 16 1830 | aged 

3 years. 
Here lyes y" body of | Mr John Bowers 
I died January 26 1737 in y« 26th | year 

of his age. 
Luc-y I daughter of | Horace and Lois 

Bradley | died Feb i 1S22 | aged 2 ye 7 

mo I and 9 days. 

Jesus saith suffer little children to | come unto 
me and forbid j them not for of such | is the king- 
dom of heavec. 

Horace Bradley died | Aug 28 1S34 | 
aged 45- . . 

Far from affliction toil and care 

'I he happy soul has fled 

The breathless clay shall slumber here 

Among the silent dead. 

In memory of | Mr Lewis Burritt who 
I died May 17 1776 in the 3tst year of 
his asic. 



So sleep the saints and cease to groan 
When sin and death have done their worst 
Christ hath glory like his own 
Which waits to clothe the waking dust. 

Here lyes y« body of | Nathaniel Bur- 
ton son I of Mr Judson and Mrs Com- 
fort I Burton born March y^ 13 1760 
and died June y" 27 1764. 

In memory of | Josiah B Canfield | 
who died | Mar 28 1S34 | aged 24 yrs 
and 6 mo. | 
Then rest there now in peace, the hallowed spot 
Where sleeps thy dust shall never be forgot 
Oft age, full oft affections tear shall lave 
The flower that blooms ujion thy lowly grave 
But while thy memory thus we long shall love 
Thy spirit entered on its rest above 
Shall chant the song the ransomed only know 
Beside the stream where Heavenly waters flow. 

In memory of Dr | Josiah Canfield | 
who departed this | life Feb 11 1778 in 
his 40 year. 
Kemember Lord our mortal slate 
How frail our life how short the date 
Where is the man | that draws his breath 
Safe from disease, secure from death. 

In memory of | .Shelden son to Doct 
Josiah and | Mrs Naomi | Canfield | 
aged*3 years died Jan 31 1774. 

William son | of Dr Josiah and | Mrs 
Naomi | Canfield died | 14 Oct 1774 | 
aged 2 years | 

Death has cropt 

The tender flower. 

In I memory of | Jane Canfield | wife 
of I Josiah B. Canfield | who died Feb 23 

1832 I aged 19 years. 
Also 
Mary Jane | their daughter who died | 

April 2 1832 aged 8 months. 
Can we forget departed friends? Ah no! 
Within our hearts their memories buried lies 
The thought that where they are we too shall go 
Will cast a light o'er darkest scenes of woe, 
h or to their own blest dwellings in the skies 
The souls whom Christ sets free exultmgly shall 
rise. 

Josiah son to | Abiram and Ruth | Can- 
field aged 17 years died — 

the son of | Abiram and Ruth | Can- 
field aged I 18 years, died | March 13, 
1741. 

David son to | Abiram and Ruth Can- 
field I aged 7 years | died Nov y^ 23 
1741. 

Huldah I daughter of Dr | Josiah and 
Mrs I Naomi Canfield | died Nov 25 
1777. 

In memory of | Lois Carrington | who 

died Jan iS 1833 | aged years. As 

a Christian she was beloved. Pier heart 
I was open in doing deeds of benevo- 
lence I for the good and happiness of 
the human family. 

Blessed are the dead ihat die in the I^oid. 



APPENDIX. 



805 



In memory of | Dka John Carrington 

I who died | 00181847 | aged 76 years. 

HoKACK Casteki.i.ne ] died | April 24 

1873 I 3£ 65. 
Maria Bradley | wife of | Horace Cas- 

terline | died May 9 1871 1 ae 55. 
In I memory of | Joseph Platt | son of 
Jonah and | Alary N Clark | who died 
I April 19 1852 I aged8 mosandSds. | 
Harriet J | wife of | Jonah Clark | died 

I Nov 12 1847 I aged ^34. 
In — memory of | Isaac Clark | son of 
Kdmund and | Anna Clark | who died 
April 1 808 in the 24 year | of his age. 
In memory of Mr Edmund Clark | who 
died June 30 | 1785 in the 32 year | of 
his age. 
Ye wild now live must shortly die 
And lodge your bodies where I lie. 

Alphonso Newton | March 6 1848 | 

aged 3 years and 8 mos. 
Susan Christine | died | June 12 1S48 
I aged 6 yrs and 10 mos. Children of 

Joseph I and Maria J. Clark. 
Not Forgotten | Theodore E Clark | 

died j Jan 28 iS6[ | je 23. 
John Clark | died Aug 7 1874 | as 61, 
In memory of | Mr John Coe | who 

died May 4, 181 2 | aged 48 years. 
Ruth Coe | his wife | died June 7, 1809 

I aged 44 years. 
Sarah Coe | his 2d wife | died Jan 12 

181 2 I aged 37 years. 
All in hope of a blessed immortality. 
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again 
Even so tlieni also which sleep in Jesus 
Will God bring with him. 

In memory of | Miss Elizabeth Coe | 
dau of Mr John and | Mrs Hannah 
Coe I who died of the Small Pox May 
24 I A I) 1795 '" ^^^ -- y^^'' of ^^^ ^g^ 

Ye youth and gay 

Attend this speaking stone 

Think on her fate 

And tremble at your own. 

Grace | wife of | John A Coe | died Jan 
21 1869 je 42. 

John A Coe | died | Sept23iS49 | 30157. 

Doer Edward Crai'ts | Dea of the 
Presbyterian Church | and for many 
■years a successful | Physician and in- 
iluential citizen | of Derby. He was 
born at Pomfret April 19 1752 and died 
March 17 1821 aged 69 years. 

Mrs Melissa | third wife of | Doct E 
Crafts I died Jan 19 1844 set 75. 

Mrs Abicail | first wife of ( Doct E 
Crafts I died June 8 1813 x 56. 

Mr Sami'el Craits | was lost at sea I 
in lat 39 N Long 39 W June 5 iSio | 
a;t 27 



EdwardCraets I died Nov 1S26 | 3et32. 
Children of Doct Edward and Mrs Abi- 
gail Crafts I 
Julia died Sept 16 i8oi as 20. 

Laura | died June 15 1805 | in the 16 
year of her age. 

Edward | died Feb 20 1794 x 2. 

Abba | died Aug 24 1811 | ae 15. 

Frances B | wife of | George H Curtiss 
died March i 1865 | x 28. 

Lilly M | their daughter died | May 7 
1857 I ae 2 mo. 

The Grave of | John Ferman | son of | 
William and Ursula | Cutler | of 
Woodbridge New Jersey | who depart- 
ed this life Aug 18 1837 | aged 27 Vears 
and 2 days. 

A Fathers Grave | John B Davis | died 
I Sept 10 1855 I a; 65. 

We shall not all slec)) but we | shall all be chang- 
ed. For this corruptible must put on incor- 
ruption, and this mortal must | put on immor- 
tality. 

A Mothers Grave | Sarah O ] wife of | 
John B Davis | died | Dec 21 1848 | k 
59- 

Murmur not for the Heaven that | smiled on your 

love 
Has a place for her soul in the | mansion above 
.And remember that they who are | cherished by 

God 
Are first to be scourged by his chastening rod 

John Be.stor | son of John B | and Sally 
Davis I died | Sept 14 1824 | aged i 
year 9 months and 6 days. 
Happy infant early blest 
Rest in peaceful slumber rest. 

Ann Maria | daughter of | John B and 
I Sally Davis | died | Aug 30 1824 | 
aged 5 yrs 14 days. 

The wintry blasts of death 
Kill not the buds of virtue. 

In memory of | John Davis, Esor | who 
with strong ho|>e in the Redeemer 
dep.-irted | this life Sept 4 A D 17S7 | 
aged 69. 

May this great truth be laid to heart 
Ye who now live must soon depart. 

John Davis Esq (A white quartz rock 
stone.) 

Mrs I Esther Davis (An old quartz rock 
stone.) 

In memory of | Mrs E.sther Davis | 
consort of | John Davis Esqr | who 
departed this life | December 7th A D 
1791 I aged 90 years. (Fine grain 
quartz rock stone.) 

JosiAH Davis. (Blue stone ornamented.) 

In I memory of | Ruth Davis | late wife 
of Joseph Davis | former wife of | 
Edward (iilib deceased | died Dec 14 
1800 I aged 54 years. | 



8o6 



APPENDIX. 



Here lyes y" Body of | Josiah Davis 
only son | of Mr John and Mrs Esther 
I Davis who departed this | life May 
y'^ 25 1760 in y" | 17 year of his age. 

Job xiv ig Thou destroyest ye hope of man. 
Thou prevailest forever against him. 

Mortis Memento | In memory of | Mr 
David DeP'orkst | who as a husband 
parent and member | of society mer- 
ited unreserved love | and esteem, to 
the very great sorrow | of all acquainted 
with him | departed this life triumph- 
ing I in death June 2 1783 aetatis 38 | 
My thoughts surmount these lower skies 

And look towards the place 
Where I forever hope to dwell 

Near my redeemer's face 
There I behold with sweet delight 
• The blessed three in one 
^nd strong aiifections fix my sight 
In God's eternal son. 

In memory of | Richard DeForest | 
son of Mr David DeForest | who de- 
parted this I life July 10 1776 | aged 8 
years 6 mos 3 days. 

Here lyes ye | body Mr Nicholas De 
Plank who departed | this life Jan 26 
1755 in ye | 64 year of his age 
ye that still enjoy your breath 
Take warning and prepare for death. 

Here lyes the body of Docx John Du- 

RAND. 

In memory of | Mrs Susan Durand | 
wife of I Mr Samuel Durand | who 
died I Jan 31 1814 | in the 23 year of 
her age | Also their two infant chil- 
dren I who were buried in the same 
grave 
May angels with their guardian wings 

'1 his drear tomb o'erspread 
And gu.ird until the close of time 
This mansion of the dead. 

Tho Lost to sight tomemorydear | Mary 
Ann I wife of I John LFairchild | died 
April 5 1852 I ae 24 years 5 mo | 17 
days 

Leaves have their time to fall 
And flowers to wither at the northwind's breath 

And stars to set, but all 
Thou hast all seasons for thine own, O death ! 

In memory of Joseph Eels | who died 
Oct iS 1801 I aged 52. 

Also I PhebeEels I his relict ] who died 
March 6 181 5 | aged 64. 

In memory of Charles ] French Esqr 
who died | Nov the 9 17S3 in the ( 
77th ytar of his age | He was Register 
for the I town of Derby 39 years 

A soul prepared heeds no 

Delays the summons come 

The saint obeys, swift was 

His flight and short the 

Road — he closed his eyes 

and saw his God. 



In memory of Mr | Nathaniel French 
who I died Nov 3 1781 aged 64 years 
Here lies his body 
Blended with the dust 
Waiting the Resurrection of the just. 

In memory of | Francis French | Esqr 
I who died May 12 1824 | ae 67. 

Died Dec 7 1844 | Sylvia French 
widow of I Francis French | ae 76 
J am come to view the silent shade 
Where thy loved form my moiher is laid 
But cannot see thy lovely face 
Or once more take a last embrace 
Nor more behold thy parental charms 
Or once more clasp me in thy arms 
Me thinks I hear thy spirit say 
O children weep not o'er my clay. 

Here | the body of | Mr Noah French 
I who departed this | life Jan 7th A 
D 1781 in the 46 year of his age 
Some hearty friend shall drop his tear 

On our dry bones and say 
These once were strong as mine appear 
And mine must be as they. 

Eliza Freeman | died July 18 1862 | 
X 56. 

Timothy Freeman | died 1841 ae 80. 
Sebina his wife | died Jan 4 1843 ^ 76- 
Rebecca | wife of | Col Robert Gates | 
died July 9 1856 | ast 74. 

Bezaleel I Brainerd I son of Bezaleel 
I and Hannah Gates | was drowned at 
Derbv Landing April 15 1823 — aged 3 
years | i mo and 13 days. 

Here | lies the body of | Mrs Hannah 
GuNN I wife and relict of | Capt Abel 
Gunn I who departed this | life Jan 24 
A D I 1781 in the 66 year | of her age. 

Sarah Lydia | daughter of | Bezaleel 
and Hannah Gates | died | May 13 
1833 I aged 8 years | 4 months | and 
25 days. 

In memory of | Capt Edward Gibbs | 
who died May 5 | 1791 | aged 42 years. 

In memory of | Miss Lucy Gibbs | dau 
of Capt Edward | and Mrs Ruth Gibbs 
who died July 15 | 1793 I agedi8years. 
Youth look on this stone and 
Remember you are but dust. 

In memory of | Miss Mary Gibes | daur 
of Capt'Edward and Mrs Ruth Gibbs | 
who died March 29 | 1794 | aged 18 
years. 

Youth when you are in health 
View my change and learn to die. 

In memory of | John Heppin Gibbs | 
son to Mr Edward | and Mrs Ruth 
Gibbs I who died with the small pox | 
April 23 1799 I Aetat 9 vears. 
Hard lot to lose this child of mine 
Since God thought it best 
To lay him in the dust 
. I must not murmer nor repine. 



APPENDIX. 



807 



Sarah | daughter of Truman and | Anna 
(lilbert | died Oct 16 1830 | aged i year 
10 months | Also an infant | aged 3 
weeks, 
."^leep sweet babes take thy rest 
God called you home, he thought it best 

Charles Goodwin their son | died Jan 

5 184S I aged I year and 6 mo. 
Here lyes ye body of Ends Gunn. 
Harriet B | daughter of | James H and 
Maria Gritifin | died | March 8 1843 | 
*ae 18 months. 

This lovely bud so younp and fair 

Called hehce by early d<iom 
Just came to show how sweet a flower 
In faradise would bloom. 
There is rest in Heaven. 

Ambrose Hai.i. | died Feb 23 1851 ] 

aged 38 years 6 months and 6 days. 
Although he enjoyed good health for two 

years in | California he died three days 

after his return. 
SvLVEffTER Ami'.rose | ^on of Charity 

and Ambrose | Hall | died Aug 7 1742 

aged I year and 9 months. 
Ambrose Edward | son of Ambrose 

and Charity | S. Hall | was drowned | 

July 2 1853 I X 8 yrs 9 mos. 

■J'his lovely bud that's nipped so soon 
Shall flourish in immortal bloom. 

Betsey | widow of Ebenezer Hall | died 

1868 I ae 85. 
Zephaniah Hallock I born | March 24 

1792 I died Jan 11, 1870. 
Frederick | son of | Zephaniah and | 
Sarah Hallock | died Aug 7 1833 j 
aged 3 years 8 months and 13 days. 
This lovely bud so younjj and fair 

Cut down by early doom 
Just came to show liow sweet a llower 
In Paradise would bloom. 

Wm Henry Hai.lock ] died | Oct 7 
1S60 I re 36 I 
Blessed are the dead which die in the ] Lord. 

Samuel Harger | died March 9 in 23d 
year. 

Here lyes v^ body of | Mrs. Abigail 
Harger ( wife to Mr. Ebenezer \ Har- 
ger died Dec. y* 25 17 in the 56 | year 
of her age. 

Here Ives y« body of | Ebe.nezer Har- 
ger I died March 31 1736 | in y^ 69 
year | of his age. 

Here lyes y« body of | Amos Hawkins 
son I of Mr. Joseph and Mrs. Marcy 
Hawkins | who departed this life | 
May 14 1769 in y« | 3 year of his age. 
The sprightly youth must leave this clay^ 

As common food for worms 

To dwell in bright eternal day 

In his dear Savior's arms. 

Here lyes buried | the body of j Joseph 
Hawkins | who departed this life | 
May 31 1767 in y« | 44 year of his age. 



He leaves the abodes of sense 

To shine in realms above 
Contemi'late h.s Maker's Grace 

Sing redeemin;; love. 

In I memory of | Ann Maria | wife of | 

John \V. Haves | who died | July 13 

1838 I ae 30 I Also | 
Emma Augu.st.v | their daughter | died 

Sept 2 1838 I ae 5 yrs and 3 mo. 
Wm Augustus | their son | died March 

10 1840 I aged 2 years. 
My husband | John W. H.a.yes | died 

Oct 24 1849 I * 4-- 
John F. Hayes | died | Jan 29 187 1 | as 

29. 

He giveth his beloved sleep. 
Charles F | son of | P'rederlck and I 

Sus.m Hedge — died | March 30 1856 | 

aged 16 mos. 

Our Little Charlie 
Lovely in life and lovely in death. 

Jane L .Ai.i.ing | wife of | Charles H 
Hibbard— died | Dec 15 1S5S | x 23 
yrs. 
Jane I their daughter | died Sept 27 

1858 I as 4 mo. 
In I memory of | David Hitchcock \ 
who died | Sept 15 1829 | aged 76 
years. 
Also I David son of | David and Anna 
Hitchcock j d ed on the island | St. 
Thomas 1802 | aged iS years. 
Anna widow of | David Hitchcock | 

died I Sept 11 1853 | aet loi. 
Esther Hitchcock | died | Jan 12 

1854 I ast 64. 
Charity Hitchcock | died Feb 10 | 

1873 I ae 77. 
Anna Hitchcock ] died | Oct 1S33 | a:t 

54- 
Russell Hitchcock | died | March 19 

1850 I ast 64 
Dan F Be.\ch | died | Dec 5 1S62 | ae47. 
In I memory of — Mr Jonathan Hitch- 
cock I who departed this life Jan u 
1808 I and interred the 12 being 84 
years | from the day of his birth. 
Abigail Hitchcock | his wife died June 
2 1802 I in the 80 year of htr age. 
As memliers of Christ's church they lived 
With faith and trust in him they died 
A voice from the tomb and Cjod's word 
Spectators pause read hear and see 
-s you are now long once were we 
Be warned by us prepare to die 
Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord 
Yea so saiih the spirit for they rest from 
Labour and their works do follow them. 

Here lyes burried | the body of | Mrs 
Ann Hitchcock wife | of Mr Sam- 
uel Hitchcock — who deceased April 4 
1760 in y« 33rd I year of her age. 



8o8 



APPENDIX. 



Col Daniel Holkrook | died April 24 

181 3 I aged 66. 
Anne | his wife April 19 aged 65. 
AiiEL I their sor\ | April 14 aged 41. 
Jenett I daughter of | Dea David and | 

Mrs Mary Holbrook | died Mar 17 

181 5 1 as 6 weeks. 
Henry Josiah | son of | Dea David 

and I Mrs Mary Holbrook | died May 

18 1 2 I ae 2 years. 
Samuel Holbrook | died | March 4 

1856 I 26 86. 

Betsey | wife of | Samuel Holbrook | 
died I Aug 27 1799 | as 27. 

Stop view my tomb as you pass by 
As you are now so once was I 
As I am now so you must be 
Prepare to die and follow me. 

Mrs I Betsey Hopkins | wife of | Fred- 
erick Hopkins | died June 29 1803 | 
aged 30 years. 

In I memory of | Joseph | son of Fred- 
erick and Betsey Hopkins | who de- 
parted this life August the 14 1796 | 
aged 2 years. 

Capt Thomas Horsey | died June 1789 
I aged 46. 

Eunice H | his wife 1 died April 1806 | 
aged 55. 

Ralph | died Aug 1792 | aged 20. 

Samuel Wm | died Aug 1S04 | aged 26. 

Ann I died Aug 1S07 j aged 25. 

Thomas W | died April 1836 | aged 52. 

Eunice | died Aug 1843 | aged 70. 

Children of T and E H Horsey. 

Cyrus Hotchkiss | died | Jan 27 1846 
£E 72. 

In I memory of | Catharine | wife of | 
Cyrus Hotchkiss | who died | Feb 24 
1832 I in the 58th year | of her age. 

Willis Hotchkiss | died | Nov 24 1872 
X 84 y'rs 7 mo. 

Sarah | wife of Willis Hotchkiss | died 
July I 1866 I as 85 y'rs and 8 mos. 

Hannah | wife of | Willis Hotchkiss | 
died Dec 2 1875 | aged 73 years. 

E H I In memory of | Elijah Hotch- 
kiss j who died | Sept 2d 1806 ] x 72. 

M H I In memory of | Mehetabell Hotch- 
kiss I wife of I Elijah Hotchkiss | who 
departed this life | Mar 18 1804 | in 
the 62d year of 1 her age. 

The grave of Susannah | Hotchkiss | 
The memory of the just is blessed. 

Leverette Hotchkiss | died Oct 3 1826 
I aged 64 I Sarah Hotchkiss | his 
widow I died Jan 8 1842 | aged 79. 



In I memory of | Beers Hotchkiss | 
who died | March 21 1835 | aged 48 
years. 

Raymond Lewis | son of | Mr Ezra and 
Mrs I Nabby Lewis | died Nov 11 1797 
I aged 2 months. 

In I memory of | Mary Hotchkiss | 
wife of I John O Hotchkiss | who died 
I May 16 1847 I aged 59 yrs. 

EH I In memory of | Elizabeth Hotch- 
kiss I daughter of Elijah and | Mehet- 
abell Hotchkiss I who departed this 
life I August 29 1794 I ae 25. 

Sally M Hotchkiss | daughter of Moses 
and Sally Hotchkiss | died April 29 
1828 I aged 38 years. 

In I memory of | Mehitable | daughter 
of Elijah Hotchkiss | who died | Nov 
4 1833 I in the 62 year | of her age. 
I he trump of God dotli sound 
aloud come to judgment. 

In I memory of | Miss Betsey Hotch- 
kiss — daughter of Mr Levi | and Mrs 
Phebe Hotchkiss | who died Aug 21 
1819 I aged 37 years. 

Burr Hotchkiss | born | July 6 1S06 | 
died Dec 30 1854. 

John Hotchkiss | died Aug 23 1831 | 
aged 23 years. 

Samuel Hotchkiss | died Aug 23 1841 
I in Port Leon Florida | aged 25 years. 

In I memory of | Cyrus | son of | Cath- 
erine Hotchkiss I who died July 20 
1822 I aged 18 years. 

Cyrus tlio' pleasant in bis day 
Was sudden seas'd and sent away. 

In I memory | of | Henry | son of | Cy- 
rus and Catharine Hotchkiss. (In the 
ground.) 
Jacob Hubbard | died | Feb 2 1853 | 

aged 69. 
In memory of | Samuel Hubbell | who 
died I March 7 1832 | x 54 years. 
Farewell dear friend thy race is run 
'I'hy pulse is ceased thy breath is gone 
Thy labors o'er thy spirit fled 
And thou art numbered with the dead 
Yet memory oft shall pay its tribute here 
And bathe thy cold bed with many a silent tear 
But hope still points to yonder starry plane 
And sweetly whispers there we meet again. 

In memory | of | Joseph Hull Esij | A 
Gentleman | Whose integrity and ca- 
pacity for public I business rendered 
his usefulness | Very extensive | His 
domestic character | As a Parent Hus- 
band Friend and Master | Was highly 
amiable | The graces of Christianity 
embellished his life | Softened the 
agonies of Death | And gave hopes of 
a happy Immortality | He departed 
this life the 24 of Sept 1775 | In | the 
48 year of his age. 
An honest man is the noblest work of God. 



APPENDIX. 



809 



Ei.iZAHETH Masters ] relict of | foseph 
Mull Esq— died— Feb 11 1826 | "/Et 94. 

Here lies the body of ] Mrs Mary Hull 
wife to I Capt Joseph Hull deed | 
April the 6th 1733 in the | 68 year of 
her age. 

Here lies the body of | Elizabeth Hull 
daughter | to Joseph and Sarah Hull 
departed this life Apr 16 1738 in the 
I 7th year of her age. 

Here lies the body | of Mr Abijah Hull 
died August y" 10 1733 | in y^ 28 year 
of j his age. 

Here lies y^ body of | Mrs Ann Hull 
wife to I Mr Samuel Hull who | died 
March the | 22I 1730— 1 | in the 27th | 
year of her age. 

Ann daughter to | Samuel and Ann Hull 
who died I Feb 24 1757 or 37 in y« 17 
year of her age. 

Here lies the body of | Capt Joseph Hull 
( aged 75 years | died Oct 15 1745. 

Sacred | to the memory of | Capt Joseph 
Hull | who departed this life | June 
y"^ 12 A D 1778 I as 85. He left an 
aged widow to mourn y*' loss | of a 
most kind and tender husband | deeply 
aftiicted children and other relatives to 
I drink in silence the bitter cup of sor- 
row I for the loss of a pious and benevo- 
lent parent. | My his death the poor 
were deprived of a | most cordial and 
liberal benefactor; his | neighbors and 
friends of a wise discreet | amiable and 
e.xemplary Christian. He lived univer- 
sally beloved and is now | gone to 
receive a crown of immortal glory. 

To the memory of | Lewls Hull | son 
of Josejjh Hull esqr | and Mrs Eliza- 
beth Hull I who died Oct 10 1775 | in 
in the 5th year of his | age. 
As the fair flower at autumn dies 
With new-born charms again to rise 
So shall thy foini sweet youth assume 
In Heaven's bright clmies immortal bloom. 

Hannah dau to — Samuel and Ann | 

Hull died Dec 13 | 1737 in y« 12 year 

of her age. 
In memory of | JoH.N Humphreys Esqr 
I who died | Feb 18 1832 | aged 88 

years. 
In I memory of I Rachel Humphreys | 

wife of I John Humphreys | who died 
I Dec II 1832 I aged 85 years. 
In memory of Miss Susan and Miss 

Sally | Humphries daughters of | 

John Humphreys Esqr and | Mrs 

Rachel Humphreys. 

Susan died Sept 2 18 10 | aged 26 years. 
Like blossomed trees o'erturned by vernal storm 
Lovely in death the beauteous ruin lay 

102 



Sally died May 12 1S12 | aged 37 years. 
Smitten friends are angels sent on errands 
Full of love; for us the\ languish and for 
Us they die ; and shall they languish — 
Shall they die in vain ? 

In memory of | Mr Daniel Humphries 
I son of I John Hum])hries Esqr and 
I Mrs Rachel Hum|)hries | who died 
April 2 1807 I aged 28 yea. 
Praises on tomb are titles vainly spent 
A man's good name is his best monument. 

In I memory of | Mr iXwiD Humphries 
I son of John Humphreys Esqr | and 
Mrs Rachel Humphreys | who died | 
March 21 1814 | aged 28 years. 
Silent we own Jehovah's name 
We kiss the scourging hand 
And yield our comforts and our life 
To thy supreme command. 

The Revd Daniel Humphries | died 
Sept 2 1787 in the 8 1st year of his age 
I For more than half a century | he 
was the esta | blished minister of the 
. first Society in this j town. Mrs Sarah 
Humphries | the affectionate wife of 
his youth and the | tender Com])anion 
of his advanced age died | July 29 1787 
just five weeks before him. 
The seasons thus 
As ceaseless round a jarring world they roll 
Still find them happy and consenting spring 
Sheds her own rosy garland on their heads 
Till evening comes at last serene and mild 
When after the long vernal day of life 
Enamored more as more remembrance swells 
With many a proof of recollected love 
Together down thfy sink in social sleep 
Together freed their gentle spirits fly 
To scenes where Icve and bliss immortal reign. 

In memory of Major Elijah Hum- 
phreys 3d son of Rev Daniel | andMrs 
Sarah Humphreys | who died on his 
passage to the West Indies | July 2 
1785 I in the 40th year of his age | and 
was burried in the Island of Martinico. 

To I Elijah | son of William and Maria 
Hum])hreys | in fond commemoration 
I of his rare promise | Premature men- 
tal endowments | high Christian princi- 
ples I manly modesty and gentle grace 
of manners | this stone is inscribed | 
Born .Mav 19 \ D 1S21 | In the flower 
of vouth and early hope | at the age of 
12 years | he was not for God took him 
I October 22 1833 | and after a dreary 
interval revealed the mistery of his 
untimely death | Jan 31 1835. 

His remains recovered from the neighboring wa- 
ters I 

Here await the issues of that day | 

When reunited with kindred dust 

Mortality shall be swallowed up of life 

And the Lord shall make up his Jewells. 

David Jackson | died May 27 184336 56. 
Lydia R his wife | died Apr 5 1838 as 49. 
Levi P | died Apr 16 1838 x 20. 
William P | died Apr 3 1847 x 19. 



8io 



APPENDIX. 



David F | was drowned Dec 13 1837 

ae 4. 
Children of David and Lydia R Jackson. 
Abigail Gould | daughter of Isaac | 

and Nancy Jennings | died March i 

1 82 1 I aged 4 years. 
David Johi\son | died Jan 2 1849 | 3677. 
Susan Johnson I died April 11 1831 | 

ae 54. 

Thou art gone from us dear parents 

Thy voice no more we hear 
Thou hast left our kindred circle 

A bright home to cheer. 

Here lyes ye body of | Mrs Esther John- 
son I wife to Mr | David Johnson | 
who departed this life | May 22 1766 
in ye | 30th year of her age. 

In memory of Mr David Johnson | son 
of Mr David Johnson | who departed 
this life I August 14 1777 aged | 21 
years 7 months 23 days. 

Here lyes ye | body of Colo | Ebenezer 
Johnson | died Sept 18 1726 inyeSist 
I year of his age. 

Here | lyes ye body | of Lieut Israel 
Johnson | son of Colonel | Ebenezer 
Johnson | who died Jan 31 17 12 in ye 
24 year of | his age. 

Here lyes hurried | the body of Lieut 
Ebenezer Johnson | who departed 
this life I Sept 10 1751 | in the 65 year 
of his age. 

Here lyes the body of | Sargt Charles 
Johnson | died October ye30ih | 1738 
in ye 42 | year of his age. 

In memory | of Mr Benaja Johnson | 
who departed this | life April 13 | 1763 
in the 59th | year of his age. 

Betsey Johnson | diedApr6iS69 | aged 
84 yrs. 

Huldah M Johnson | died | Aug 19 
1866 I aged 84 yrs. 

Here lyes ye body of | Alexander John- 
son — a child of Mr and Mrs Elizabeth 
I Johnson born and died Sept ye — 
1729. 

Rebecca | wife of | Andrew Johnson | 
died Sept 8 1857 | aged 48 years. 
She lived beloved and died lamented. 

Isaac Johnson | the 3d son of Isaac | 

and Lois Johnson | who died July 3d j 

A D 1777 I aged 2 years. 
Rebecca | daughter of Isaac | and 

Nancy Jennings | died Nov 20 1828 | 

aged 12 years. 
To the memory of ( Wm Goodwin | son 

of I William W and | Sophia Johnson 
I who died of hooping | cough New 

York Oct I 24 1835 £e i year and 4 

months. 



A little while the beauteous gem 
Bloomed on its mother's breast 

But soon it withered on the stem 
And sought a higher rest. 

Here lyes buried the body | of Mrs 
Elizabeth Johnson | wife to Lieut 
Ebenezer Johnson | who departed this 
life I Jany 18 1760 in ye 67 year of 
her age. 
Here lyes ye body of Mrs Hannah 
Johnson | wife to Capt Ebenezer | 

Johnson | in ye 89 year | of her 

age. 
In I memory of | Isaac son of | Mr Isaac 
and Mrs Lois | Johnson who died | 4th 
Decemr 1774 aged 5 years 5 months | 
and 2 days. 

Ye young ye gay attend 

this speaking stone 

Think on his fate 

and tremble at your own. 

In memory of | Americas j daughter of 
William W and | Sophia Johnson | of 
New York | who was born in Edgefield 
S C I May 25 1S26 | and died in Derby 
I Sept 20 1832 aged | 6 years and 4 
months. 

The flower in the meadow, the leaf on the tree 
The rush in the river are emblems of me 
In innocence and beauty they flourish a day 
Bloomed for a season then withered away. 

Amos Hawkins | son of Mr Isaac | and 
Mrs Lois Johnson | died Sept 26 1772 
I aged 18 months 

The peaceful babe 
that lies beneath. 

In memory of | Henry Johnson | who 
died I March 3 1839 | aged 42 years 
and 3 months. 

Mrs I Lucy Johnson | wife of | Mr An- 
drew Johnson | died July 7 1821 | aged 
52 years. 

Lucy Jennet | their daughter | died Aug 
23 1805 I ae 4 years. 

In memory of Henry Owen | son of 
Wm W and Sophia Johnson | who died 
in New York | Jan 13 1S40 | aged 2 
years | and 10 months. 

Eliphalet son to | Joseph and Margerit 
I Johnson aged | 16 years died [letter- 
ing is under the ground]. 

Here lyes ye body | of Mr Jeremiah | 
Johnson died Dec | ye 11 1726 | in the 
62 year of his age. 

Sacred to the memory | of Mrs Desire 
Kimberly I relict of | Mr Israel Kim- 
berly | who exchanged this life | for 
immortality August 31 | 1794 age 28 
years. 

Here she bids her friends adieu 

Some angel calls her to the spheres 
Our eyes the radiant saint purstie 
Through liquid telescope of tears. 



APPENDIX. 



8ll 



DocT. Liberty Kimt.kri.y | died | June 

17 1827 I X 60. 
Elizabeth his wife | died Mar 17 i<Soi | 

3E37- 

Lived beloved and died lamented. 

Betsey | wife of | Ebenezer Kinney | 
died Jan i 1847 | se 64. 

Ebenkzer Kkxxey I died.'\pril 2 1851 | 
aged 71 years. 

In I memory of | Pattv Law | daughter 
of I Jonathan and Rebekah Law | who 
died Aug 29 I iSi 5 I a- 15. 

Much loved child thou art | absent but not for- 
gotten. 

Mrs H Lewis | died May 23 1830 | aged 

73- 
In I memory of | James Lewis | who 

died I April 24 1822 | aged 70 years. 

In I memory of | Abecaii. wife of | 
James Lewis | who departed this ] life 
the 29th of April 17SS in the | 41 year 
of her I age. 

John L Lines | died April 2 1S60 | aged 
42. 

Lucy | wife of | Lyman Mansfield | and 
former wife of | Samuel Hubbell | died 
Dec 20 1869. 

In 1 memory of | Phebe | daughter of | 
Capt Ezra and Phebe Mather | who 
was born at Lynn | Connecticut | (Oc- 
tober 28th 1799 I and departed this 
life I December 22nd 1S30 | in the 31st 
year of her age. 

Jane Ann | died Feb 4 1S21 | aged 10 
months | and 9 days. 

Lyman Osborn | died Sejit 25 1830 | 
aged I year | and 3 months. 

Children of John and Betsey McCally. 
.sleep sweet babes and take your rest 
God called you home he thought it licst. 

Mary | daughter of | William and Nancy 
McNiel I died | -Sept 25 1823 | aged 2 
years | and 5 m(5nths. 

LoiSK I wife of I John Miller | died Feb 
28 1858 I ae 26 yrs. 

Loi'iSE I their daughter | died Apr 18 
1858 I 32 8 weeks. 

Here Ives Mrs | Mary wife | of y« Rev 
Mr. Joseph Moss | aged 42 Died | Feb 
23 1714. 

Here lyes Mrs | Dorcas | wife of y^ Rev 
I Joseph Moss | aged 30 years | De- 
ceased Sept 2 17 1 5. 

Here lyes the body of | Rev Mr Joski-h 
Moss y^ faithful and affectionate pas- 
tor I of y<^ Flock in this town 25 | years. 
A learned man a good | Christian and 
well finished divine | who departed this 
life Jan 23 | .\iino Dom 1731 | Actatis 
Suae 53. 



With holy ardor of seraphick love 

He drop! this clay and soared to Christ above. 

Here lyes hurried y« body of | Mr Nich- 
olas Moss I who departed this life | 
Nov the 24 1759 in y'^ \ 44 year of his 
age. 

Nor faith nor seas nor sun nor stars 

Nor Heaven his full realm balance bear 

His beauties we can never trace 

Till we behold him face to face. 

Mary A Zim.merman | wife of | Samuel 

Moss I died | March 28 1859 | aged 24. 
Mary Helena | daughter of | George 

H and Sarah () | Mossman | died July 

3rd 1S54 I aged 1 month and 5 days. 

Sufifer little children to come unto me. 

Hannah Ann | wife of | Elijah .Murry | 

daughter of Bezaleel and Hannah | 

Gates I died Nov 21 1844 | :e 30. 
S1L.A.S Newcomb I died | Aug 25 1825 | 

aged 39 years. 
Betsey | wife of | Silas Newcomb | died 

I Nov 20 1849 1 aged 65 years. 
Capt. Silas Nichols | died May 18 

18 II I in the 41st year | of his age. 
Here lyes y^ body of — Jabez Obartus | 

died June y^ 20 1740 in 18 year | of 

his age. 
Charity | wife of Lyman Osborn | died 

Oct 27 1S59 I as 59. 

So he giveth his beloved sleep. 

Robert Gaiks | son of | Joseph Pack- 
ard I and Mary -Swift | died | June 13 
1834 I aged 12 years | and 9 months. 
In memory of | Mrs Bei'sey Pease wife 
I of Mr Isaac Pease daughter of | Mr 
Thadeus Bald | win who departed this 
life I May y« 8th 1797 in the 21st year | 
of her age. 

With pan^s severe strangling in blood 
hhe soon became a life ess Ciod 
the summons of her God she obeyed 
She closes life and ends her days. 
In I memory of | Joseph Peckell ] who 
departed this life | 4th January 1797 | 
aged 74 years. 
Sarah E ] died Sept .15 1S44 | aged i 

year 5 mo. 
Charles H | died Sept 30 1844 | aged 

3 yrs and 3 mo. 
Children of Henry and Eleanor Pettit. 
These lovely buds we wished to raise 

Resign them here we must 
Into the hands of God who gave 
And in his mercy trust. 

Phebe Hotchkiss | wife to Ira Phelps 

I died Aug 19 1S73 | x 89 yrs 5 mos. 

Ira Phelps f died Nov 8 1852 | in his 71 

year. 
In I memory of | Nathan Pierson | 
I who died | Oct 17 1822 | aged 40 years 

Blessed are the dead 
! I hat die in the Lord. 



8l2 



APPENDIX. 



William son of | Nathan and | Sarah 

Pierson | died Sept lo 1811 | aged 9 

mo. 
In I memory of | Jacob M Pope | who 

died I Dec 10 181 5 | aged 75 years. 
Charles Prindle | died Jan 11 1847 | 

se 23. 
\Vm N Prindle | died Oct 16 1843 ] 

as 44. 
Betsey A his wife | died Aug 19 1867 

aged 68. 
Lewis Prindle | died | Aug 12 1848 | 

aged 73 years. 
Betsey | his wife | died | Jan 5 1819 | 

aged 41 years. 
Sarah | widow of Gideon Blackman | 

his 2d wife | died April 19 1851 ( aged 

79 years. 
Samuel Proctor ] died ] June 15 1867 

I aged 79 years. 
John Proctor drowned Sept 13 182S | 

aged 8 years. 
Mariah I Fash | wife of | Samuel Proc- 
tor I died Sept 12 1855 | aged 57 years. 
John B Proctor | drowned Dec 20 1844 

I aged 9 years. 
Capt. Lewis Remer | died | Dec 25 1841 
I as 56 yrs. 

No mortal woes 
Can reach the peaceful sleeper here 
While angels watch his soft repose. 

Rachel Remer his wife | died Dec 25 

1869 26 84 yrs. 
Joseph H. Remer | 
Lucy Maria his wife | died Oct 20 1S76 

68 yrs. 
Josiah Lewis | son of Abraham and | 
Hannah Remer | was drowned | June 
9 18 1 5 I aged 8 years | i6mo. and 17 ds. 
Weep not for me my parents clear 
J am not dead but sleeping here 
My debt is paid my grave you see 
Prepare for death and follow me. 

Susan W | daughter of | Abraham and 
I Haimah Remer | died Aug i 1819 | 
aged 3 mo and | 22 days. 
In memory of Capt. Joseph Riggs | who 

died May 15 1822 | aged 76 years. 
Elizabeth | wife of | Joseph Riggs [ 

died Jan 14 1842 | aged 89. 
In memory of Mrs Rachel | Riggs wife 
of Joseph Riggs Jr who died May 1 1 
A D I 1778 of the small pox aged | 33 
years. 

In faith she Dyd in Dust she Lyes 
But faith foresees that Dust shall Rise 
The tlesh Rests here till Jesus come 
And Claims the treasure from the tomb. 

In memory of Ei.izahetii ye wife | of 
John Rig Estir | died April ye 17 1747. 



Here lyes buried | the body of | John 
Riggs Esq I who departed this life | 
Sept ye 24 1755 in ye Soth year of his 
age. 

Mrs Polly M | wife of | John S Riggs | 
died I April 3 1850 | 3e 38. 

Eben M died Oct 10 1845 £e 5 yrs. 

Celestia died March 5 1843 ae 2 ys 6 m 
I children of P M and J S Riggs. 
Farewell dear wife a short farewell 
With grief does my sad bosom swell 
But a brighter day will soon arise 
Tis then I'll meet thee in the skies. 

Dea Samuel E Riggs | born in Augusta 
N Y I June 18 1809 | died at Derby 
Conn I Dec 6 i860. 

He giveth his beloved sleep. 

Samuel E Riggs | died | Dec 21 1840 | 
aged 19 years. 

Elizabeth daur of | Samuel and Abigail 
I Riggs died 27. 

In I memory of | Ann E Riggs | wife o 
Nathan B Riggs | who died | March 26 
1S35 I aged 36. 

Nathan B | their son died | Dec 11 1S30 
aged 16 mos. 

Here lies burried the body | of Capt Jo- 
seph Riggs I who departed this life | 
March 31 1792 in the 83d year of his 
age. 

A soul prepared needs no delay 
The summons comes the saint obeys 
He closed his eyes and sees his God. 

In I memory of [ Elizabeth | daughter of 
Joseph I H and Betsey Riggs | who 
died Dec. 6, 1839 | aged 21 years. 
Like a lily fair her head reclined 
Peacefully to death resigned 
Without one murmuring look or sigh 
But calm and pure as the morning sky. 

Here lyes ye body of | Samuel Riggs son 
of I Capt Joseph and Mrs. Mabel ] 
Riggs who departed this | life Sept ye 
21 1766 in ye | 16 year of his age. 
Job. XX. 9. The eye also which saw 
Him shall see him no more neither shall 
His place any more behold him. 

Nancy II | wife of Luther Root | died | 

June 4. 1852 I se 35. 

A friend to virtue | And a foe to vice. 
Nancy H | daughter of | Luther and 

Nancy H Root | died sept 29 1852 | as 

5 '^^"* 

This lovely bud so young and fair 

Called home by early doom 
Just born to show how sweet a flower 

In Paradise would bloom. 

George M La Rue | died | June i 1862 

I aged 22 years. 
Agnes C | daughter of | Charles and 

Babetta | Schoeninehl | died Feb 22 

1868 I as 15 years. 



APPENDIX. 



813 



In memory of | Mrs Ei-i/.A]iKTH Shef- 
field I iate relict of Capt \Vm Shef- 
field I of Stonington | who died Oct 31 
1812 I X 50. 

In I memoryof | Phebe wife of | Samuel 
Sherwood | who died | sejit 19 1822 | 
aged 44 years. 

In I memory of | Priscilla wife of | Sam- 
uel Sherwood | who died | nov 24 18 18 
I aged 55 years. 

In I memory of | Samuel Sherwood | 
who died'May 11 1838 ( aged 77. 

Priscilla Sherwood | died | Oct 31 
1851 I aged 61. 

Charles Short | died | Oct 19 1862 | 
aged 86 years. 

Betsey | his wife | died Nov 6 1864 | 
aged 92 years. 

In I memory of | Mrs Taphenes Smith 
I relict of | Major Nathan Smith | who 
died 1 Feb 16 1817 aged 77. 

James Smith | died | Oct 21 1847 | je8o. 

Sarah Swift | was the only daughter of 
I the Rev Daniel Humphries | pastor 
of the first church | in Derby Her 
first husband | was the Rev Samuel 
Mills I March 8 1819 was married to 
Chipman Swift Esqr | died March 31 
1S27 I aged 77. 

Chipman Swift Esqr | was born in 
Lebanon Ct | July 1750 removed to 
Wilmington Vt 1770 In 1817 | came 
to reside with his son | in Derby Rev 
Zephaniah | Swift May 6 18 ig was | 
married to widow Sarah Mills | died 
March 8 1825 aged 75. 

Mrs Sarah | wife to | Rev Zephaniah 
Swift I died | sept 27 1840 | in the 68 
year | of her age. 

Rf.v Zephaniah Swift | born at Wil- 
mington Vt I 177 1 graduated at Dart- 
mouth College I 1792 I Installed as 
pastor of the | Congregational Church 
in Koxbury Ct | 1796 and dismissed in 
1S13 I settled over the first church in 
this I Town in 18 13 in which relation | 
I he continued until his decease | Feb 
7 1848. _ . 

Eminent {or his virtues and usefulness in | all his 
relations to manknid while he | lived he was 
universally revered and | loved and being dead 
I his memory is Blessed. 

Chipman Swift | son of Rev Zepha- 
niah I died Oct 23 1819 | aged 21 years 
I and 9 months. 

A mrniber of the Medical Institution in Yale 
College. 

Zephaniah Swift | son of Rev Zepha- 
niah I and Mrs Sarah Swift | died April 
13 1S17 I aged 17 years j and 3 months. 



Samuicl I son of Rev Zephaniah | and 
Sarah Swift | died Mar 30 1816 | x 8 
yrs and 6 mos. 
Semantha Swift | daughter of | Rev 
Zephaniah | and Mrs .Sarah Swift | 
died Dec 3 1822 | aged 13 yrs. 
Theodosia Swift | daughter of | Rev 
Zephaniah and Sarah Swift | died | 
Feb 15 1845 I in the 50th year | of her 
age. 
Mary Jane | wife of Elijah F Smith | 
died I Feb i 1852 | as 43 yrs. 
Afflicti<m sore long time I bore 

Physicians' art was vain 
Till God was pleased that death should seize 

And ease me of my pain 
Farewell my husband and my children 
Farewell to all on earth 
I hope to meet vou all in heaven 
Where parting is no more. 

In I memory of | Horatio G Smith | 
who died August 24 1843 | aged 23. 

In I memory | of | Mr Abraham Smith 
I who departed this life Feb 13 1796 | 
in the 62d year of his age. 
Also 

ISAAC] son of | Mr Abraham and 
Mrs Sarah Smith | who died at sea | 
March 24th 1775 | aged 17 years and 8 
mc.inths. 

In I memory of | S A R A H | wife of Mr 
Abraham Smith | who departed this 
life I August 13th 1S05 1 in the 67th 
year of | her age. 

John French Smith | son of Abraham 
I and Mrs Sarah Smith | who departed 
I this life April 20 1781 aged 19 years. 

George H Smith | died | Aug i i860 | 
36 50 years. 

Clinga Smith | daughter of | Epherara 
I Smith- deceased | 1735 in y<^ 4 year | 
of her age. 

In memory | of FiTCH Smith | who died 
I Feb 5 1838 I aged 66 years. 

In memory of | Sarah | wife of | Fitch 
Smith I who died July 4, 1839 | aged 
66. 

Here lyes the | body of Mr John | Smith 
who I departed this life | May y" 31 
Anno I Dom 1749 in y" | 75 year of 
his age. 

Here lyes the body of | Mary Smith | 
wife to John | Smith died June y* 17 
1743 in y* 67 I year of her age. 

Here lyes y'= body of | Mrs Mary S.miiti 

I wife to Mr John Smith | died June 

y'= 7 1713 in y'= 67 | year of her age. 

Here lyes y« body of | Elizabeth Smith 

I wife to Jonathan | Smith died Feb 

y* 27 1744 in y<= 35 | year of her age. 



8i4 



APPENDIX. 



Isaac Smith | son of Abram Smith | 
died I March 2 1839 | aged 60 years. 

In I memory of | Polly wife of | Abram 
Smith I who died | Oct 13 1846 | £e 88. 

Abram Smith | died July 14 1837 | ae 78. 

Fitch Smith | his son | died at sea Aug 
5 1805 I ae 22. 

Sally | wife of | Isaac Smith | died Sept 

3 1865 I aged 83 years. 

Truman | died | Nov 29 i860 | se 3 ys 

10 mos. 
Thomas Smith | died | Jan 10 1S54 | £e 

4 mos. 

In memory of | Major Nathan Smith 
I who departed this life | Feb 24 1798 
I in the 74 year | of his age. 
In memory of | Fanny Smith ] wife of 

Almon Smith — who died | Feb 28 1826 
I aged 31 years — 
Also their daughter | Fanny Sherwood 

died Aug 23 1824 | aged 4 weeks. 
Josiah Smith | diedNov23 i829aged8i. 
Esther Smith his wife | died Sept 13 

1800 aged 45. 
Hannah Smith his 2d wife | died Dec 

30 1810 aged 57. 
Mabel Smith his 3d wife | died June 12 

1825 aged 59. 
Also three children and one grand child | 

of Josiah and Esther Smith. 
Esther died Nov 22 1793 aged 18. 
Elijah died May 12 1794 aged 5 ys. 
Sally died May 25 iSoo aged 7 mo. 
Laura daughter of Sheldon and [ Grace 

Smith died March 19 iSioaged 2 years. 
Josiah Smith [ died Feb 28 1850 | ?et8o. 
In I memory of | Betsey wife of | Josiah 

Smith I who died | May 3 1836 | aged 

63- 
Mary | widow of | Josiah Smith | for- 
merly wife of I Jacob M Pope | died | 

July 6 1865 I £et 97. 

In memory of Josiah H Smith | who 
died I July 21 1832 | in the 29 year of | 
his age. 

Jenet E Smith | wife of John L Smith 
I died I Nov 9 1853 a;t 39. 

Eunice Jane | wife of W P Sperry | 
born Jan 24 1824 | died Sept 29 1854. 

Alice J Sperry | wife of George F 
Stremmell | of Newark N J | born 
May 31 1847 I died May 18 1873 

George W | their infant son | died June 
28 1873 I se 7 weeks. 

Walter T | died Nov S 1S49 I « ^ 
weeks. 



Rebecca M | wife of | Sewall C. Tar- 
bell I died Apr 29 1S53 | ae 23 yrs 4 
mo. 

Lucius Ironing | their son | Died Apr 
17 1853 se 2 weeks. 

Here lyes y^ body of | Mr John Tib- 
bals I deceased June 11 17 — 

Willis H | died Oct 10 1854 | ae 6 weeks. 

In memory of I Capt John Tomlinson 
I who died | Nov 18 181 7 | aged 92 
years. 

In memory of | Mrs Deborah Tomlin- 
son I Consort of | Capt John Tomlin- 
son I and daughter of Samuel Bassett 
Esqr I who departed this life ( Sept 29 
1796 I in the 71st year of her age. 
She lived beloved and died lamented 
by all her acquaintance. 

Dan Tomlinson | died Dec 24 1832 | 
ae 83. 

Susannah his wife | died Jan 19 179S | 

xt 45. 
In memory | of SuzE daughter | of Mr 

Dan and Mrs Susannah Tomlinson 

who I died May 19 | 1785 in the 9th 

year of her age. 
Sarah Tomlinson | died | Mar 12 1864 
|ae84. 

Loved one Kest here until the last trump 
shall sound. 

Sacred | to the memory of | Damaris 
Tomlinson | who died Dec 28 1825 | 
aged 77. 

In memory of | Mrs Lowis Tomlinson 
I who died Sept 11 A D 1767 | in the 
87 year of her age. 

Capt | Reuben Tucker | died | Nov 11 
1 84 1 I aged 98. 

Phebe I widow of | Reuben Tucker | 
died March 13 1S50 | aged 86. 

Here lyes y® body of | Mr William 
Washbond I aged 72 years 10 mo | 
16 days Deceased Jan 18 1741. 

Here lyes y« body of | Hannah Wash- 
bond I aged about 16 years | died 
April y« ist 1727. 

Nancy Amelia | wife of | Benjamin 
Wells I died | April 18 1852 | ae 31. 
Weep not for me 
We trust to meet in Heaven. 

Sarah Amelia | their daughter | died 
April 15 1852 ae 15 das. 

In memory of | Capt James Wheeler 
I who departed this life | July 9 1768 | 
in the 53 year | of his age. 

Here lyes the body of Mrs | Sarah 
Whitney wife to | Stephen Whitney 
and daughter to | Capt James and Mrs 
Sarah Wheeler I and mother of Sam. 



APPENDIX. 



815 



uel Isaac and | James Whitney died 
March y* | 31 1764 in y'' 27 year of 
her age. 

Look on me as you pass by 
As you are now so once was I 
As 1 am now so you must be 
Prepare for death and follow me. 

Sybil | Consort of John Wilier | who 
died May 10 1777 | in the iSth year of 
her age. 
Lovely in death the beauteous ruin lay 
And if in death still lovelv lovelier there 



Far lovelier! pity swells the tide of love 
And will not the severe excuse a sigh? 
Ye that e'er lost an angel pity one. 
E.ected by her parents. 

Here lyes buried | y« body of Mrs 
Phebe I WoosiEK relict of Mr | 
Thomas Wooster who | died March 
1739-40 I aged about So years. 

In memory of Mks Alice | wife of Mr | 
Samuel Wooster | departed this | life 
Aug Sth I 1774 in the Sgth year. 



OLD EPISCOPAL GRAVE-YARD. 



Mrs I LucRF.TiA .Am, is | died | Feb 10 

1848 I aged 77. 
Sarah Allen | died | Aug i 1S50 | aged 

Calm be her sleep as the whisper of even 

When the hands have been clasped and the 
knees bent in prayer 
She has chanted her hymn at the portal of Heaven 
And found the perftctiou of what she loved 
here. 

Susan Allen | relict of | Samuel Allen 
I died I July 27 1837 | aged 82. 

In I memory of | Martha Allen | who 
died on the i6th of | May 1825 | aged 
80 3-ears. 

Sarah | wife of | Moses Austin | Died 
Apr 12 1765 I X 87. 

Lewis S | son of R S and B G | Baldwin 
I Died Aug 28 1874 | a; 7 weeks. 

Infant son of | R S and B G Baldwin | 
Died Feb 28 1872 | x 2 weeks. 

This stone | is inscribed to the memory | 
of I Sarah Baldwin | wife of Timo- 
thy Baldwin ] and daughter of Murry 
H Lester of Poukeepsie | who died Dec 
21 A D 1812 I X 65. 

Why are friends ravished from us? 'T is to bind 

Ky soft affection ties on human hearts 

The thoughts of death which reason too supine 

Or tnisemployed so rarely fastens there. 

In I memory of j Timothy Baldwin | 
who died 1 Aug 30 1822 | aged 73 years. 

Dr Elijah Baldwin | died Mar 18 1816 
I X 76. 

Margaret | his wife | died Aug 16 1823 
I ae 79. 

Abigail Akin ] their daughter | died 
Aug 16 1794 I X 17. 

Abigail | wife of Timothy Baldwin | 
died I June 5 1819 ( ae 23- 

Margaret Baldwin | died | Oct 15 1854 

I ae 73- 
To I Sarah | Relict of the late Jesse 
Beach Esqr | who died | on the 27th of 
June 1835 I And was gathered unto her 
fathers ] in the confidence of a certain 
faith I in the comfort of a reasonable | 



religious and holy hope | in favor with 
the Lord her God | and in perfect char- 
ity with the world | as 6t years. 

Here rest the body | of Mrs Abigail 
Beach | widow of the Rev John Beach , 
of Newtown | departed this life | Feb 7 
1783 I in 76th year of her age. 

Here lies intered the | body of Mr John 
HoLBROoiv I who departed this life 
June 5 1752 I in the 53 year of his age. 

Betsey Hard | wife of | Benj B Beach | 
died Dec 22 1874 | x 63 years. 

Benj B Beach | died | June 27 1877 ae 
69. 

Caroline | daughter of | David and Su- 
san Beecher | Died Apr 13 1842 | ae 9 
years. 

John Beers | aRevolutiouarv Pensioner 
Died I April 22 1848 | aged 89. 
He fell as falls the Oak with vt-ars 

Which storms have rudely beat upon 
Upon his grave we shed our tears 
To H eav'n we hope he 's gone. 

memory of | J!etsey Ann | wife of 
John Beers | who died | Jan 16 i84i 
aged 70 years. 
\Ye loved her living and we mourn her dead. 

memory of | John Betts | who died 
on the 'i8th of | October 1805 | aged 
68 years. 
Samuel Allen | died | Sept 22 1811 | 

aged 60. 
Abigail Mary j wife of | Michael Bit- 
ner | died | Dec 20 1846 | x 33. 

Sacred | to the memory | of ] the Rev 
ICdward Blakesi.ee I who departed 
this life I on the 15 of July 1797 | in the 
31st year of his age ] By this prema- 
ture death his family | are deprived of 
a kind and affectionate | Husband 
Father and Brother | The Episcopal 
Church I of a zealous and faithful mas- 
ter I and the public ] of a disinterested 
friend. 
The memory of the just is blessed Prov 10 7. 

The righteous shall he in everlasting remem- 
brance Psalm 6. 



In 



In 



8i6 



APPENDIX. 



Henrietta | daughter of | Rev E 
Blakeslee | relict of | A Champlain | 
She went to sleep in Jesus | June 21 
1848 I aged 49 years. 

Entered into Rest. 
Eliza Grace | Daughter of | Rev Ed- 
ward Blakeslee | Born Dec 29 1795 | 
Died Nov 15 1874. 
Blessed are tlie dead who die in the Lord. 

George Bristol | born in 18 10 | died in 
1870. 

He rests in peace. 

Ann Smith | daughter of | George and 
Caroline | Bristol | died Oct 8 1848 | 
aged 6 years and 10 months. 

Of such is the kingdom | of Heaven. 

Mary E | daughter of | Nathan and 
Mary A | Bristol | Died Aug 31st 1865 
I ae 18 y's. 
Mr George R Bronson | Died | Feb 3 

1853 I aged 39 years. 
Henry W | son of | Harvey D and Eliz- 
abeth A Bronson | Died | July 22 1857 
I 36 10 y'rs 10 ms. 

Daughter of | Edson L and | Mary E 
I Bryant | Little Mary | Died | Mar 
15 1 868 I as 10 weeks. 

Our angel Baby. 

In I memory of | Mrs Hannah I wife of 
the Rev j Daniels Burhans D D | Died 
April 12 1840 I aged 66. 

Christ is risen from the dead and | become the 
iirst fruits of them that slept | ist Cor 15 20. 

Mehitaele Burt | died | April 26 1S64 
aged 77. 

David Burt | died | Feb 2 1S72 | aged 

82. 
Hannah Burt | died March 16 187 1 | 

aged 82. 

Elizabeth Barnfield | of London | 
Died I Mar 20 1839 j je 75 years. 

George Bartholomew | Died | Jan 28 

1879 I 32 I?,- 
Harriet A | daughter of | Frederick 

and Augusta | B Botsford | died | Aug 

25 1813 I aet I y'r 5 m. 

John J Canfield | Died | June 20 1854 
|ae38. 

We meet above. 

William H Canfield | Died | Feb 5 
1S53 I '-e 33- 

tarewell dear brother | the last farewell. 

Sheldon Canfield | died | March 14 
1837 I aged 61 years. 

In I memory of | Mrs. Margaret 
Charles | wife of | Mr. Williain 
Charles | died June 4, 1809 | se 68. 

Thrice happy Christians | who when time is o'er 
I Shall meet in realms ol bliss | to part no more. 



Frances R.| Wife of | Rev S T Carpen- 
ter 1 She went to sleep in Jesus | Jan 
4th 1845 I ^ -6. 

Our Mother's grave | Asenath Car- 
rington I Died | April 11 1857 | ae 68. 

Ella N | Daughter of | Anson and Sally 
M I Chaffee | Died Jan 7 185 | te 2 
y'rs. 

Sheldon Canfield | Died | Jan 18 
1879 I aged 76 years. 

Charolette a I Died Dec 25 1835 | 
aged 3 years. 

Sterting I Died May 15 1S47 I ^g^d 6 
years. 

Craig L | Died Jan 18 1858 | oe 9 years 
I children of Sheldon and Charolette 
Canfield. 

Rev. Eltas Clark | Died in | West Sa- 
lem Wis Oct 29 1866 I EC 53. 

Clara Elila | daughter of | Rev Elias 
and I Adelaide S | Clark | Died Nov 
29 1862 I ce id mo's. 

Sweet joyous one | 'I'hou wast ours — And thou art 
still kept for us | For Jesus hath taken thee. 

In memory of | Hannah Clark | wife 
of I Thomas Clark Esq | who departed 
this life I Oct 3 1803 | aged 64 years. 

In memory of Mary | Jenett Clark 
daught I of Mr William and Mrs Mary 
Clark I who died October 10 1790 | 
aged I yr and 3 mos 10 days. 

Mr William Clark | 1763. 

Mrs Hannah Clark | died Sept 1801 
aged 91. Her lineal descendants at 
the I time of her death were TiT,';^, \ viz 
10 children 62 grandchildren 242 great- 
grandchildren I 19 great-great-grand- 
children I During her long life her com- 
pany I was the delight of her numer- 
ous I friends and acquaintances | hav- 
ing faithfully performed the | duties of 
life and being deeply 1 impressed with 
the reality | and importance of religion 
I she died as she had lived | satisfied 
and happy. 

Here lies ye body of | Charity Clark 

I dau of Mrs Hannah Clark | aged 1 1 

months and | 13 ds died March 13th 

1753- 
Sheldon L Clark | son of | William 
and Mary Clark | departed this life | 
Feb 7 1825 I in the 23 year | of his age. 
This world is fast passing away. 

Ebenezer Clinton | died April 9 1S34 

I ^ 45- 
Abigail Clinton ] died Aug 6 1S37 | 

36 48. 
John A Clinton | their son | died at 

Cabotville Mass | Oct 19 1845 | a; 21. 



APPENDIX. 



817 



Repent believe whilst you have time 
For I was taken in niv prime. 

DeWitt F Clinton | died | April 4 
1869 I A\ 31 yrs 8 mos. Entered U S 
Navy July 22 1863 | Honorably dis- 
charged Dec 22 1865 I .Vfter serving 
on Ironclad Tecmnseh | and supply 
ships Arkansas and Augusta Disniore. 

Caroline Elisabeth | wife of | James 
Coleman | died | July 22 1848 | aged 
29. 

In I memory of | Mrs Lois Curtiss I 
consort of | Sheldon Curtiss Esqr | 
who died | Feb 5 1840 | aged 80 years. 

In I memory of | Sheldon Curtiss Esqr 
I born April 7 1761 | died Feb 16 1847 
aged 86 years. 

In I memory of | Harriet Curtiss | 
daughter of Sheldon and Lois Curtiss 
I who died July 3 1835 | aged 39. 

In memory | of | Henry | who died May 
25 1847 'I aged 51. 

In memory of | Mr Oliver Curtiss | who 
departed this life | Jan 13 1794 | in the 
63d year | of his age. 

In I memory of | Ahijah Bearpslee | 
who died 1 March 13 1830 | aged 74 
years. 
Hear what the voice from Heaven declares 

To those in Christ who die 
Released from all their earthly cares 
They reign with him on hij^li. 

Mrs Elizaueth Anne | wife of | Mr 
Abijah iJeardslee | died Jan 28 1816 | 
aged 53 years. 

Behold and see as you pass by 
As you are now so once was 1 
As I am now so you must be 
Prepare tor death and follow me. 

James R | son of Talmage and | Betsey 
Beardsley | died Oct 28 1S32 | aged 8 
weeks. 

Kie sin could blight or sorrow fade 

Death came with friendly care 
The opening bud in Heaven conveyed 
And bade it bloom there. 

Sarah | Wife of Rev E Blakeslee | and 
daughter of | Rev R and A Mansfield | 
Died Dec 23 1790 | aged 32. 
Asleep in Jesus. 

Rich.\rd Mansfield | son of | Rev Oli- 
ver and Caroline | Hopson | Died Aj^r 
28 1835 I ae 4 mos. 

Not lost but gone before. 

In I memory of | Mr Stephen Mans- 
field I who died | Aug 7 1819 | aged 
54 years. 
Ale.xander Child | Died | Oct 26 1S76 
I aged 64 years. 

We mourn our loss. 

Kneeland I son of | Capt E F and L M 
I Curtiss I Died | Aug 31 1871 | as 13 
yrs 6 mos. 

103 



Cai't Kneeland Curtiss | Died | Apr 
18 1840 I iE 51 years. 

Ann E his wife | Died | Mar 23 1871 | 
a; 70 years | Their children | Martha 
I died Nov 11 1844 | a; 15 years. 

Henry R | Died | Oct 28 183S | ac 7 
mos. 

Flora Bell i Daughter of | Capt E F 
and L M | Curti.ss | Died | May 19 
1847 I £e II mos. 

Charles Davis | Died | Ajjr 11 1849 | 
as 44 yrs. 

Charles H | son of | Charles and Annie 
Davis I Died May 8 1849 | x 8 yrs and 
4 mos. 

Benjamin F | son of | Charles and Annie 
Davis I a Sergt in Co F 7th Regt Conn 
Vols I .Served his coiuitry 4 years | par- 
ticipated I In 16 Battles | contracted 
chronic diarrhoea | came home and 
died I March 13 1866 | x 23 years. 
Soldier rest m peace. 

Mr Joseph Davis | died Dec 1806 | in 

the 62 year of his age. 
In memory of | Mrs Joseph Davis | 
wife of Mr Josejih Davis | who died 
Sept 28 17S8 I aged 41 years. 
My children and friends view my change 
And remember that you are born to die. 

In I memory of | Jcjseph Dudley ( who 

died on the 27th of December 1819 | 

aged 45 years. 
In memory of | Sabra Dudley | who 

died I on'the 19th of | May 1844 | aged 

48 years. 
In I memory of | Miles L Dirand | 

who died | May 8 1841 | aged 39 years. 

Sarah J | wife of | George W Dyer | 
died Apr 22 1871 | ac 48. 

Their children | Gt.orce E | died Oct 19 
187 1 I re 18 I Ida 1 I died Nov 22 187 1 
I ^ 14- 

Mary A died Oct 13 1826 | as 11 weeks. 
LucmoA died Mar 13 1842 | as 8 
weeks | Ellen L died Mar 21 1S47 | 
ac 4 yrs | Children of Eliphalct and 
Mary | Dyer. 

Richard F | son of Geo W and Sarah J 
I Dyer | died Aug 26 1846 | as 13 ms. 

Ellen L | daughter of George W and 
Sarah J | Dyer | died May 17 1852 | 
ae 8 yrs. 

Frank | son of Edwin | and Mary A 
Ells I died Oct 12 1864 I 32 II yrs. 
Ciood-by dear friends 'tis hard to part 
I fear 'twill break your loving hearts 
But lot your flowing tears be dry 
Kor I am not afraid to die. 

And when my body is laid in the tomb 
'Dear mother you and sisters come 



APPENDIX. 



And plant some flowers o'er me to wave 
Wliile I am sleeping in my grave. 

And now dear friends 'twill not be long 
Ere Death will claim you for his own 
And when his trying ordeal is past 
In Heaven may we all meet at last. 

Franklin | son of Edwin | and Mary A 

Ells I died | Oct 13 1S51 | xt 6 mos. 

Sweet lovely babe thy pains have ceased 

'I'hy spirit's gone to be at rest 
Thv little head now free trom pain 
bleeps on thy loving vSaviour's breast. 

Theodore E Ells | died | Oct 10 186S 

se 37- 
Stephen M | son of ] P^dwin and Mary 
A Ells I died | Dec 3 1853 | aged 20 
years j and 8 mo. 

Farewell my friends whose tender care 

H^s long engaged my love 
Your fond embrace I now exchange 
For better friends above. 

To the memory of | Charles Henry | 
son of I Isaac and Diantha | Foot | 
died Mar 23 1841 | as 2 years 7 mos 15 
ds. 
John W Flowers | Died | Nov 25 1854 

I ae33- 
Betsey | widow of | Wm J French ] died 

I Jan 13 i860 1 ae 60. 
James W | died Jan 29 1850 | aged 15 
years. 
A son beloved beyond expression dear 
A brother kind affectionate and sincere. 

Phebe a I Died Mar 8 184S | aged 4 
months. 
This little one we loved so well 
Has gone to Heaven with Christ to dwell. 

Children of Wm M and Phebe H French. 

Samuel French | died | at Racine Wis- 
consin I May 28 1862 I 3S 72. 

Judith French | wife of | Samuel 
French | died | May 8 | 1852 | ae 58. 
Sleeps this flesh in hope to rise 

AVaked by the angel's trumpet sound 
To meet her Jesus in the skies 

There tune her harp and wear the crown. 

Henry | son of | Charles and j Joannah 
F Gale | died | May 25 1848 | ze i yr 
and ID m's. 

Canfield Gillet I born Dec 7 1765 | 
died May 27 181 5 | aged 50 years. 

George Gorum | died May 2 1S56 | ae 
69. 

Grace S Goram | wife of | George 
Gorum | died Aug 23 1839 | aged 52 
years | and 9 months. 

In memory of | Mr Ebenezer Gracie | 
son of I Capt Ebenezer and | Mrs 
Elizabeth Gracie | who departed this 
life I April i 1799 I '^^ the 24 year of | 
her age. 



Rebeca Gracie | daughter of | Eben"' 
and Eliz'' Gracie | Died j June 4 1814 
I aged 32. 

Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. 
Death of its sting disarmed she knew no tear 
Hut tasted Heaven while she lingered here. 

Charity Gracie | daughter of | Eben' 
and Elizii Gracie | Died | May 23 1830 
I aged 44. 

The trumpet shall sound and the dead | shall be 
raised incorruptible | T hem that sleep in Jesus 
shall God I bring with him. 

In I memory of Henry M Gracie | son 
of I Sheldon and | Rebecca Gracie | 
who departed this | life Wednesday 
Oct 2d 1S05 I aged 16 months. 

William Gracie | Died Feb 14 1S47 I 
X 74. 

Sheldon C Gracie | | Died | Mar 8 
1870 I ae 61. 

There is rest in Heaven. 

Mrs Elizabeth Gracie | relict of the 

late I Ebenezer Gracie | died Jan 6 

1843 I aged 86. 
To him that overcometh will I give | to eat of the 

tree of lite which is in | the midst of the paradise 

of God Rev ii vii. 

Elizabeth Gracie | Died Nov 30 1866 

I ae 76. 

Sarah Gracie | Died Dec 7 i860 | ae 79. 

John Knox ] son of | Rockford N and 

I Margaret A. | Gray | died Jan 4 1853 

I je 10 mo's 10 d's. 

Sarah | wife of | Josiah Hinman | Died 

April 17 1850 I aged 64. 
In I memory of | Van Vactor Hinman 
I who died | Oct 7 1839 | aged 28 
years. 
In I memory of | Mr Ephraim Harger 
I who exchanged this mortal | Life for 
Immortality | Dec 31 1797 | aged 92 
years and 2 months. 

The memory of the just is Blessed. 

Benjamin Hodge | Died July 26 186S | 
£e 76 I An humble Christian a kind 
Husband and Father and a faithful 
friend rests here in hope. 

Anne Bartholomew |'wife of | Benja- 
min Hodge I Died Jan 2 1856 | ae 60 | 
The record of her faithfulness | as wife 
mother and friend is in | the hearts 
that loved her | Her mortal remains 
rest here in the sure | and certain hope 
of a joyful resurrection | through tiie 
merits of her Savior | in whom she 
trusted. 

Martha A Ells | wife of | George R 
Hoppen I Born Dec 28 1842 | Died 
Nov 20 1870. 

Grace | wife of | Levi Hotchkiss | Died 
Aug 30 1863 aged 72 yrs. 



API'ENDIX. 



819 



Sacred | to the memory of | Mr John 
HowD I who departed this life | Jan 
29 1806 I xt 70 years. 

1 know tliat my Kedeeiner Liveth. 

Hannah relict of | John Howd | died 
Feb 1817 I aged 74. 

Charlotte E | wife of | Talmadge N 
Hubbard | died | Aug 21 1854 | ae 24. 

Anna | wife of A K Huges | U S N 
Born Sept 15 | 1823 Died Aug 5 1856. 

Emma H their daughter Died Feb 6 1855 
JE 16 m's. 

Here lies the body | of Nancy Hull | 
daughter of Samuel | and Abigail Hull 
who I departed this life [ July 31st 
1785 I aged 9 months. 

In I memory of | Miss Nancy Hull | 
daughter of | Samuel and .Abigail Hull 
I who died 1806 in the 16 | year of her 
age I She was lovely and pleasant | in 
her life and much lamented in her 
death. 

In I memory of | Mr K-nkeland Hull 
I son of I Samuel and Abigail Hull | 
who died 1806 in the 20 | year of his 
age I His education was liberal I his 
disposition was pious | and his deport- 
ment sedate. 

Lucy Granger | daughter of | Henrv 
and Mary P B | Hull | died Jan 8 1834 
I aged 15 mos. 

William | son of Levi and Mary Hull | 
died I Aug 17 1833 | set 9 yrs. 

Edwin | son of | William and | Lucy 
Ann Hull | died | Oct 2 1S41 | aged 7 
months. 
Tile lovely litile flower lias gone 
Which did .so cheer our liearts 
But it has gone to Heaven to l)loom 
And soon we'll meet him ne'er to part. 

Joseph B Hull | only son of Henrv S 
and Mary P Hull | Died Jan 24 1863 I 
aged 23 years. 

brother rest from sin an<l sorrow 

Death is o'er and life is won 

On thy slumber dawns no morrow 

Rest thine earthly race is run. 

Mary P Hull | wife of | Henry S Hull 
I Died March 9 1863 I aged 54 years. 
There is a land inine eye lias seen 
In visions ol enra| tured lliciuplit 
So bright that all which spreads between 
Is with its radiant glory Iraiight 
A land upon whose blissful shore 
'1 here resis no shadow falls no slain 
'I'liere lhf)se who meet shall part no more 
And those long parted meet again. 

Henry S Hull | Died | Nov 23 187 1 | 
X 70. 

So man lietli down and raisclh not till the | 
heavens lie no more they shall not awake nor | be 
raised out of their sleep. 



Tn I memorv of | Mrs Lavina Hull | 
wife of I Mr Samuel Hull Jun | and 
daughter of | Mr Henry Deming | of 
Wethersfield | who departed this life 
I July 4 1S04 aged 23 years. 

Died I Samuel Hull | March 19 1844 | 
a;t 67. 

Mrs Betsey Hull | died | May 19 1852 
j aged 68. 

In I memory of | Mr Samuel Hull | 
who died 1806 in the 63 | year of his 
age I He was a man of a generous 
heart | a friend to the poor the father- 
less I and the widow. 

Here rests the body of | Mr Samuel 
Hull | He was good and kind ( and 
beloved while he lived | and lamented 

' when dead | He departed this life | 
Sept the 8 1 751 | aged 59 years. 

In I memory of | Ahigail | wife of | 
Samuel Hull | who died March 20 1819 
X 6S. 
The heirt of her husband did | safely trust in 

her She looked well to the ways ol her household 

and ate | not the bread of idleness her children | 

rose up and called her blessed. 

In I memory of | Emei.ine I- Humiston 
I who was born | Dec 10 1826 | and 
died I Nov 8 1854. 

Dear emeline a loved one's laid 
P.eneath this stone in silent shade 
And must we here our loss deplore 
Shall we not meet to part no more 
'I he Lord has called and you must go 
To leave all earthly things below 
'I hv spirit's gone to Heiven to rest 
With angels ever to be blest. 

RoswELL Humiston | Died | Sept 19 

1864 I 36 67. 
Farewell dear Father thou hast left us 
For a better brighter home 
Thou art now where sin and sorrow 
Pain and death can never come. 

In I memory of | Melinda Humiston | 
wife uf I koswell Hunnston | who died 
I Feb 10 1837 1 aged 29 years. 
Oh lost and mourned admired and loved through 

life 
Thou best of daughters and thou faithful wife 
Sweet be thy sleep and peaceful was thy death 
In liope of Heaven thou didst resign thy breath. 

Her end was ])eace | Lydia E | wife of 
I Roswell Humiston | died | July 26 
1869 I vc 60. 
Loving htarls are filled with anguish 
At the thought that ihou art gone 
And the home thy smiles once gladdened 
Arc o'er shadowed now with gloom 
Huliis God that hath bereft us 
And llio hard to say farewell 
We to him should bow submission 
F"or lie doelli all iliings well 
'I hou art not di ad but sleepeth 
One in life how sweet ihe union 
One in heart we still remain 
Still we partake the same comnuinioii 
Still we hope to meet again. 



820 



APPENDIX. 



Foster B | son of | M C and E S Hull | 

Died Oct i 1873 | x 13 yrs 11 mos. 
Wilbur S | son of | M C and E S Hull 
I Died Nov 15 1865 | x 3 yrs 3 mos. 
JJear Willie we hope | to meet thee. 

In memory of | Mrs Sarah B Hum- 
phreys I wife of I Capt James Hum- 
phreys I who departed this life | May 
II 17S6 ID days after the birth and 
death | of her first child in the 24th 
year of her age. 

MartaE Humphreys | Nov 9 1867 se 69. 

Edward E | son of the late | Elijah and 
Maria | Humphreys | Born June 20 
1834 I Died Aug 27 1870. 

This marble marks the place | of the in- 
terment of the natural I body of I Mary 
I daughter of | Col William Hunter f 
who died | Aug 12 1825 | as 17. 

She is not licre. ' 1' is but her veil ol clny 
']'hat moiilclers into dust beneath this stone 
Marj/ herself in realms of fadeless glory 
Has put a robe of ladeless glory on 
Tliis monumental urn is not designed 
To tell of beauties withering in the tomb 
Her bricjlitest charms were centered in a mind 
Which still prevail and will forever bloom. 
Her conscious soul 

Allied to angels hails the glorious change 
And joins the blest societies above 
In all the freshness of immortal youth 
'I here is a world of bliss hereafter else 
Why are the bad above the good beneath 
The grfen grass of the grave. 

Stephen Jewett | died May 29 1823 j 
in I the 88th year | of | his age. 
Life's duty done as sinks the clay 

Light from its load the spirit flies 
While heaven and earth combine to say 
How blest the righteous when he dies. 

Filius Posiiit. 
Maria E | wife of | Daniel Judd | died | 
Feb 9 1864 I as 38. 

lieloved while we weep for thee 
Faith wipes the tears we shed 
This mortal shall immortal be 
With Christ thy living head. 

Capt | Lockwood Keeney | died | May 
I 1848 I J^ 44. 

Also Francis Ann | Daught of | Lock- 
wood and Ann Maria Keeney | Died | 
Apr 16 1835 I ae 18 ms. 

Edna A | Daughter of | Lorenzo D and 
Amelia R | Kenney | Died Oct 21 1851 

I « 5 yrs. 

Sarah wife of | Ethel Keeney | died Mar 
6 1820 I as 45. 

Sarah daughter of | Ethel and | Sarah 
Keeney | died Apr 4 1832 | se 25. 

Kneel\nd son of I Ethel and | Sarah 

Keeney | died Apr 1809 | ae 7 mos. 
Capt | Ethel Keenly | died Oct 4 1S37 
I 3683. 



Lockwood son of | Ethel and | Sarah 

Keeney | died July 25 1803 | as 22 mos. 
Smarna I wife of | Morris Kimberly | 

died Sept 16 1850 | ae 63. 
Morris Kimberly | died | June 2 | 1S69 

[as 85. 
George H | son of | Mary J Lee | Born 

Sept 18 1861 I Died Nov 26, 1861. 

Another bud transplanted to the happy land. 

Charles C | Born April 14 1S54 | Died 

May 14 1854. 
William W Born Oct 12 1S56 | Died 

Sept 18 1858. 
Children of | William W and Mary J | 

Lee. 
They budded on earth | To Blossom in Heaven. 

"Benjamin F Lewis died | May 20 1S71 
I aged I 42. 
Blessed are the dead that die | in the Lord. 

Henry' Lewis | Died | Feb 21 1848 | 
Age 26. 

And though lone pilgrims we may roam 
Nor meet again on time's broad shore 

We'll meet in Heaven our final home 

Where parting scenes are known no more. 

JuDsoN Lewis | a member of Co B 20 
Reg C V I Died | at Stafford Court 
House Va Feb 21 1863 | ae 29 

His country's hour of peril came 
Thousands went forth He died the same. 
Then let us when we tell their fame 
In grateful memory breathe his name. 

Little Freddie's Grave. 

Another lamb in Jesus' fold 
Another earth chain riven 

The idol of our household band 
Our Freddie is in Heaven. 

In memory of | Capt Joseph Lum | who 
departed this life | Feb 24 1796 | in the 
Sist year of | his age. 

David Lum son of Capt | Joseph and 
Mrs Sarah Lum | a person of emiiient 
endowments both | of body and mind 
he was greatly lamented | in the most 
active stage of live when | he seemed 
to promise extensive | usefulness he 
shared the common lot of mortals and 
died of the small pox | Jan i 1770 in 
ye 28 year of his age. 

Sic transit Gloria Mundi. 

In I memory of | Reuben Lum | who 
died I July 22 1S29 | aged 74 years. 

Also of his wife | Charity Lum | who 
died I Jan 12 1807 | aged 48 years. 

Sarah | widow of | Reuben Lum | died 

1853 I ae 96. 
Inscribed | to the memory of | Stephen 

J. Mansfield | son of William | and 

Eunice Mansfield | Died | Aug 12 1834 
I ^33- 
In memory of | William Mansfield | 

who died Oct i 1S16 | £e 53. 



APPENDIX. 



821 



Eunice his wife | died March i 1S17 x 
49. 

Their Children ] Sarah died July 4 iSii 
2e 19. 

Abigail Ann | died Feb 20 1798 ac 3. 

Charoi.ktte died March | 10 1799 x i 
year and 6 months. 

Richard Aiujah | died Feb 1814 ae 6 
weeks. 

Rev Richard Mansfield D D | or- 
dained in I London Eng 1748 | Rector 
of I St James Church Derby | 72 years 
I Died April 12 1820 | aged 96. 

He was a good man and full of | the Holy Ghost 
and of faith niid | much people was added unto 
the Lord. Acts xi 24. 

Anna Hull [ wife of | Rev R Mansfield 

died Aug 20 1776 — aged 40. 
Sarah | wife of Rev E Blakeslee | and 

daughter of | Rev R and A Mansfield 
I died Dec 23 1790 | aged 32. 
Asleep in Jesus. 
Children of | Rev R and A Mansfield | 

who died in infancy. 
Henrietta Feb 3 1760. 
Jonathan Dec 10 1770. 
Gr.\ce Oct 14 1776. 
Joseph Mansfield | died Dec 19 1782 

I aged 20. 
Elizabeth Mansfield | died Feb 22 

1826 I aged 70. 

forever with the Lord. 
A life of rare devo;ion to | filial duty. 
This woman was full uf good works ) and alms- 
deeds which she did. Acts ix 36. 

There is my rest | Mrs Anna Humphrey 
I relict of the late | Elijah Humphrey 
Esqr j buried in Martinico W I | 
daughter of the late Rev Richard 
Mansfield D D | died April 11 1S41 | 
aged 85. If Primitive faith exem- 
plary piety I and Charity to the Poor 
could I have prevented she had not 
died. 

^'et may this marble teach this solemn truth 
That virtue only can true bliss impart 

While neither friendship beauty health nor youth 
Can shield the breast from death's insatiate dart. 

In memory of | Abraham Marks | son 
of I Mr Mordecai and Mrs Elizabeth 
I Marks who departed this | life May 
the 1st 1766 I aged 18 years and 6 
months | He was well respected by his 
acquaintances | more especially by the 
aged. 

In memory of | Mr. Mordecai Marks 
I who was born | in the city of London 
where he spent | about 20 of y'= first 
years of his life he lived | 25 years in 
y<^ town of Derl)y a useful member | of 
societv an affectionate husband a ten- 



der I parent and a constant communi- 
cant of the I church and on the 8th 
day of January 1771 and in y« 65 year 
of his age he dej^arted this | mortal life 
in hopes of life immortal. 
Here lies | interred the bodv of | Capt 
Edward Marshall | who departed 
this life I on Sunday the 30th of May 
1773 I aged 32 years and 24 days. 
But oh too soon alas we climb 

Scarce feeling we ascend 
The gently rising hill of time 
From whence with grief we see our prime 
And all its sweetness end. 

A tribute of | love and friendship | to 
the memory of | ALvrgaret S | only 
daughter of | Samuel and Sarah H | 
Marshall | who died Aug. 21 1854 j 
- a' 39 I In the blessed hope of a glori- 
- ous immortality | It was not meet that 
she should | longer tarry from that 
bliss which God | reserveth for the 
pure in heart. 
Rebecca H | daughter of | James and | 
Rebecca i\iacAulay | Died | April 14 

1852 I ast 2 yrs. 

John F McKnight | Died | March 22 

1853 I 3e 39- 

Cynthia | his wife | died Aug 24 1851 | 
ae 32. 

James | infant son of | Samuel and Mar- 
garet I Mellor I Died | Feb 27 1849. 

In I memory of | John Davis | son of 
Marius and Betsey Miles | who died | 
March 19 1822 | aged 17 years. 

Here lies buried | the body | of Mrs 
Zerviah Miles | who died | Nov y« 15 
1753 I in the | 8 year | of her age. 

In memory of ] Mr Jonathan Miles | 
who departed this life | Feb 21 1784 in 
I the 84 year of his | age. 

In I memory of | Betsey Miles | relict 
of the late | Marius Miles | of New 
Haven | who died | May 9 1827 | ae 47 
years. 

When thy last breath ere nature simk to rest 
'I hy meek submission to thy God expressed 
When thy last look ere thought and feeling fled 
A mingled gleam of hope and tritimi'h shed 
What to thy soul its glad assurance gave 
Its hope in death its triumph o'er the gr.'rve. 

William Mills | Died | Oct 20 1852 | 

ae 39. 
Susannah | daughter of | William and 
Susannah Mills | died Aug 18 1848 | 
ae 18 mos. 

This little one 

That we loved so well 
Has gone to Heaven 
'i"hcre for to dwell. 

In I memory of | Mr William Monroe 
I who died | April 24 1819 | aged 3 
years. 



822 



APPENDIX. 



In I memory of | Capt DAVin Morris 
I who departed this life | March 8 
1810 I ast 49. 
As in Adam all die even so | in Christ shall all 
be made alive. 

In I memory of | Mrs Mary Morris | 
wife of I Capt David Morris | who 
died I Jtme 15 1853 | aged 87 years. 
Blessed are the dead | that die in the Lord. 

Kezia Morris ] died I Dec 31 1874 | ee 

85- 
Ben'Jamin I Moulthroi'E I Died ] Sept 

2 1815 I as 85. 
Martha | his wife Died Nov 25 | 1S09 

ae 44. 
Betsey | their daughter died Feb | 6 

iSio se 22. 
Here lies the body of | Mr Nathaniel 

Nichols of | Newtown Who finished 

a pious and Christian life course and 

exchanged this | life for immortality 

Oct 20 1767 in y" 25 year of his age. 
Stephen Osborne | Died | Nov 26 1S24 

I «77- 
Apame I his widow | Died Oct i 1S55 | 

as 87. 
Nelly | Died June i 1S51 | x 2 years 

and 7 m's. 
Suffer little children to come | unto me and forbid 

them not. 

Isaac Pease | died Nov 27 1825 ] as 52. 
Sarah | wife of | Isaac Pease | died | 

Jan 3 1830 I se 48. 
Eleazer Peck | died ] July 24 187S | ae 

70 

Until the day break and the shadows flee away. 

Edward Crafts | son of Eleazer and 
I Ann H Peck | died | Mar 24 1841 | 

aged 6 years | and 6 months. 
Ann H Peck | wife of | Eleazer C Peck 

I Died 1 June 3 1838 | aged 29. 
Charles E | son of | Eleazer and Louisa 

M I Peck I died Sept 19 1852 \ x 11 

years. 
John Verveer | son of | Eleazer and 

Louisa I Peck | Died | Dec 10 1S50 | 

aged 6 years | and 2 months. 
Jane M | daughter of ] Eleazer and 

Louisa I Peck I Died Feb 2 1855 | x 8 

y'rs. 

Suffer little children to come unto me. 

Lyman G Philips \ born | Feb 2 1S26 | 

died July 17 1878. 
Ellen his wife ] died May 16 1870 | x 30. 
RoswELL. Phillips | Born Oct 2 1796 | 

Died Apr 12 1876. 
Francis their son | Born Dec 19 1838 | 

Died at Pt Lookout Md | May i6 1865 

While a soldier in the army of the 

Union. 



Sarah Phillips | Daughter of I Roswell 

and Susan Phillips | Born Dec 25 1842 
! Died Mar 25 1864. 

She sleeps in Jesus. 
Mary E | Daughter of | Roswell and 

Susan I Phillips | Died | April 18 1S44 
I aged 1 1 years. 
Jared son to Samuel and Mary | Plum | 

aged 2 I yrs 6 mos | and 9 ds | died. 
JosiAH I son of I Samuel and Mary | 

Plum I aged 4 | years i mo and 7 ds 

died July ye 30 1758. 
Major Powe | Died | Sept 12 1S41 | 

aged 54 years | and 9 mos. 
Frank Putnam 

Not lost but gone before. 

Henky Sophocles | Ritner | died Aug 
9 1845 X y m. 

Simon H Remer | Died | May 7 1S67 
3s 67. 

Frances | wife of | Simon H Remer | 
Died Feb 26 1877 ae 74. 

Harriet Hull | daughter of | Augustus 
and Elizabeth P | Rossetty | died Oct 
7 1834 I aged II years. 

Betsey P Rossiter ] died | June 10 
[842 I aged 31. 

Elizabeth Mansfield | Daughter of | 
Samuel and Abby Ann | Sherwood j 
Died July i 1867 | ae 29. 

In I memory of | Samuel Sherwood | 
who died | Sept 13 1840 | in the 45th 
year | of his age. 

Julia | widow of | S R Sibley | died | 
Feb 15 1858 I as 64. 

Sarah j wife of | Elihu Smead | Died 
July 27 1849 I ae 49. 

Sarah A | Daughter of | Elihu and Sa- 
rah 1 Smead | died Aug 30 1S49 I ^ i°- 

Mr I Wm C Smith | Died Sept 19 1813 
aged 49 years. 

In I memoryof | Mrs Experience | wife 
of I Mr William Smith | who died 
March 3 1S21 | aged 35 years | and 
13 ds. 

In I memory of 1 Sarah Caroline | 
daughter of | Mr William and | Mrs 
Experience Smith | who died March 8 
182 1 I aged 13 years 5 months | and 24 
days. 

Samuel J Sisson ] Died Nov 11 1835 | 
se 40. 

Irene his wife | Died Mar 7 1840 | as 50. 

In I memory of | Rebecca relict of | 
William C Smith | who died | Dec 5 
1829 I aged 73 years. 



Ari'EXDIX. 



823 



In meinoiy of | Ahioaii, daughter of | 
John and AViigail Smith | who departed 
this life August S 1794 | in the 13 year 
of her age. 

Charity Smith | died | March 19 1S55 
I set 80. 

Lyman S^rixii | died | October nth 1S6S 
I aged 78 years. 

Jemima H | Reh'ct of | Lyman Smith | 
died Feb 6 1876 | aged 79 years. 

Betsey Smith | wife of | Lyman Smith 
Jr I died | April iS 1838 | a; 39. 

In I memory of | Cai'T Isaac Smith | 
who departed this life | Dec 4th 17S9 
I in the 59 vear of his age. 

reader stay and cast an eye 
Upon tlie grave wlierein I lie 

Krr Death has called and conquered me 
And in a short lime will conquer tliee. 

Little Willie | fell asleep | Jan 20 1878 

1 a; I yr 8 mos 21 ds | Of such is the 
kingdom of Heaven | son of \Vm R 
and Julia V Steele. 

Jamks I son of I George and Sarah | 

Iluddelston ] Died | April 16 1852 | 

a;t 12 yrs. 
Frederick I> Stonk | son of MrLeraan 

and I Mrs Louisa Stone | aged 16 | ob 

Sept 16 181S. 

Leman Stone | died | May n 1S47 3296. 

Louisa | wife of Leman Stone | died Feb 
3 1832 I ae 69. 

I,ouiSA Lucia Stone | daughter of | 
Leman and | Louisa Stone | died Sept 

27 1829 I aged 33. 

Charles | son of | David and Sarah | 
Tomlinson | died | July 18 1839 | aged 

28 years | and 4 months. 
Prepare 10 follow me. 

Mary Jane | daughter of | Charles and | 
Jane Tomlinson | died | May 27 1837 
I aged 2 years 8 | months and 5 ds. 

She died ere her exi andinj; soul 
Had ever burned with wrong desires 
Had ever spurned at heaven's control 
Or ever quenched its sacred tires. 

Effie M I only daughter of | Joseph and 
Fannie C | Tyler | died Dec 2 1875 | 
aged 5 yrs 5 ms and 2 days. 

Hannah Ann | daughter of \Vm and | 
Hannah Thompson | died much re- 
gretted I by her parents | Oct 19 1824 
I aged 7 years. 

Abel Thompson | Died | Jan 28 1862 | 
'-^ 73- 

Klesstd are the dead who die | in the Lord. 

In memory of | widow .Sarah Tuttle | 
whose character in life was | that she 
was virtuous woman | a good wife | an 
affectionate | exemplary parent and a 



very pious devoted Christian | She 
departed this life ALirch 12 j X769aged 
36 years. 

In memory of | Capt Tho.mas Vosk | 
who died | Sept 30 1845 I ^g*^*^ 7o 

years. 

In memory of | Anne Mansfield 
VosE I daughter of | Capt Thomas and 
Mrs Betsey Vose | who died Jan 17th 
i8t I I as 6 years. 

Resigned by her parents | in lull confidence | of the 
blessed words ofonr savior that | of such is the 
I kingdom of Heaven. 

Betsey | wife of | Capt Thomas Vose | 
Died Dec 9 1S64 | ai 82. 

In memory of | Mr JoH.v Washkand ) 
who died June the 26 | A D 1798 in the 
67 I year of his age. 

In memory of Mrs Experience wife ] of 
Mr John Washband | who died Aug 
ID I 1783 

Here lyes ye liody of | Mr Jnsejih Wash- 
band I aged 38 I years and 22 days died 
Jan ye | 23 1741-2. 

Little Susie | twin daughter of | A W 
and E M Webster | died | July 13 1869 
I Av 4 mos. 

In I meinory of | Mr Joseph Wheeler 
I who died | June 3 1804 | aged 56 
years. 

Also I Whittlesey Wheeler | his son 
I died Dec 15 iiSo3 ( aged 19 years. 

Stop gay friend and drop a tear 
Youth and age lie buried here. 

Julia K | wife of | Joseph AVheeJer | 
and daughter of | Gen W Hull | died 
June 26 1S42 I aged 43. 

To the memory | of | Jane Marden- 
brough I widow of | Rev CalvinWhite 

I and daughter of John Mardenbrough 
of the Isle of St Martin | West Indies 

I born May 15 1784 | died Oct 18 1863 

To the memory | of | Mary Louisa | 
widow of I Giles Mardenbrough | of 
the Isle of St Martin | West Indies | 
and daughter of Rev Richard Mans- 
field D D I died May 6 1863 | as 89. 

Mrs I Sally Warren | Died | Oct 17 
1833 I aged 44 years. 

Calm was the hour's impressive scene 

When silent death thy suffering clos'd 
No pain nor anguish inlerven'd 

But every feature seemed compos'd 
Then rest in peace ihis hallowed spot 
I hy dust shall never be forgot 
While oft affection's tear stiall lave 
Upon thy low and silent grave. 

I H S— Capt Carleton White | born 
Feb 20 1801 I died | 

Kequicscat in pace. 



824 



APPENDIX. 



I H S 1 Judith Ciiadeayne Miller | 
wife of I Capt Carleton' White | born 
August 12 1S07 I died ] June 30 1S70. 
Requiescat in pace. 

Sarah White | daughter of | Rev Cal- 
vin and Phebe ] White ] born April 19 
1794 I died t Sept 2 1856. 
Requiescat in pace. 

I H S I the sons of | Moses and Marga- 
ret White I Clement | baptized 1S37 
died 1838 I aged 2 years. 

Moses | baptized 1840 died 1843 | aged 
4 years. 

Dear Fa'tlier thy will be done. 

I H S I Rev Calvin White | died March 
21 1853 I ae 90. 

Requiescat in pace. 

I H S I Phebe White | wife of | Rev Cal- 
vin White I daughter of | Nathaniel 
and Rachel | Camp | of Newark New 
Jersey | obt Nov 23 A D 1826 | a;t 51 

Her children arise up and call her | blessed her 
husband also and he | praiseth her. Prov xxxi 
28. 

Requiescat in pace. Amen. 

In I memory of | Alfred Whitney who 
died I May 28 1839 | aged 33 years. 

Ann I widow of | Archibald Whitney | 
died Nov 22 1869 | ae 85. 

In I memory of | Archibald Whitney 
I who died | Sept 18 1842 | aged 62 
years. 

In I memory of | Archibald Whitney 
I who died Jan 10 1849 I aged 41 years. 

In I memory of | Capt William Whit- 
ney I who died | Oct 26 1839 | in his 
11 year. 

Mary his wife | died Nov 7 1S07 | in her 
41 year. 

In memory of Miss Susan Whitney ] 
who died j Dec 22 1851 | in her 77 year. 

Henry Whitney | died May ist 1811 | 

aged 75. 
Life and immortality [ are brought to light by the 

Gospel. 

In I memory of | Eunice Whitney | 
wife of I Henry Whitney | who de- 
parted this life I Thursday 21st Aug 
1794 I aged 48 years. 



Long as the crimson tide sliall Vnow 
The blood which bid it first to flow 
So long O parent ! ever dear 
Shall sad remembrance linger here. 

Here lyes y^ body of ] Isaac Whitney 

I son of I Capt Henry and Mrs Eunice 

I Whitney who died | Oct y« 19 1769 

age I 2 yrs 7 mos. 

Hannah | widow of | Abijah Wilcoxson 

I Died I Jan'y ist 1866 | aged 96 years. 

Abitah Wilcoxson | Died | Sept 29 

1838 I set 74. 
John Wooster | son of Mr John | and 
Mrs Eunice | Wooster died | March 16 
1756 I in his 4 year. 
Anne Woostkr | daughter of Mr John 
I and Mrs Eunice ( Wooster died | 
March 5 1756 | in her 2d year. 
In memory of Mr | Thomas Wooster 
I died I 2d Feb 1777 in | 85 year of 
his age. 
Heneath this tomb an aged man here lies 
Who oft relieved the poor and needy ones. 

Here lyes y'' body of | Joseph Wooster 
I son of Mr Thomas | Wooster and 
Mrs Sarah his | wife aged 19 years i 
mo and 13 days | died Aug | 13 1751. 

Here lies the | body of | Eliz^h Woos- 
ter I dau'' of Mr John | Wooster and 
Mrs I Eunice his wife | age 2 years 
and I 8 ds died Aug | 8 1751. 

In I memory of | Sarah wife of | Wm 
Wooster who died | Sept 11 1839 | as 
44. 

Also I Henrietta M | daughter of Wm 
and Sarah Wooster ] died | Dec 16 
1S35 I ae 17. 
Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. 

In memory of | Mr Daniel Wooster | 
who died April 3 1807 | aged 78 years. 
Mourn not for me my children dear 
Shed for yourselves a mourning tear 
That you may soar to worlds above 
"Where all is joy and all is love. 

In memory of | Mrs Sarah Wooster | 
wife of I Daniel Wooster | who died 
Oct 13th 1790 I in the 36 year | of her 
age. 

Frederika I wife of John Young | 
Died May 14th 1867 | ae 36 y'rs. 



INDEX 



Thk Rom \x Numbers refer to the Indian Historv. 



Aaron, Hunt, 461. 
Abbott, Bennett T., 467. 

George, 449 ; his grist- 
mill, 144. 
Abrigador, xcvi. 
Academy Bell, 205. 

Hill', 129, 157,300. 
Acly, Charles G., 471. 
Ackcutrout, 120. 
Adams, John, 169, 46S. 

Joseph, 230. 

Robert, 410. 
Adamson, James, 505. 
Adee, John, 187, 451. 
Admission of Inhabitants, 

4- 
Aenuhe, 41. 
Ager, George, 496. 
Aggett, Rufus, 502. 
Agricultural Seminary, 21 1. 
Ahuntaway, xxvii, xxix, Ixi, 
70, 71, 90, loS, 112. 
Allen, Clarissa, 637. 
Samuel, 187. 
Timothy, 138. 
Ames, Henry, 463. 
Ailing, Amos II., i8i, 351, 
359. 3(^3' 3^7, 406, 
532- 
C.B., 181, 359, 367, 406. 
Charles D., 496. 
Charles IT., 367. 
Edward, 496. 
Edwin J., 514, 
Henry G., 508. 
Ichabod E , 519. 
M. Loui.se, 532. 
Allis, George C, 363; book- 
store, 369 ; Biog., 
370. 
Alsteidt, Joseph, 504. 
Alwaush,xxxii,xxxiii,xxxiv. 
Amantanegu, xxvii. 
American Car Company, 

481. 
Amonc(|uon, 39. 
Anderson, Thomas, 508. 
Andrew, Mr., 113. 
Uncle, 225, 226. 
104 



Andrews, A. H., 563. 

Elias C, 514. 

James I., 274. 

John, XXX, 518. 

tohn M., 500. 

L. & F., 372. 
Andros, Sir Edmund, xxxv, 

xxxviii, 52. 
Andrus, Luman, 462. 
Annis, James, 462. 
Anketel, Mr., 234. 
Ansantaway, xxiii, xxi v,xxv, 
xxvii, xxix, xli, 1, 15, 
16, 121. 
Anthony, John, 132. 
Antiquarian Clocks, 371. 
Aquiomp, 16. 
Agawacomuck, xxxiv. 
Archer, Martin, 491. 
Arkumi, loS. 
Arnold, ("hristopher, 512. 

Edwin, 505. 

Geo. S., 408 ; resi- 
dence, 388. 

Jared, 523. 

Joseph, 376, 377, 37S, 
387 ; Biog., 523. 

Jonathan, 150, 152. 

Susan, 523. 
Artownhood, 108. 
Arumpiske, xxxv. 
Asburv, Bishop, 360. 
Ashley, Benjamin, 511. 

Wm. B., 362. 374, 554. 
Asynetmogu. xxvii. 
Atkins, Eldridge G., 372. 
Atterosse, xxix, 33. 
Atrechanasett, 35. 
At water, Charles E., 366. 

Henry, 312, 358, 366, 
375. 3«6, 555; biog- 
raphy, 523. 

L , 460. 
Atwood, Charles, 333, 356; 

l-'og-, 337> "356- 

E. G., 380. 

Zacheus, 356. 
Atwood's Factory, 357. 
Aupkt, xxxii, x.xxiii. 



Authentic Records, Iviii. 
Autimitako, xxxii, xxxiii. 
A wowas, xxxiv, x.xxv, xxxvi. 
Bachelor, Abijah, 462. 
Bacon, Daniel, 370. 

Dr., 625. 

Jabez, 239. 

John, 372. 

Rev. Leonard, 289. 

Wm. I., 370. 

Wm. T., Biog., 676. 
Bagden, Augustus, xlvi. 
Bailey, Barnabut M., 491. 

_ Joseph, 490, 495. 
Bainbridge, Thomas, 465. 
Baker, Charles E., 491. 

Robert S., 499. 

Scott, 506. 
Barker, Scott R... Biog , 524. 
Bates, William, 465. 
Baldwin, Barnabas, 157. 

]>arnabas, Jr., 127. 

Bernard S., 512. 

Capt. Timothy,i86,2i6. 
Baldwin's Corners, 57, 59. 
Baldwin, Daniel, 247. 

Doct. Silas, 1S7. 

E. C, 476. 

Elihu, 495. 

Eunice, 461. 

Frank, 497. 

Henry 1)., 514. 

Herbert C., 513. 

Isaac, 450, 461, 462. 

James, 203. 

John, 131, 516, 560. 

Jose])h, 109. 

josiah, no, iii, 130. 

Joshua, 495. 

Leonidas, Biog., 676. 

Mills G., 5ro, 511. 

Rev. Ashbcl, 233. 

Rev. Mr., 156. 

R. S., 309. 

Reuben, 184, 186, 264. 

Richard, xxviii, 6, 7, 8, 
12, 13, 14, 17, iS, 20, 
21, 22, 25,27,34,39, 
245. 



826 



INDEX. 



Baldwin, Sarah, 461. 

Silas, 304. 

Simeon E., 53S. 

Stephen, 496. 

Timothy, 175, 179, 1S3, 
450, 476, 477. 

Timothy, Jr., 187. 

Thaddeus, 1S7. 

Wm., 506. 

Wm. A., 506. 
Bank, Derby Savings, 375. 
Banks, Mr., 27. 
Bangs, Frank D., 496. 

Nathan, 463. 

Rev. Heman, 221, 361. 

Rev. Nathan, 361. 
Bantam, xcvii. 

Lake, xvii. 
Barber, J. W., 42, 70, 1 58, 
163, 242, 255, 472, 
xxii. 

John W., xli, xlii, xliii. 
Bare Plains, 69. 
Barker, Charles E., 501. 
Barlow, John H., 382, 383. 

Mr., 458. 
Barlock, David, 494. 
Barnes & Bacon, 37i.5 
Barnes, Lewis, Biog., 525. 

Rev. E., 361. 
Baron, Com., 569. 
Bartemy, Capt., 259, 270. 
Bartholomew, E. & G. W., 
372. 

Gold, 187, 191. 

Jared, 257, 556. 

J- H., 333, 334. 

J. H.. Biog., 525. 

Jonathan, 525. 

Pliny, 504. 
Barnett, E., 464. 
Barrett, Joseph L., 495. 
Barton, Rev. Josiah, 231. 
Bassett, Abraham, 160, 161, 
184, 186. 

Amos, 183, 186. 

Amos, D.D., Biog ,676. 

Archibald, Biog., 527. 

Asa, 379, 623. 

Benjamin, 183, 187, 
218, 219, 527. 

Benjamin, Biog., 677. 

David, 187, 354, 379, 
37 5> 355. 629. 

E. D., 352, 644. 

Ebenezer, 187. 

Ebenezer D., Biog., 
677. 

Edward, 240. 

Elliott, 222. 

Henry G., 373. 

Isaac, 219, 222, 462, 
467. 



Bassett, James, 188. 
Jared, 467. 
John, 169, 175, 184, 

190, 217. 
Joseph, 188, 219. 
Julius, 484. 
Lorenzo M., 516. 
Martin B., Biog., 678. 
—Mary, 531. 
Matthew, 516. 
Noyes E , 519. 
Philo, 274, 351. 
Rev. Amos, Biog., 299. 
Rev. Archibald, 299. 
R. M., 387. 
R. M. and T. S., 373. 
Robert N., 332, 354, 

375- 
Robert, Serg., 216. 
Royal M., 365, 366, 

386, 406. 
Royal M., Biog., 528. 
Sally B., 464. 
Samuel, 130, 144, 145, 

156, 179, 184, 216, 

217, 520, 531. 
Sharon, 358, 386. 
Sharon bolt factory, 

373. 407- 
Sheldon, 356, 365, 375, 

382. 
Theodore S., 365. 
Wm. Elliott.Biog., 678. 
Wm. F., 500. 
Battell, Capt., 273. 
Beach, Andrew Y., 477, 535. 
Benjamin, 354, 533. 
Benjamin, Biog., 532. 
Benjamin B., 637. 
B. H., 225. 
Calvin, 510. 
Dan. F., 503. 
Emeline, 536. 
Edwin C , 491, 500. 
Geo. W., 535. 
Geo.W.,3i6,Biog.,326. 
Giles, 533. 
James B., 509. 
Je.sse, 158. 
John, 72, 79, 83, 86. 
John J., 506. 
John S., 537. 
Joseph W., 503. 
Julius G., 491, 501. 
Nelson M., 363. 
Rev. Benjamin, 451. 
Rev. J. B., 362. 
Rev. John, 172. 
Rev. \V., 361, 
Samuel, 483 
Samuel A., 519. 
S. Y., 312. 
Sharon D., 535. 



Beach, Sharon Y., 450, 477, 

533- 
Theodore B., 535. 
Titus H., 450. 
Beacon Falls Dam, 317. 
Beacon River, xix. 
Beaman, George, 46, 73, 79, 
86, 109, no. 
Martha, 157. 
Bear killed, a story, 48. 
Beard, James, 175, 186, 188, 
204, 2S3, 284. 
John, 39, 42, 46, 61. 
Beardsley A., 374, 384, 602, 
608. 
Ambrose, 386, 525. " 
Ambrose, Biog., 528. 
Ambrose E., 508. 
A., speech of, 392. 
Building Co., 410. 
Dr. A., 30, 143, 150, 
181, 197, 205, 213, 

248, 353- 
Dr. A., description of 
the early settlement, 
49, 50. 

E. E., 607. 

Geo. L., Biog., 531. 

Mr. 312. 

Rev. E. E., 172, 374. 

Talmadge, 59, 265. 
Beaver brook, xix, 447. 
Becket Henry, 520. 
Beebe E. D., 362, 363. 

Joel, 473. 

Martin, 469. 
Beecher, Abraham,i6r,i78, 
186. 

Alonzo, 495. 

F. H., 484. 

H. B., 462, 468. 
H. H., 483. 
Isaac, 161, 184. 

J- 363- 

William, 391, 496. 

Wm. C, 384, 495. 
Beeman, C. C, 382. 

George, 385. 

Theodore, 496. 
Beers, Abby, 536. 

AlfredB., 330. 

Alfred, Biog., 329. 

Amos S., Biog., 331 

Charles W., 330. 

Henry B., 518. 

Herbert S., 332. 

Herbert S., Biog., 338. 

Leander J., 330. 

Willie H.. 332. 
Bell, Robert C, 477, 478. 
Bellamy, Dr., 137. 
Bemot, Henry, 274. 
Benedict, Aaron, 312. 



, Benedict, Charles, 312. 

Henry \V., 469. 
Benham, Joseph H., 514. 

liennelt, 519. 
Bennett, Daniel, 576. 
Bcntley, Samuel A., 493, 
Biographies begin on page 

Billings, Henry, 497. 
Birdseye, Ephraiui, ^79. 

J. \V. & Co., 407, 
Birdsey, Mary L,, zfyj. 

Thaddeus G„ 267, 31:3, 
67S, ^ 

Birmingham borough, 386. 

Chaptpr on, 344. 

Corset Co., 407. 

Iron Foundrv, 364. 

in 1836,349.' 

Progress in, 363, 

Public school, .387. 

Public square, 376. 
Bishop, Alfred, 3ii,3r2. 

Alfred, biog., 323. 

& Bradley, 372. 

Edward F., 324. 

llenrv, 324. 

I. L.,'568. 

James, 372. 

Mr., 29, 219. 

Samuel, 137. 

Wm. D., 324. 
Black, George, 129, 157. 
]51acknian, Alfred, 545, 647. 

Alfred, biog., 530. 

Charles S., 530. 

George, 257. 

Henry, 391. 

Samuel C, 536. 
Bladen's brook, xix, 455. 
Blair, Charles C, 378. 

Samuel L., 509. 
Blake, Harvey L., 499. 

Rufus VV., 367, 370. 
Blakeman, Geo., 36b, 375, 

37^- 
Blakeslee, M. & E., 372. 

Norman, 513. 

Rev. Edward, 469, 470. 

Rev. M., 156. 
Blanchard, Chas. N., 468. 
Blatchley, Mercy, 532. 
Bliss, Howard, 519. 
Blodgett, Frederick P., 

i'iog., 539- 
Blood, John M., 491. 
Bloodgood, John, 22 [. 
Blydenburgli, 466. 
Boardman, Chauncey, 372. 
Daniel VV., 503. 
& Wells, 372. 
W. I.., 363. 
J'odge, .Andrew, 517. 



INDEX. 

Bodge, George E., 491, 318, 
Bolbiook, Richard, u8. 
Booth, Ebenezer, 644. 
Henry T., 519. 
Joseph N., 506. 
Olive M., 644. 
Stephen, 361. 
Botsford, Cvrus. 222. 
Edward, 516, 517. 
Edward N,. 468. 
George, 495, 510. 
Henry, 19, 20, 21, 25, 

34- 37. 46. 
Henry E., 519. 
Isaac, 307. 
John, 161, 1S6, 506, 
Nehemiah, 187, 477, 
Samuel, 149. 
Samuel, Jr., 187. 
Bostwick, Israel, 469. 
Botta, Charles, 57S. 
Bottome, Rev. F„ 362. 
Bourchier, Patrick, 506, 
Bowen, Josiah, 465. 

Rev. Josiah, 361. 
Bowers, Bridget, 157. 
George, 539. 
John, 109, no, 157,283, 

590, Biog., 539. 
Nathaniel, 87, 156. 
Rev. John, 42. 43, 46, 
47, S3. 55. 56. 60, 63, 
65,66,86,87,98, 107, 
291. 
Samuel, 109, no, 116, 
117, 126, 127, 130, 
131 156. 
Widow, 109, 117. 
Bowman, \V. V., 383. 
Boyd, John, 312. 
Bradford, Horace A., 482, 

484. 
Bradlaw, Charles W., 470. 
Bradley, Capt., 264. 
David, 1. 

Edward B., Biog., 338. 
Elwin N., 505. 
Enos, 187. 
Henry T., 518. 
Horace, 270. 
John, 485. 
J. W., 338. 
Rev. Charles E.. 379. 
Rev. Charles W., 382, 

3.S3. 

Win. H., 509. 
Brainard, John, Biog., 540. 

Rev. Mr, 156, 607. 
Bray, John E., 475. 

Morris, 491. 

Morris 'I'., 504. 

Wm. H., 518. 
Breckenridgc, J. S., 363. | 



827 

Bridge at Stratford, 30S. 

Leavenworth, 307, 308. 

The first toll, 139. 

Zoar, 225. 
Briggs, Albert, 517. 
Brinley, George, lix. 
Brinsmade, Daniel, 60. 

John, 42, 46, 216. 

Paul, 63. 

Samuel, 59, 63, 72, 79, 
83, 86, 105, 109, 110, 
124, 129, 131, 156. 

•Serg. Samuel, 1 13, 114. 
Bristol, Aaron, 145. 

Eliphalet, 145. 

Forest N., 495. 

George L., 494. 

John H., 494. 

Eewis H., 483. 

Louis H., 538. 

Town, 237. 
Britton, Edwin L., 408, 
Brock, Wm. II., 496. 
Brodie, Joseph, 510. 
Bronson, Harvey R., 506. 

Dr. Henry, .xx.wiii. 

Henry, 482. 

Rev. David, 186, 231. 

Rev. Wm., 234. 

Rodney O., 515. 

Royal L., 519. 

Samuel L., 538. 

Wm., 484. 
Brooks and Rivers, xix. 
Brooks, Gen., 584. 

Peter, 496 

Rev. W. E., 292. 
Broome, Samuel, 163, 164, 

248. 
Brougham, Lord, 5t;9. 
Brown Brothers, 312. 

Charles, 516. 

Edward, 506. 

James, 513. 

John, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 

25. 30, 552- 

John M., 496. 

Peleg T., 506. 

Rev. Abraham, 231. 

William, 503, 519. 

William J., 506. 
Browne, Wm. S., 378. 
Brownell, Bishop, 155, 234, 

374, 540, ()46." 
Browcr, Iheophilus, 600. 
Brownson, David, 284. 

Isaac, 2S4 
Bruer, John, 19, 25. 
Brush, Jacob, 462. 

James, 56S. 

John E., 362. 

Rev. Jacob, 360. 

S. H., 39.. 



828 



INDEX. 



Bryan, Alexander, xxiv. 
Alexander, ii, 15, 17, 

20, 29, 33, 36, 36, 39, 
54, 59, 61, 216, 245, 
262. 
Alexander, account of, 

Richard, 38, 39,61,88, 
100, 245, 202. 

Samuel, 157. 
Bryant, Edson L., 509. 

Sylvester, 512. 
Buchanan, Mr., 651. 
Buck, Valentine, 464. 
Buckley, James E., 505. 
Buckingiiam, 477. 

Charles R., 510. 

Ebenezer, 109, 175, 191. 

George H , 510. 

Joel, ^5 1 5. 

Mr. Thomas, 99. 

Nathan, 179, 1S4, 187. 

Philo B., 519. 

Samuel A., 236. 

Scoville, 312. 
Buel, Norton J., 312. 
Bulkley, Owen, 516. 
Bunday, George B., 491. 
Bunker Hill, 174. 
Bunnell, Alva, 258. 

Charles, 235. 

Mr., 242. 

William, 233. 
Bunvan, Matthias, 485. 
Buric, Rev. Mr., 234. 
Burke, A. E., 383. 
Burhans, Rev. Daniel, 234, 

374- 
Burlock, David, 491. 

Thomas, 309, 312, 375, 

376. 377> 406, 44^- 

Thomas, Biog., 540. 
Burnside, General, 642. 
Burns, John, 519. 

James W., 518. 

Robert, 384. 
]>urr, Milo, 312. '7^ 

Burreit, Wifliam, i^^JT' 
Burt, David, 1. 
liurton, Franklin, 383. 
Burwell, John, 18, 19. 
Burying the dead, xliv. 
Bushnell, C. S., 332. 

George T., 391. 

Samuel, 464. 
Business enterprises in 
Humphreysville, 479. 
Butler, Charles H., 512. 

John, 236, 237. 

Samuel, 468, 469. 
Butterworth, George, 491, 

499. 
Byington, Charles E.. 506. 



Cacasahum, xxxv. 
Cahill, Richard, 510. 
Calkins. Israel, Ixxxviii. 
Camp, J. C, 312. 
Camp, Nicholas, 39, 42, 46, 

60, 108, 112. 
Camp's Mortgage, 229. 
Canal, the Ousatonic, 310. 
Candee, Benjamin, 484. 

Caleb, 243, 305. 

Charles A., 514. 

E. C, 484. 

Daniel, 232, 4S4. 

David, 232, 666. 

George B., 516. 

George N., 232. 

Job, 232, 240. 

John, 243. 

Levi, 484. 

Moses, 484. 

Naboth, 191. 

Nehemiah, 188, 219. 

Samuel, 240. 

Sterne, 243. 

Timothy, 232. 
Canfield, Abiel, 203, Biog. 

541- 

Abijah, 223. 

Abiram. 128, 129, 131, 
149, 157. 

Abraham, 219. 

Benjamin T., 494. 

Charity, 223. 

Daniel, 219. 

Ezekiel. 464. 

Guilford M., 503. 

Horace, 276. 

Joseph, 187, 217. 

Joseph P., 374, 375. 

Mrs , 453. 

Sarah, 223. 

S. H., 484. 

Sheldon, 356, 363. 

William, 223. 
Cankwood Plain, 157. 
Calhoun, Mr., 585, 051. 
Capage, xxxiv, xcv. 
Capture of the Guerriere, 

572- 
Caranchaguo, xxxii. 
Carmody, Edmund, 510. 
Carey, John, 495. 
Carlos, Don, 650. 
Carmody, Michael, 511. 
Carney, Richard M., 512. 
Carr, Michael, 511. 

Thomas, 500. 

I'ruman, 599. 
Carpenter, C. C, 379. 

Coles, 462. 

Benjamin, 187. 
Carrington, Albert, 475. 

John, 258. 



Carris, Capt., 638, 647. 
Carroll, Wm., 516. 
Case, Richard, Ixxxvi. 
Casey, Timothy, 499. 
Cass, John, 510. 

Nichols, 517. 
Castle Rock, 444. 
Castle, D. C , 484. 

M. R , 484. 
Caston, Adam, Biog., 541. 
Catlin, John, Ixvi. 
Caughlin, Thomas, 5C0. 
Chadvvick, Thomas, 519. 
Chaffee, Anson, 491. 

James W., 491,493. 

Sanford E., 490, 505. 
Chamberlin, Rev. Mr., 156, 

231- 
Chamberlain, E. B., 475. 
Chambord, Count de, 050. 
Chapman, (ieo. D., 333. 

Howard, 520. 

Charles, 120. 
Charnley, Pavmaster, 391. 
Chatfield, Charles N., 505. 

Daniel, 184. 

Daniel, 186. 

Ebenezer, 283. 

Frederick N., 518. 

George A., 491, 51S. 

Isaac, 240. 

Joel, 203, 469. 

John, 109, no, 121,127, 
130. 

Joseph, 1S3, 187. 

Lemuel, 266. 

Solomon, 283. 
Chase, Israel, 513. 
Chawbrook, 39. 
Church, John, 88, 131, 156, 

i6r, 230. 
Chebrook, 94 
Chesseman, Geo. B. Biog., 

541- 
Cheeseman, Geo. W . 363. 
Cheney, Laban C, 464. 
Chequeneag, xlviii. 
Cherakmath, 33. 
Cheraromogg, xlviii. 
Cheroromogg, 41. 
Cheshquaneag, xxxvii. 
Chestnut Tree Hill, 95, 96, 

444; brook, xix. 
Chesusumock, 2)o- 
Chetemhchu, 40. 
Chetrenasut, Ixii, 71, 119. 
Chery, xxxii. 
Chickins, 41. 
Chidsey, Wm. H., 494. 
Childs, John, 495. 
Evlyn L., 497. 
Chipps, 1 19. 
Choate, Rev. Peter, 361. 



INDEX. 



<S29 



Chops, 96. 

Christ Church, Derby, 134, 

148, 149. 
Chub, 14, 35. 
Chupps, 17. 
Church, Abel, 469. 
Brothers, 410 



C)ark,\Villiam,i t;3,i54,i77, 

186, 195, 247, 256. 
Clarke, James I'"., 5S6. 
John, 29, 48 1. 
Sheldon, 606. 
Clemens, Frank II., 495. 
Clement, Levi, 516. 
(!hitf-Jusiice, .vx.wiii. i^iemons, F. M., 365. 

Cloues, John, Hiog., 363. 



I'"rank, 491. 

William, 469. 

Congregational of Bir- 
mingham, 378. 

Congregational at Sey- 
mour, 475. 

of Christ in Derby, 115. 

of England, 148. 

the first, 64, 65, 66. 

the Catholic of Bir- 
mingham, 385. 

Methodist E. of Bir- 
mingham, 359. 
E. of Seyniour,46r 



Clay, Henry, 632, 651 
Coate, Michael, 461. 
Coburn, Josiah M., Biog., 

543- . 

Cocacoko, x.x.xiv, xpv. 

Cocapndous, xxxv. 

Cockajiatana, xxv, xxix, 
xxxiv, xlii, l.xi, 70, 108, 
112, 119, 120, 141. 

Cockapatouch, 95, 96, 119. 

Cockapatany, 90, 94, 96. 

Cockapatouce, 94. 

Cockshure, John, 140, 141. 



Trinity, Seymour, 469, 1 Cocoesen, xxxiii, xxxv 
Church, M. E. in Birming-' Cocumpasuck, xxxiv, xcv. 
ham, 359 



Churchill, John, 188, 231. 

232. 
Chuse, Ann, 448. 

anecdotes, xlv, xlvi, 
xlvii, xlix, liii. 

Joseph, 40, 89, 90, 144, 

447. 44^^, 449- 

and the last Indian 
families, xli. 
Chusetown, xxxviii, xli, 

xliii, xciv, 
C'hushumack, xxiv, xxix, 

xli, xlii, 39, 40, 71. 
Chusquunoag, xxxvii, 
Clancy, Patrick, 498. 
Clapman, Thomas, 267. 
Clapp, Thomas, 667. 
Clark, Allen, 476. 

Charles E., 378, 383. 

David, 495. 

David J., 510. 

Kdmond, 188. 

I->ank, 500, 503. 

George, 461. 

Joseph, 372. 

Eaban, 361, 464. 

Lewis F., 497. 

Merritt, 205, 378. 

Moses, 188, 451. 

Rev. J. L., 374. 

Samuel, 15a 

Sarah A., 6155. 



Coday, William, 510, 
Coe, Charles H., 383, 629. 

Israel, 526. 

John, 169, 175, 178, 
184, 186, 360, 450, 
461., Biog, 542. 

Mr., 209. 

Rev. Truman, 300. 

Truman, 210, 211, 212, 
557., Biog., 542. 
Coger, Wm., 491. 
Cogswell, Jeremiah, Ixviii. 

Nathan, Ixviii. 

Wm., 215. 

^Vm. II., Ixvii. 
Cohen, Henry, 491, 501. 
Coit, Rev. Dr., 155. 

Rev. G. S., 374. 
Colbert, Wm,, 485. 
Colburn Brothers, Biog., 

543- 
Daniel, 543. 
Doct. Josiah, 364. 
Josiah M., 548. 
j. M., 543. 

I^edyard, 4S6, 490, 504. 
Sullivan, 356. 
Sullivan M., 543, 
S„ 364. 

S. M., 364, 375. 
Sylvester, 356, 543. 
Colburn's Foundry, 373. 



Cole, David, _^56. 
Sheldon, 175T 195, 204,! Coleby, Thomas R., 497. 

247. Coleman, James, 462, 464. 

Thomas, 169, 175, 178, John, 485, 504. 

179, 186, 190, 193, kev. James, 36r. 

202, 231, 2-52, 234,1 Thomas, 495. 

235, 284, 307* ' I Collin, H. I'., 470. 



Collins, Abraham, 518- 

John, 497. 

Daniel, 71, 72, 83, 86, 
446. 
Colt, Charles, 506. 
("ommercial Interests, 245. 
Compounce, xxxii. 
Condon, John, .495. 
Conners, John, 510. 
Conway, Michail, 510. 
Cook, David R., 483. 

Edward, 568. 

Moses, Ixviii. 

Rev. Cornelius, 360. 

Rev. E. W., 379. 
Cookson, John, 447. 
Cooper, James, 500. 

Wm. C, 484. 
Copper Mills, Ansonia, 373. 

.Mill, Big, 354, 355. 
Corcoran, Dennis, 497. 

John, 3S5. 
Cordon, Thomas, 385. 
Corkran, PMvvard, 519. 
Corkscrew, xxxvii, xvii. 
Corlies, G. H., 629. 
Cornish, Stephen A., 510. 
Cornell, John, 490. 

& Shelton, 373. 
Cornett, Frederick, 491. 
Cornish, Oscar W., 501. 
Cornwall, Wm., 482 
Cornwallis, Lord, 199, 583. 
Corwin, Wm. IL, 505. 
Coshushemack, 35. 
Cotter, Frederick, 512. 

James P., 506. 
Cothren, Mr., Ixvi. 
Courage of the settlers, 51. 
Cowap, Wm. II., 491. 
Cow Boys, 198. 
Cowlev, John, 502. 
Cox, Reuben, 517. 
Coxe, Rev. Mr., 156. 
Crafts, Edward, 186, 
223, 251, 277, 

599- 
Dr. Edward, 251. 
Dr. Pearl, 210, 

301, 602. 
Samuel, fate of, 251. 
Crane, Stephen, 495. 
Crawford, John, 187, 203, 

465- 

Josejjh, 462. 

William, 501. 
Crehero, 41. 
Crofut, Bradley, 408. 
Cronan. Patrick, 407, 503 

50S. 
Croncrl, Frederick, 493. 
Crosbv, Lydia, 357. 

Mr., 252. 



04. 

78, 



51. 



830 



INDEX. 



Cross, Frederick, 516. 
Cruminey, Dennis, 520. 
Crowley, Timothy, 502. 
Cuckson, John, 132. 
Culver, Miles, 477. 

Josiah, 312. 
Cummins, Thomas, 504. 
Curan, xxxv. 
Cureno, 120. 
Curtiss, Agur, 363. 

Augustine B., 497. 

Chester, 553, 363. 

Ldward H., 502. 

Eliza, 527. 

Ephraim, 553. 

Evart PL, 516. 

Franklin A., 506. 

Gould, 363. 

Harry, 257. 

Job, 527. 

John, lix. 

Jasper L., 511. 

Oliver, 159, 187, 209. 

Sheldon, 210. 

William, 45, 59, 665. 

W. A., 233. 

William B., 467, 475. 

William C, 516. 
Dam and Shelton, 391. 
Dam, The, Description of, 
403- 

Picture of, 390. 
Davis, Anna, 464. 
• Alva, 464. 

Benjamin, 161, 224, 
469, 501. 

Betsey, 163, 283. 
Dacres, Capt., 574. 
Davidson, Nathan, 484, 
506. 

M. D., 333. 
Davis, Charles E., 520. 

Charles H , 517. 

Chester, 561. 

Daniel, 161, 187, 203, 
469. 

Elijah, 1S7. 

George W., 515. 

H. P., 484. 

Henry W , 514, 515. 

John,' 7 2, 117, 129, 157, 
161, 175, 186, 236, 
243, 484. 

John, Sr., 109, no. 

John, Jr., 109, III. 

John W., 375. 

Joseph, 161, 186, 233. 

Nathan, Jr., 1S7. 

Rachel, 283. 

S., 606. 

Zera B., 520. 
Dachs, Francois, 514. 
Day, Austin ( I., 483. 



Dayton, Ehenezer 203. 

Jonathan, 533. 

Mary, 533. '' 
Dean, Charles C, 497. 
Dearborn, Gen'l, 586, 589. 
Deer Hunt, 225. 
DeForest, Andrew W.,477. 

David, 178,' 179, 186, 
202. 

Geo. F., 477, 4S1, 312, 
482. 

H. A., 478. 

J- H., 479- 

John, 534. 

J. W., xxii, xli, liv, Iv, 
Ivii, Ixiv; Biog., 544. 

Wm. C, 312. 
DeGrasse, Fowler, 517. 
Delancey, Thomas, 508. 
Delaney, Thomas, 494. 
Demill, Abraham 163 

Stephen, 24S. 
Deming, George A., ,ii. 
Denman, Micah, 130, 131, 

157- 
Philip, 69, 79, So, 83, 

86, 89, 446. 
Widow, 109, 131. 
Dennison, Robert, 18, 21. 
I Denniston, Eli, 464. 
Derby Blues, 640. 

Building and Lumber 

Co.. 373. 
Bank, a run on it, '275; 

revived, 276. 
census in 1756, 161. 
Cotton Mills, 410. 
P'erry-man, 259. 
Fishing Co., 250, 274. 
Gas Co , 373. 
its location, i ; bound- 
aries, 2, 9; number 
of inhabitants, 2. 
its name, 41;. 
in the Revolution, 165. 
Journal, 370. 
Landing, 42; in 1836, 
255; as a village, 
245; description of, 
162, 163. 
made a town, 45. 
Printing Co., 370. 
Savings Bank, 375. 
Silver Co., ^jt,, 408. 
Transcript, 370. 
DeVille, Robert, 52c. 
Devil's Jump, liii, 36. 
Dewey, Stephen, 284. 
Dibble, Wm W., 46S. 
Dickerman, Geo. A., 476. 
Dickinson, Rev. Charles. 

379- 
1 )ike, Yeren, 4S4. 



Dimon, Frederick, 501. 
Dinah, a slave, Ix. 
Discovery of Stratford 

lands, xxi. 
Dissenting Derby, 134, 136. 
Dividing lands, 36, 37. 
Division of land, the first, 
19, 20; plan of, 21. 

of lands, 58, 72 ; rules 
for, 108, 109. 
Doane, Henry C, 497. 
Dobbyn, Thomas, R., 495, 

500. 
Docames, xlviii. 
Dockery, John, 385. 
L^oghan, Patrick, 385. 
Dolan, James, 502. 

Michael, 502. 
Domingo, Charles, 520. 
L^onahue, James, 497. 

Patrick, 516. 
Donavan, John, 41 1. 
Donelson, Andrew J., 643. 
Doolittle, Isaac, 372. 

John H., 505. 

Merritt E., 503. 

T. E., 53S. 

Wm. H., 497. 
Dorman, David C, 514. 
Dougherty, Edmund, 512. 
Downes, Chauncey .S., 512. 

Eph, 372. 

George, 513. 

John H., 493. 

Lewis, 376, 377. 

N. H., 366. 

Nelson H., 407. 

Sidney A., 356, 375, 

376, 377. 409, Kiog., 

545- 
Wm. E., 332, 333, 366, 

375. 378, 3S6, 401, 
406, 409, 545. 
Downey, Michael, 503. 
Downs, Abraham, 187, 191. 

Albert W., 5:4. 

& Krous, 373. 

Nelson H., 356. 

Robert, 514. 
Drake, James, 511. 
Driscol, Jeremiah, 485. 
Duggett, C, 385. 
Duncan, John N., 508. 
Dunn, James, 508. 

John, 502. 
Durand, Charles, 482, Biog., 
546. 

David, 361, 463, 503. 

Doctor, 109, 126, 129. 

Doct. John, 1 17. 

Ebenezer, 1S8 

Frederick, 46S. 

Lsaac, 1S7. 



INDEX. 



831 



Durand, John, xlviii, 130, 

'57- 

Joseph, 1S6, 224. 

Noah, xiv, xlvi. 

Noah, Jr., 1S7. 

Samuel, 224, 361, 463, 
546. 

Sarah, 541. 

\V. L., Iv. 
Durgen, 120, 123. 
Dutcher, E. li., 468. 
Dutton, Henry, 332. 

Hosea, Biog., 546. 

Dr. Hosea, 232, 244. 

Thomas A., 3S3, 547. 
Dwelling Houses in Kng- 
Jand and America, 
102, 103. 
Dwight, J. W., 481, 482. 

President, Ixxxviii. 

Timothy, 4S1, 311. 
Dyer, Charles B., 491. 

Edward B., 491, 494. 

James C, 494. 
Edwards, Jonathan, 284. 
Ear marks, 101. 
Early Commerce of Derby, 

249. 
East Hill, 69, 72. 
Eastman Benjamin, 533. 

David, 665. 

Rev. Mr., 234. 
East, \Vm., 39. 
Eaton, T., letter to Wm. 

Kieft, 3. 
Eddy, Rev. Zachary, 379. 

John C, 492. 
Eggleston, Edward H., 

506. 
Eight .Mile Brook, xvii. 
Eldridge, Colburn, 493. 
Elliott, Clark, 257, 274. 

Clarke, 540. 

Joseph, 539. 
Elnies, Thomas, 366, 386, 

406. 
Ellis, Thomas, 362, 464, 

465- 
Elton, Jtohn P., 312. 
Eiy, David, 2S4. 

Dr., 287. 
Emmons, Berry D., 519. 
Emory, Nathan, 462, 464. 
Engles, James S., 492, 503. 
English, Alton H., 518. 

Benjamin, 219. 

Benoni, 463. 

James E., speech of, 

39I' 399. 537- 

Joseph, 501. 

Judson, 222, 480. 
Englishman's hogs, 26. 
Enos, Col., 63S, 647. 



Plpiscopal church, 134; its 
relations in the Rev- 
olution, 194. 
Escape of the Constitution, 

570. 
P.thnographic history, 

.xxviii. 
Evans, Richard, 3S2. 
Excelsior encampment,383. 
Euler, John, 512. 
Fagan, Lawrence, 508. 
Faith of the fathers, 49. 
Falls of the Naugatuck,48i. 
Fairchild, Abiel, Jr., 184. 

Ebenezer, 236. 

Marcus F., 497. 

Mr , 27, 29. 

Nathan, 305. 

Zechariah, 187. 
Farnam, Charles !>., 494. 
Farr, Catharine, 630. 
Farrell, Almon, 354 ; Biog., 

547- . 

Franklin 4S2, 547 ; 
Kiog. 547- 

F., Osborn & Cheese- 
man Co., 373. 
Fetch, Frederick A., 501. 
Fence on the river, 130. 
Fenn, Benjamin, 247. 
Ferguson, Charles M., 510. 

S. D , 361, 464. 
Ferris, Ethan, 324. 
Ferry, the first, 57. 

Woodbury, interested 
in, 61, 62. 
Field, Julius, 361, 464, 
P'illis, George W., 515. 
Finegan, John, 508. 
First families, 35. 

inhabitants, 22, 23, 25, 
28. 

plantations, xxi, xxii. 
Fisher, Benjamin, 461. 
Fishing place, 162, 443. 
Fitch, Capt., 91. 

Joel, 484. 

J. W., 476. 
Fitzpatrick, Kearn, 504. 

Patrick, 510. 
Fitzsimmons, Christopher, 
499. 

James, 498. 
Five-mile brook, 217. 
Flagg, Rev. Mr., 156. 
Fletcher, Rev. Charles, 362. 
Floy, James, 490. 
Flynn, Michael, 236. 
Folev, Edward, 49S. 

James, 505. 

Mich.icl, 51 1. 

John, 50S. 

William, 385. 



Foot, Isaac, 203. 
Fordham, David, 513. 
Fox, Richard, 511. 
Forque, Francis. 450. 
Franklin, Dr., 169. 
Freeman, Quash, 548. 

Roswell, Biog., 548. 

Simon, 508. 
French, Alfred, 484. 

Charles, 175, 186, 193, 
284, 469, 484, 485, 
520. 

David, Biog., 551. 

Dwight & Co., 312. 

Enoch, 203. 

Francis, i8, 19, 20, 2r, 
22, 24, 30, 34, 35, 36, 

45- . 
Francis, 60, 72, 79, 82, 

84, 86, 93, 109, no, 

127, 129, 131, 146, 

18S. 

Francis M., 257. 

Harpin R., 518. 

Herman B., 517. 

Hobart, 518. 

Israel, 4(39, 551. 

Israel, Jr., 187. 

fohn W., 519. 

Nathaniel, 187, 188. 

Noah, 187. 

Raymond, 480,481,482, 

4S3. 547- 

Richard B , 492. 

Samuel, lix., 187, 375. 

war and public debt, 
166. 

Walter, 454, 463. 

Warren, 46S. 
Friendly Sons of St. Pat- 
rick, 485. 
Freshets in Ousatonic and 

Naugatuck, 339. 
Frisbie, Alvah L., 505. 

E. H , 467. 
Fronk, Frederick, xlvi. 
Frost, F. T., 379. 
Fowler, John, 145. 

Mr. 568. 

Nail Co., 483. 
Fuller, Rev. George C, 
221. 

Rev. Mr., 156. 

Judge, 583. 
Fulton, Robert, 266, 272. 
Fulling-mill brook, xix. 
Gale, Thomas, 169. 
Gates, Col. Robert, 1 58, 208, 

302, 382, 3S4, 553. 
Gaggan, Dennis, 495. 
Gahaghan, Dennis, 497. 

Joseph, 492, 502. 
Gaines, Robert A., 511. 



832 



INDEX. 



Gallagher, Mrs., 2S0. 
Galloway, Wm., 495. 
Gardiner, Dwight, 497. 

Samuel M., Biog., 551. 
Gardner, Joseph, 69. 

S. M., 3S0. 

Thomas, 492. 
Garner, Thomas, 509. 
Garrett and Beach, 483. 
Garrett, Lewis L., 483. 
Garrettson. Freeborn, 462. 
Garvin, Edward, 515. 
Gawuskesucko, xxxiv, xcv. 
Gelyard, Thomas, 464. 
Ghost Story, 214. 
Gibbs, Capt., 256. 

Wm., 256. 
Gilbert, Abijah, 391. 

Agar, 1. 

David J., 496. 

Eliphaiet, 131. 

Ezekiel, 480, 534. 

George L., 506. 

Henry W., 499. 

Horace, 492. 

I. J., 361, 362, 363,375. 

Isaac, J., Biog., 552. 

Mr., 18. 

Thomas S., 494. 

Truman, 1, 3S0 ; Biog., 

553- 

Wm. L.. 312. 

Wm. T., 3S2. 

Zachariah L., 499. 
Gillon, Daniel, 506. 
Gilman, James B., 382. 
Gillett, Anson, 222, 462. 

Canfield, 274. 

C. W., lix, Ixi. 

Eliphaiet, 157. 

Jeremiah, 187, 469. 

Leonard, 514. 

Truman, 272. 
. T. P., 539. 
Gilyard, Edmund, 479. 

Nancy, 479. 

Thomas, 479. 
Gleason, James, 385. 
Glendining, Geo. B., 484. 
Glover, Almon P., 366. 
Goff, M., 23. 
Goodall, Geo. W., 499. 

Wm., 503. 
Goodyear, Charles, 567. 

Mr., xxviii, 5, 6, 17, 18, 
312. 
Gordon, William, 161. 
Gorham, Charles, 529. 

George, 257, 264. 

Joseph, lix. 
Gorman, Timothy, 385. 
Gothard, W., 362. 
Gould, A., 382. 



Governor's Hill, 233. , 

Gracey, Ebenezer, 161, 163, 

'175, 178, 1S7, 248, 

256, 616. 

Graham, Alexander, 510. ' 

George R., 649. 
Graven Rocks, 261. 
Gray, Thomas M., 234, 297. 
Greatorex, Henry, 501. 
Great Hill, Views from, i. 

Eccl. Society, 217. 

List of proprietors, 1 56. 

M. E. Church, 220. 

Purchase, 216. 
Great Neck, 10, 17. 
Greeley, Horace, 543. 
Green, General, 631. 

George, 520. 

John H., 520. 

Shepard, 492, 494. 
Gregory, Hyatt, 516. 
Gridley, Edwin, 494. 
Grimes, Thomas, 504. 
Grinnell, William, i88.-^ 
GrifJin, Elisha, 187. 

Harrison, 492, 500. 

James H., 496. 

John, 86, 88, 238, 469. 

Jonathan, 145. < , 

Samuel, 60, 88, loi. 

Walter, 49S. 
Griffith, Charles H., 495. 
Griffiths, David N., 492, 

50S. 
Griswold, Jacob, Ixxxiii. 

Shubael, Ixiii. 
Guernsey, Rev. Jesse, 291, 
292. 

Joseph, 72. 
Guilfoil, Wm., 492. 1 

Guion, Thomas, Biog., 545, 

553- 
Gunn, Abel, 18, 19, 30, 34, 

35. 36. 37. 41, 42, 46, 
62, 65, 69, 72, 79, So, 
83, 86, 88, 94, loi, 
157.446. 
Abel 2d, 109, 117, 129, 

130, 131, 153. 
Abel 3d, 233. 
Samuel, 97, 130, 156. 
Guthrie, Wm., 376, 377. 
Hale, Capt., 578. 
Haley, Thomas, 502. 
Halfway Covenant, 135, 

136. 
Hall, Beman, 187, 1S8. 
Frederick, Biog., 555. 
Giles, 174. 
Morrison C, 510. 
Hallock, Israel, 266. 

Ze]>haniah, 266, 267 ; 
Biog., 554. 



Hammond, Joseph, 510. 
Hancock's fJrook, xix. 
Hanley, John, 517. 
Hannah, Tous, 140, 141. 
Hard, James, 109, no, 140. 
Plardyer, Dr. J., lii. 
Harger, Abraham, xlvi. 

Andrew, 156. 

Ebenezer, 109, no, 129, 
130, 131. 

Edward, i6i, 606. 

Jabez, ^2' 34. 4'. 42, 
46, 78, 79, 109, 129, 

157- 
Samuel, 131, 157. 
Widow, 82, 84, loi, 

109. 
Harris, Jos., killed, Ixxxiv. 
Reuben, 462, 464. 
Francis E.. 



136- 



JJ-. jjj' 



Harrison, Fosdick, 475. 
Harrison, General, 586. 
Harrison, H. B., 538. 
Hart, Capt., 257. 
Hartson, John L., 484. 
Hartnet, James, 513. 
Harwood, Andrew, 513. 
Hasekey Meadow Brook, 

21S 
Platchett, David, xliii. 

Joseph, xliii. 

Molly, xxxviii, xliii, 
121 ; Biog., xlviii. 

Tousey, Ixvi. 
Hatchetowsock, xxxiii. 
Hawks, John, Ixxxii. 
Hawkes, Charles E., 491. 
Hawkins M'f'g Co., 358. 
Hawkins, Abram, 312, 524. 
Biog., 555. 

Abraham, 186,188,366, 
356, 386; Biog., 358. 

Charles, 238. 

Ebenezer, 145. 

Eleazer, 186, 188. 

Eli, 184, 188. 

Frank, 491, 503. 

Freegift, 187. 

John, 238, 512.' 

Joseph, 17, 19, 22, 25, 

30. 34. 35. 36. 38, 45- 
46, ■^7, 63, 65, 60, 79, 
80, 83, 84, 86, 117, 
118, 127, 130, 131, 
156. 223, 246, 247, 
187, 262. 

Joseph, 2d, 109, 1 10, 
262, 224. 

Joseph's first division 
of land, 38. 

Jose])h, 2d, keeps a 
ferry, 123. 



INDEX. 



833 



Hawkins, Lewis, 238. 
(31iver E., 370. 

I'tjint, 355- 55°- 
Samuel, 238. 
William, 358, 359, 

356- 
Wm., 373, 386, 524, 

555- 
Biog., 556. 

Zechariah, 175, 202, 
23 r, 23S. 
llawley, Benjamin, 469. 
Joseph, 32, 34, 37, 40,> 
42, 46, 57, 58, 59, 60, 
61, 62, 63, 216, 236; 
difficiiltv about land, 
60. 
J. R., 380. 
Samuel, 60. 
Stephen, 551. 
Theodore, 506. 
\Vm., 516. 
Wm. B., 510. 
Hawvvasues xlviii. 
Hayden, Richard E., 517. 
Hayes, Daniel, 495. 
Edward, 469. 
Frank, 407. 
Mi not, 492. 
Patrick, 495. 
Wm., 485. 

Wm. P., 495' 499- 
Hazelton, Samuel, 590. 
Hazen, Edmund, 504. 
Healey, John, 502. 
Hebard, Elijah, 463. 
Hefferan, Edward, 502. 
Helm, Emile, 509. 
Hell Lane, 206. 
Hcndryx, James W., 520. 
Henry, Alexander, 520. 
Herman, Behrens, 490. 

Max, 492. 
Herring, Thomas, 619. 
Hertz, H., 382. 
Hessekee Meadow, xciii. 
Hickerson, Francis, 492. 

Francis G., 503. 
Hickox, Samuel R., 464, 

468, 480. 
Pliggins, Jeremiah, 519. 
Highways, 304, 305. 
Hill, Charles, 409. 

Jonathan, 129, 157. 

Henrv, 88. 

W. T., 363. 467. 
Hilton, John, 484. 
Hine, Amos, 467, 532, 

450. 
Dwight, 495. 
Joel, 203. 

Thaddeus, 187, 450. 
Thomas, 19. 

105 



Hine, William, 187. 
Hinman, Eben, 187. 

Nelson, 374. 

Philo, 451. 

Royal, R., 170, 173. 
High Rock, 319, 322. 

Rock Glen, 319, 320. 

Rock Grove, 316, 317, 

319- 
Rock, scene above, 

3^7- 
Horsey, Thomas, 174 
Hitchcock, David, 187, 191. 

204, 590. 

Lbenezer, 187. 

Jonathan, 187, 190. 

Lucy, 461. 

Mill", 253. 

Samuel R., 372. 

Sheldon, 464. 

Timothy, 464. 

Uirania, 464. 
Hitt, Henry, 63. 
Hoadley, Joseph. 506. 

Silas, 372. 

& 'J homas, 372. 
Hobart, Bishop, 470, 605. 
Hockanum, xciv. 
Hodge, Benjamin, 1 55,Biog., 

556- 

Geo. L , 534. 
Holbrook, Abel, 46, 72, 79, 
83, 86, 100, 109, 1 10, 
112, 113, 128, 130, 
131, 135, 145. 157. 
387- 

Abigail, 150, 151. 

Alfred, Biog., 560. 

Andrew, 516. 

Cato, 295. 

David, 560. 

Dwight, Biog., 562. 

Daniel, 168, 175, 179, 
180, 182, 183, 184, 
186, 193, 202. 204, 
223, 283, 297, 305, 

3S7, 557- 
John, 150,151,152, 153, 

157. 169, 175. 179. 

186, 195, 218, 219. 

Josiah, 210, 211, 212, 

542, 560, 563, Biog., 

557- 

Lucy Swift, 659. 

Lewis, 473. 

Mrs. T. C., 220. 

Nathaniel, 469. 

Philo, 469, 481. 

Richard, 220. 

R. Hcber, 561. 

Zeph. S., Biog., 563. 
Holdich, Rev. Prof., 362. 
Holeren, James, 517. 



Holland, Charles B., 519. 
Holley, F. N„ 312. 
Holohan, Patrick, 495. 
Holmes; Israel, 312. 

Samuel, 482. 

William, 268. 
Holt killed, Ixxxi. 
Homan, Archibald, 495. 

George W., 519. 
Home, J. W., 363. 
Hooker, Doct., 653. 
Hotchkiss, Albert, 361. 

Charles B., 409. 

Elijah, 187. 

Eliphalet, 157, 17;;, 179, 
186, 188, 191," 192, 
194, 278, 283. 

John B., 370. 

John C, 273. 

Julius, 356. 

Leverett, 225. 

Levi, 184, 188, 203, 25S. 

Lewis, Iv, Ivi, 353, 363, 
467, 616, Biog., 564. 

L. S., 342. 

Moses, 203. 

Robert G., 494. 

Thomas, 451. 

Willis, 158", 2 58, 259, 
270, 356. 363. Biog-» 
564- 

& Field, 372. 

W. &. L., Lumber Co., 

373- 

W., 616. 

Wm. A., 508. 
Horse Hill, Ivi. 

Hill, 41, 42. 
Horsey, Thomas, 187. 

Thomas, 256. 
Hop Brook, xix. 
Hopkins, Captain F., emi- 
grates, 254. 

Frederick, 256. 

.Samuel, Ixxx, 18, 19. 
Hopson, C , 374. 

Oliver, 606. 
Howd, Edward, 177, 187. 

John, 141, 144, 186. 

John, 175, 179, 190, 191, 
192, 204. 

John (Indian), 132,447. 
Howe, Gen., 583. 

Jane M., 545. 

W., 366. 

John L, 312, 365, 375, 
377. 3«6, 393. 406, 
545, Biog., 566. 

Mfg. Co., 365. 
Howell, Rev. L. D., 291. 

Lewis D., 66q. 
Hubbard, Calvin A., 517, 

Doct., 602. 



834 



INDEX. 



Hubbard, Henry, 375. 

John, 137. 

Lewis v., 505. 

Stephen, 504. 
Hubbell, Ezra, 264. 

Frederick W., 514. 

G. A., 362. 

John, 59, 63, 72, 73. 

Lewis, 187. 

Mrs. Martha, 242. 

Stephen, 655. 
Hughes, Bishop, 651. 

Peter, 510. 

Samuel, 495. 

Wm. A., 468. 

Hull, Abijah, 187, 254. 

Alfred, 477. 

Daniel, 128. 

Isaac, 301, 371. 

Biog., 568. 

Doct. John, 10, 33, 34, 

42, 43. 45' 53. 65. 77. 
79, 80, 82, 84, 88, 
109, no, 123, 124, 
129, 130, 131. 

John, Jr., 78, 141, 157. 

Joseph, xlvi, Ixi, 78, 66, 
no, 117, 118, 125, 
129, 135, 140, 141, 
142,204,274,248,568. 

Joseph, Jr., 12S, 130, 
144, 156, 176, 177, 
449, 620. 

Lt. Joseph, 177, anec- 
dote, 198; Biog., 575. 
Hull's Mills, 141. 
Hull, Samuel, 131, 141, 142, 

153. 154. 156. 178, 
187, 195, 183, 204, 
223. 253. 
William, 142, 173,176, 
177, 192, 197, 240. 
382, 461, 56S, 577, 

594- 
Humphreys, Gen. David, 

82,'i42, 143,257, 297, 
300, 301, 400, 449, 
451, 452, 453, 456, 

458 459. 479. 5''^3. 
625,048; Biog., 592; 
portrait 593 ; Poem 
on Burning of Fair- 
field, 184; delivering 
flags, 199. 

Anna, 216. 

Aaron, 233, 470. 

Rev. Daniel, 24, 135, 
137, 138. 139. 148, 
149, 150. 152. 159. 
186, 282, 284, 291, 
448 ; Biog., 590 

Elijah, 257, 616; Biog., 
599- 



Humphreys, Elijah, Jr., 
Biog., 600. 

James, 130, 157, 175, 
187, 188, 202, 204, 
215, 216, 223, 256, 
453. 590. 
John, 6oo. 

Lady, 590 ; Biog., 592. 
Major, 638, 647. 
Sarah, 591. 

William 301,453, 575. 
Humphrey Humphrey, 465. 
Humphrey Lodge, Sey- 
mour, 484. 
Humphries, Madam, 24. 
Humphreysville Mfg. Co., 

4S2. 
Humphreysville Copper 

Co.', 482. 
Humphreysville in 1836, 

472. 
Hungerford, John, 312. 
Hunt and Crosby, 243. 
Hunt, Aaron, 462. 

Jesse, 462. 
Huntawa, 96. 
Huntley, James F., 499. 
Hurlburt, Thomas, 515. 
Hutchinson, Anion, 509. 
Sylvester, 462. 
William, 500. 
Hurd, Philo, 312; Biog., 

324- 

Wilson, 469. 

William, 484. 

William W , 497. 
Husks, 42, 70. 
Hyde, Charles, 451. 

Ira, 238. 

Marcus, 238. 
Indian Agreement, x.xvii. 

as an enemy, l.xxiv. 

burying-grounds, Iv. 

Deed, xxxiv, xxxv, 
xxxvii, 10, II, 14, 15, 
16, 17. 33. 35.39.40, 
42, 70,71,90, 94, 95, 
96, 97, 108, 119, 120, 
132, 140, 144. 

Tribes and their local- 
ity, xxii. 

field, xliv, xciv, 32, 39, 
69. 70. 

Fort, new one, xxv; 
old one, xxiv ; Poot- 
atuck, xxiv. 

Forts, 39, 59. 

hill, xliv, xciv, 447, 451. 

Jacks, 96. 

Mortars, liii. 

names of on Water- 
bury deed, xxxii. 

Place names, xciii 



Indian, pow-wow, Ixv. 

Settlements, xxi. 

shot, 96. 

Slaves, Ivii ; curious 
records, lix. 

Story, Ixxxix. 

tribes, Ixx, Ixxvi. 

Well, 411. 
Indians as Soldiers, Ixxx. 

a list of names, xci, 
xcii, xciii, xciv, xcv. 

fear about, 54. 

first at Chusetown, 90. 

in Harwinton, Ixiii. 

in Torrington, Ixiii. 

Philip, Frank, , Moses, 
Hester, Mary Sey- 
mour, 449. 

primitive condition, 
xvii. 

sale of land, xxvi, 32. 

search the houses, 27. 

sources of information 
of, xxi. 

troubled, 112. 

the Pootatucks, Ixiv, 
Ixv. 

the Tunxis, Ixiii. 

Toto, 96. 
Ineson, Joseph, 484, 506. 
Infidel, one put out, 74. 
Ingersol, C. R., 538. 
Ingersoli, Colen M., 650. 

Ralph I., 643. 

R. I., 309. 
Inhabitants to remove, 55, 

56. 
Inman, George, 492. 
Inskip, Rev. J. S., 363. 
Irish Societies, 384. 
Isles, Charles, 516, 53S. 
Ives, Caleb S., 606. 

Doct. Eli, 651. 

Eli, 601, 602. 
Ireland, George, 561. 
Jack, 70, 71, 119, 120. 
Jack's Brook, xciv. 

Cave, xcvi. 

Hill, 147. 
Jackson, Andrew, 516. 

Col., 183. 

C. S., 363. 

Daniel, 109. 

Frank D., 383, 612. 

Franklin D., 499. 

H. Martin, 509. 

John, 487, 509. 
Jacob, 120. 
Jacobs, Leonard, 382. 
J agger, Ezra, 466. 
James, xxxii, xxxiii, xxxv, 
II, 14, 

Church, Hartford, 197. 



INDEX. 



835 



James, C. W., 484- 1 

John, Biog., 601. 
Mead, .w, 33. 
Mr., 625. 

Rev. John, 99, loi, 105, 
106, 109, 1 10, 122. 
Rev. John, as town 

clerk, 69. 
Rev. John, dismissed, 

113. J 1 5- 
Rev. John A., settle- 
ment of Church dif- 
ficuUv in Town-meet- 



ing, 103, 104. 
Rev. Mr., 610. 
Thomas, 356, 482. 
Jarvis, Bishop, 154, 605. 
Jave, Peter, 461. 
yefferson,Thomas, 400, 584. 
jemiogu, x.xvii. 
Jenner, Dr., 223. 
"Jennings, Catharine, 604. 
Isaac, Sr., Biog., 601. 
Isaac, Jr., Hiog., 604. 
Isaac, 3d, 604. 
Wales R., 514. 
Jerome & Darrow, 372. 
Jewett, P. H., 653. 

Pliny A., Biog., 607. 
Stephen, 470, 643, 646. 
Stephen, Biog., 605. 
Rev. Stephen, 154, 155, 
156, 374. 

Thomas B., Biog., 60S. 
Jocelyn, Augustus, 461. 
"Johns, 35. 
John Banks, 94, 96. 

Toto, 108. I 

Johnson, Alexander, xlv, 
469. 
Asahel, 203, 450. 
Andrew, 553. 
Ashbel, 187. 
Benajah, 34, 71, 447- 
Charles, Ixi, 447, 499. 
Cynthia, 464. 
David, 186, 477. 
David T., 509. 
Doct., 455, 619, 620. 
E. B., 450. 

Ebenezer, ist, 131, 229. 
Ebenezer, 2d, 98. 
Ebenezer, -xlviii, Ix, 
l.Yii.lxxx; 35. 36, 38, 
46, 61, 71. 72, 79. ^3. 
84, 86, 88, 89, 92, 93, 
94> 95. 96.97.99. 100. 
loi, 103, 104. I05' 
109, no, 112, 114. 
115, 116, 117. 119. 
124, 125, 126, 128, 
129, 141, 157. 187, 
193, 236, 445. 446, 



Johnson, 447 ; commission 
to, 92 ; Biog., 608. 
Ebenezer, Jr., 130, 156. 
Frank, 492, 
George, 382. 
Gideon, 127, 129, 135, 
145, 156, 184, it>6, 

448, 450- 
Sr., 204. 
Jr., 203. 
Hapnah, Ixi. 
Hannah P., 473. 
Harvey, 374 ; Biog., 

611. 
Henry, 510. 
Ilezekiah, 187, 203. 
Isaac, 187, 451. 532- 
James H., 510. 
Jeremiah, 34, 35, 4^, 47. 

71,79,83,84.86,89. 

109, no, 126, 127, 

130. 131. 157, 186, 

229, 611. 
Jeremiah, Jr., 109, no, 

n6, 131. 
Jerome, 492, 506. 
Jesse, 461, 463. 
John, 72, 109, no, 129, 

'57; . 

Joseph, 130, 131, 146. 

147, 156, 187, 469, 

495- 
Joseph, Jr., 204. 
Kneeland, 495, 499- 
Levi, 204. 
Lieut., 135. 
Mabel, 283. 
Mo-ses, 36,46, no, 131. 
Mrs., n7. 
Nathaniel, 173, I75' 

179, 186, 187. 
Newell, 480. 
Oliver, 461. 
Peier, 98, 118, 130, 157, 

186 
Philo, 1 86. 
Phineas, 240. 
Samuel, Jr., 187. 
Sheldon P., 506. 
Silas, 461. 
Stiles, 463. 
Timothy, Ix, 89, 98, 240, 

447. 469- 

Widow, n7. 

Wm., 50J, Biog., 6n. 

Wm. H., 510. 

Wm. W , 495, 499- 
Jones, Alexander, 497. 

Chester, 480. 

David, 504. 

Sarah, 474. 

Thomas, 518. 
Juancy, James, 163, 248. 



Judd, Ralph, 516. 

& Stanley, xxxi, xxxii, 
xxxiii. 
Judge Lynch, 280. 
Judson, Andrew T., 537. 
Donald, 308, 351, 356, 
363. 375. Biog., 612. 
Ensign, 27. 
Joseph, 58, 63. 
Polly M., 612. 
Kalgariff, Martin, 503. 
Kane, John, 502. 
Karl, Albert, 496. 
Kehore, 33. 
Kehow, xxxvii, 39. 
Keeney, Betsey, 223. 
Charles L., 507. 
Ebenezer.xlvi, 144,161, 
163. 175, 179, 188, 
204, 207", 248, 449. 
Ephraim, 215. 
Isaac, 223. 
Ithiel, 163, 256, Biog., 

612. 
James, 507. 
Linda, 223. 
Medad, 223, 450. 
Milly, 223. 
Sally, 223. 
Sheldon, 223, 477. 
Walter S., 507. 
William, 204, 477. 
Keep, John, 284. 
Kckesumun, 35. 
Kclladv, Matthew, 385. 
Kellogg, Bela,473,474.475- 
Clara Louise, 357. 
Elisha S., 496, 500, 

Biog , 613. 
Gen., 391, 394- 
George, 357, 375. 
John B., 503. 
Nathaniel, 464. 
Hon. S. W., speech of 
400. 
Kellev, John, 503. 
Charles, 5n. 
Jeremiah M., 240. 
"Martin, 484. 
Kendall, Joshua, 477, 480, 

Biog , 614. 
Kennedy, Michael, 504. 

Rev. Peter, 385. 
Kerkson, Mr., 210. 
Ketcham, Joel, 361, 461. 
Kepaquamp, xxix, xxxvi. 
Keuxon, 95. 
Key, Charles, 508. 
Keyes, Gen., 641. 
Keys, Rev. C. C, 362. 
Killimartin, Thomas, 515. 
Killingbeck, Joseph, 505. 
Kimberly, Albert A., 513. 



836 



INDEX. 



Kimberly, Liberty, 223. 
Kine, Francis, 519. 
Kinney, Andrew H., 501. 

Isaac, 480. 

James B., 497. 

Sheldon, 481, 482. 
King George, 18 1, 
King George Third, 170. 
King Hiram Lodge, 252, 

380- 
King Philip, xlii, xlix. 
King Philip's War, Ixxi, 
Ixxiv, 52, 53, 54, 64, 
65 ; Derby during, 
Ixxvii. 
Kirby, Edward, 319, 
Kirkham, Austin P , 490, 

Guilford M., 491, 500. 

Isaac J-, 49 f, 503, 

Leverett G., 504. 
Kirk, Samuel, 492. 
Kissewaug, xcvi, 
Kirtland, George, 468, 480. 
Kleinerx, John, 490 
Knight, Dr., 602, 653. 
Knocks, William, 499, 
Knost, John C., 512. 
Knox, General, 594. 
Knowles, Isaac, 145. 
Konkapot, xxxviii. 
Ladd, Theodore S., 477. 
Lambert's Hist., 198. 
Lammest, Henry, 513. 
Lamoureux, Azre, 490. 
I^and, how divided, 68. 
Land Slides, 15S. 
Langdon, Thomas, 18, 20, 

22, 25. 
Larkin, John, 507. 

Matthew, 497 
Larkins, Patrick, 502. 
Latimer, Hugh, 102. 
Law, Sergeant, 97. 
Lawler, John, 502. 
Lawson & Ives, 372. 
Law suit, 278. 
Lay, Jesse. 507. 
Leach, Wm. H., 40S. 

Edwin, 496. 
Lead River, xix. 
Learning, J. Fisher, 479. 
Leavenworth, Edmund, 263, 
Biog ,614. 

Dr., 140. 

Dr. Thomas, 263. 
• Gideon, 263, 264. 

John, Ix. 

Mark, Ixx.wiii, 138, 284, 

577- 

Thomas, 614. 

Uncle Ned, 225. 
1-ebanon Brook, xix. 
Lebockett, xxxiii. 



Lee, Ann, 634. 

General, 177. 

Henry B., 501. 

Jesse, 220, 221, 462. 

John, 221, 222. 

Martin, 634. 

Rev. Jesse, 360. 

Rev. Jonathan, 138. 

Robert, 464. 

Tully, 634. 

Thomas A., 634. 
I- William, 517. 

Leffingwell, Wm., 276. 
I Leigh, Lewis E., 517. 
j Jjeman Stone building, 252. 
Leoftler, Emil, 490. 
Leonard, S. C, 473, 475. 
LeRoy, Emile, 513. 
Lessei, E. J. K., 471. 
Lesure, Alonzo, 497, 

Swan L., 512. 
Lester, George E., 477. 
Levy, Marks M., 490. 
Lewis, Edward, 353. 356, 
370, 375. 376, 377. 
37S. 

Eldad, Ixxxvii, 

Eleazer, 187. 

James, 256, 274. 

James M., 376, 377. 

John, 143, 264, 354, 
355 ; B'og-. 616. 

Judson, 507. 

Levi C, 362. 

Major, 391, 394. 

Milu, 312. 

Nathan, 307. 

Wm., xxix, XXX. xxxvi. 

Wm. B., 380; his let- 
ter, 30, 312. 

Wm. R., 15S, 159. 
Light, Charles, 510. 

Geo. W., 497. 
Lincoln, Mr., 643. 
Lindiey, Benjamin, 492. 

Benjamin F., 494. 

David, 492, 494. 

Ira, 630. 

John, Biog., 616; por- 
trait, 617. 

Sarah L., 630. 

Walter P., 507. 
Lines, Joseph, 450. 

Marshall, 512. 
Lissberger, Lazarus, 482. 
Litchfield, its settlement, 

Ixx.xvi. 
Little Patrick, 500. 
Little River, 147, 449. 
Livingston, George, 514. 
Lockwood, DeWitt C., 253. 
Lody, Edward, 492. 
Lomer, L. L., 181, 353, 3S6. 



Lomer, Lyman L., Biog., 

618. ■ 
Loonier, L. L. & Sons, 373. 
Loomis, Rev. R. H., 363. 
Long, James, 519. 

Lot, 32. 
Longmeadow Brook, xix. 
Loop, Rev. Mr., 234. 
Loper, a horse, 96. 
Lopus, xciv. 

plain, 95. 
Lossing, Benson J., 586. 
Lottery, 201. 
Lottery, A 201. 
LounslDurv, Albert W., 468, 
520. 

George W., 515. 

Henry W., 518. 

Levi, '477. 

Si Turner, 372. 
Lovejoy, John, 464. 
Loveland, Arnold, 484. 

Ashbel, 187, 203, 204, 

451- 

Joseph, 159, 187. 

Truman, 450. 
Lovers' Leap, liii. 
Lucky, Samuel, 464. 

John, 464. 
Lum, Adam, 484. 

Bennett, 215. 

Capt. Joseph, 187. 

F. M., 484. 

John, 109, 230, 231, 

213- 

Jonas, 72. 

Jonathan, no, 129, 157, 
220. 

Jonathan, Jr., 114, 117, 
190, 191. 

Lemuel, 117. 

Reuben, 469. 
Lyman, Daniel, 284. 

Gen. Phineas, 230, 231. 

J. H., 4S2. 

Jonathan, 148, 188, 230. 
Lynch, Rev. James, 385. 

Rev. John, 385. 
Lynde, Duane M., 515. 
Lyon, Charles E., 505. 

Plenry, 19. 

Zalmon, 462. 
Lyons, Charles B., 517. 

Rev. James, 153. 
Mack, Eunice, liv. 

family, liv. 

Jim, liv. 

Ruby, liv. 
Mackwash, 120. 
Mad River, xix. 
Magnash, xxxvii. 
Magill, James, 497. 
Maher, John, 502. 



INDEX. 



837 



Maher, Wm., 497. 
Mahoney, Wm., 4S5. 

Daniel, 4S5. 

Patrick, 485. 

John, 518. 
Malmanacic, .\cvi. 
Mallorv, Thomas, 385. 

Wm., 46S. 
Maltby, E. C.& Son, spoons, 

'407. 
Mamook, 119. 
Mamusquake, .\cv. 
Manchero, 140. 
Manhan, xcvi. 
Man cm p, 1 1. 
Mansfield, Edward, 385. 

J)r. Richard, 134, 142, 

153. i5> 194. 196, 
204, 221, 233, 257, 
295' -97, 299 469, 
599, 605- 629. 
Rev. Richard, Biog., 
618 ; certificate of 
ordination, 620. 
Richard, 2d. 253. 
Stephen, 257. 
Nathan, 186, 187, 195, 
307, 469. 
Mansunipansh, xx.wii. 
Mantovv, xx.xiii. 
Mantow's squaw, xxxiii. 
Manviile, James, 469. 
Magawiska, Hi. 
Marks, Mordecai, 153, 154, 

197 
Marsh, John, xxxvi. 
Martindale, Robert, 507. 
Martentrough, Louise, 629. 
Marver, Henry, 507. 
Marvin, Rev. Mr., 234. 
Marsh, Geo. C, 372. 

John, l.xxxvi. 
Marshall, John P., 600. 

J. I), 362. 
Martin, John. 514. 
Mashekeo, 96. 
Mason, Isaac, 505. 
Matach, 41. 
Matancge, xxix. 
Mataret. 40. 
Matchetnumledge, 33. 
Mather, Cotton, 625. 
Mattaneag, xxxvi. 
Mattatuck, xcv. 

deed of, xxx, xxxi. 
Mattuckhott, xxxiv, xcv. 
Mauquash, xx.xvii. 
Mauweehu, Eunice, xlii, 
xliv, xlviii. 

Gideon, xlii, xliii, xlvii, 
Ixviii, 71, 89, 90. 

Joseph, xli, xlii, xlvii, 
Iv, 448. 



May, Robert, 373, 406. 
McAlister, Wm., 363. 
McArthur, Alljert, 517. 
McHrine, James, 501. 
McCarthy Charles, 485. 

William, 509. 

John, 492. 
McCauly, Michael, 385. 
McClusky, Arthur, 499, 

510. 
McCombs, L., 461. 
McCormick, John, 517. 
McCue, Michael, 516. 
McDermot, Father, 385. 

James, 500. 
McDonald, Joseph, 3S5. 

Patrick, 501. 
McEnerney, P., 154. 

Patrick, 205. 
McEwen, David. 235. 

David J., 484. 

V. H., 484. 

Wooster B , 514. 
McGahie, William, 519. 
McGeary, Patrick, 494. 
McGonigal, Charles, 503. 
McGovern, Peter, 497. 
Mclntyre, Mr., 600. 
McKenna, Rev. P., 385. 
McKeone, Michael, 510. 
McKenzie, George, 492. 

James, 497. 
McKone, Michael, 495. 
McLaughlin, James, 515. 

John, 495. 
McManus, Terrance, 509. 
McMorrow, Francis. 485. 
McNally, James, 502. 

Thomas, 492. 
Mead. Rev. N., 362. 

Rev. Wm. C.. 374. 
Meara, Noyes W., 507. 
Mechanics Lodge, Sey- 
mour, 4S4. 
Meeting-house, the first, 78, 

79- 

enlarged, 116, 117. 

the second, 126. 

seating, 118. 
Megcnhuttack, xxxiv, xcv. 
Megunhattacke, xcv. 
Meigs, Sam\iel, 239. 
Melook Took, 132. 
Mellor, Samuel, 507. 
Merman, Thomas, 498. 
Merrick, Noah, 134. 

W. J., 484- 
Merriman, Charles B., 312. 

Olive, 475. 

S., 536. 
Mershon, Rev. Stephen S., 

379- 
Merwm, Samuel, 464, 473. 



Meskilling, 94, 120. 
Messclla, Twain, 507. 
Merer, George, 515. 
Middlebrook, Doct. E., 653. 
Henry, 494, 509. 
Stephen, 529, 
Miles, Jonathan, 156, 160, 
161, 469. 
Sheldon, 468. 
Theophilus, 161. 
Wndow, 109. 
Milford, no claim on Pau- 

gassett, 8, 9. 
Mill, at Rimmon Falls, 144. 
New and Old, 116. 
the Cotton, 481. 
the first, 77. 
Miller, Alexander, 499. 
Alfred, 513. 
David, 464, 465. 
Elizabeth, 461. 
James W., 492. 
John, 498. 
John W., 492, 499. 
Samuel, 494. 
Wm. J., 409. 
Milligan, Alexander, 496. 
Milliken, Charles D., 492. 
Mills, Isaac, 252. 

of Tames Swan, 482. 
J. L., 476. 
Mrs., 453. 
Nathaniel P., 221. 
Philo, 283, 
Samuel, 252, 625. 
Mr.<. Sarah, Biog., 625. 
Thomas, 356. 
Minister engaged, 46. 
Ministers, prohibition of,66. 
Ministers' salaries, 135. 

support, 43, 47. 
Minor, Elizabeth, 63. 
John, xlviii,63, 119. 
Richard, 372. 
Mitchell & Atkins, 372. 
Wm. E., 504. 
Dea. Jonathan, 284. 
W. G., 484- - 
Wm. H., 515. 
Mix, Stephen, 99. 

Mr., 601. 
Moerner, Louis, 501. 
Momanchewaug, 35. 
Montgomery, 669. 
Montcalm, Ixxxvii. 
Monroe. Franklin H., 494. 

Co!., Ixxxviii. 
Morning Star Lodge, 484. 
Monson, Charles, 4S4. 
Montague, Thomas, 500. 
Montagu, Lady Mary Wort- 

ly, 223.' 

Moore, Capt., 257. 



838 



INDEX. 



Moore, Charles, 492. 

George C, 382. 

Jesse, 508. 

Samuel, 507. 
Morand, Patrick, 498. 
Moriaritv, Canary, 514. 
Morris, Capt., 251, 270. 

Rev. Theophilus, 1 53 

Wm., 238, 484. 

John, 497, 505. 

Luzon B., 538. 
Morse, Nathan T., 498. 
Moneghan, Frank, 498. 
Morrison, James, 500. 
Mote, Robert B., 460. 
Mohemat, 40. 
Moses, Paul, Ixi.x, Ixx. 

Law, 74. 
Moss, Daniel, 215. 

Israel, 130, 157, 

Rev. Joseph, 105, 109, 
120, 136. 145, 157, 
291, 246. 

Wm., 117, 124, 127, 
129, 131. 

Mrs., 117. 

Joseph, Biog., 625; his 
settlement, 113, 114, 
15, 116; his decease, 

134- 
Nicholas, 215. 
Samuel, 129, 157. 
Wm., 135, 157. 
Moulthrop, Abraham L., 

509- 

Evelin E., 50". 
Mount Holt, Ixxxi. 

Tavlor, l.Kx.xii. 

Tobie, Ixxxi. 
Muller, Herrick, 500 
Munson's Corners. 237. 
Munson, Charles S., 494. 

George, 382. 

John, 129, 157. 

IL B., 442; Biog., 627. 

Marcus, 516. 

Byron \V., 515. 

Thomas, 59. 

Wm. C, 511. 
Munsuck, xxvii, 11. 
Murphy, Richard, 499. 
Musquauke, xcv. 
Musquatt, -vxvii, 41. 
Mygatt, Henry S., 481. 
Nanatoush, 33. 
Nanawaug, xxix, 94, 95, 120. 
Nanhootoo, xlviii. 
Napoleon and England, 250. 
Nash, John, 27, 45, 59. 
Nascjuero, 41. 
Naramore, Capt., 391. 
Nathan, David, 353, 356, 
365. 379- 



Naugatuck, xciv ; descrip- 
tion of, xviii ; old 
river, 30, 31 ; why so 
named, 443. 
Railroad, 311. 
Valley, xviii. 
Naylor, Michael, 502. 
Nayumps, 119. 
Neal, Roswell A., 366. 
Nebawkumme, 17. 
Negro Pew, 128. 
Neighbor Put, 95. 
Nenapush, Squaw, xxxii. 
New Mil ford, deed of, 

xlviii. 
Nero (a slave), 140. 
Nesaheagon, xxii, xxiii, 

xxxii. 
Nesinpaes, 41. 
Nettleton, Charles, 409. 
Chas. H., 387. 
Charles P., 499. 
Enos G., 469. 
Henry A., 375. 
Joseph F., 493. 
Josiah, 469. 
New Boston, 163. 
Newey, Arthur B., 500. 
New Haven Copper Co., 

482. 
Newson, Thomas M., 370 ; 

Biog., 627. 
Newton, Charles, 484. 

Samuel, 92. 
New way, 137. 
Nichols, Abel, 606. 
Benjamin, 239. 
Charles, 293, 638, 659; 

Biog., 628. 
Elizabeth, 665. 
Horace, 311 ; Biog., 

326. 
H. S., 376, 377. 
Isaac, 59, 60, 61, 63, 72 
79, 83, 86, 99, 1 01, 
105, 109, no, 116, 
117. 
John, 561. 
Jonathan, 79. 
Joseph, 130, 156. 
Josiah, 63. 
"Mr., 234. 

Sainuel, 59, 60, 61, 63, 
72, 79, 83, 86, 109, 
no, n2, 113, 129, 
130, 156. 
Silas, 256. 
Wm., 520. 
Nisumpaw, xxvii. 
Nixon, John, 361, 464. 
Nokopurrs, xlviii. 
Nompunck, xxvii. 
Noitmumke, xxxv. 



Norkquotonckquy, xxxvii. 
North End, 78, 128. 
Farmers, 146, 147. 
John L., 507. 
Norris, 372. 
Purchase, 229. 
Northrop, Beardsley, 464. 
Henry D., 476. 
Joel, 127. 
R. E., 372. 
Norway Bolt works, 407. 
Nostrand, Peter, 204. 
Nouse Club, 384. 
Noyes, Benjamin, 332. 

Nyumphs, xciv. 
Oath of Fidelity taken in 

1777, 186.' 
O'Brien, George, 520. 

Timothy, 485. 
O'Callaghan, Dennis, 485. 
O'Claughessy, David, 516. 
O'Connell, Thomas, 495. 
O'Dwver, Father, 387. 
Oil M'ill, 143. 
Old Parks, 259. 
Todd, 206. 
Town, 163, 247. 
way, 137. 

Yellow Mills, 142, 143. 
Olmstead, Eugene, 256. 
Osborne, Arthur D., 538. 
Osborn, David, 467. 
David T., 275. 
Harvey T., 513. 
Joseph, 145, 231. 
Lvman, 553. 
Moses, 462. 
Ray F., 514. 
Sereno R., i;i6. 
Thomas, 145. 
W., 541. 
Orauquato, 132. 
Oothout, John, 512. 
Ostrander, Daniel, 461, 462, 

464. 
0'Sulivan,Thomas J., Biog., 

629. 
O'Sullivan, Timothy, 500. 
Orcutt, Samuel, 678. 
O'Reily, Patrick, 513. 
Oronoke, xcvi. 
Osborn, Thomas S., 514. 
Ould, Samuel, 510. 
James F., 496. 
Ousatonic Dam, 390. 
River, 403. 
Water Co., 391. 
Oxford Centre and Green, 
234. 235. 
first meetingrhouse,232. 
in 1836, 242. 
in the late rebellion, 
241. 



INDEX. 



839 



Oxford Society, 145. 
Pacaquarock, xcv. 
Pacawackuck, xcv. 
Panoetan, xcv. 
Pardee, Mr., 605. 

Noyes D., 500. 
Parsons, Catharine J., 
Biog., 604. 
David, 204. 
Island, 225. 
Justin W., 604 
Stella C„ 604. 
Parker. Rev. Dr., 596; 597. 

Willard, 635. 
Paschell, John, 504. 
Paugasuciv, xciii. 
Partridge, Capt., 645. 
Payton, John, 493. 
Pease, Mrs., 453. 
Wm. F , 464. 
Peck, Bezaleel, 464, 450. 
David, 240. 
Edwin F., 509. 
Edward W., 49S. 
Eleazer, 630; Biog., 

629. 
Ephraim B., 629, 630. 
George H., 392, 410; 

Biog., 629. 
Joseph, 84, 630, 312. 
Minnie C, 630. 
Orrin, 464. 
Robert, Biog., 630. 
Pennefeather, John, 49S. 
Pepperell, Wm., 668. 
Perkins, Ithiel, 187. 
Levi, 184 
Reuben, 187, 161. 
Stephen, 449. 
Perry Brothers, 411. 
George II., 494. 
H. A., 238. 

Joseph, 23S; Biog., 630. 
Martin, 516. 
Seth, 118. 
Peterson, Charles, 332. 
Petowtucki, xcv. 
Pettingill, Amos, 475. 
Pickett, Joseph, 169, 175, 

186. 
Pierce, Aaron, 464, 468. 

President, 524. 
Pierpont, Mr., 113. 
Pierson, Abel, 188. 

x^ Abraham, 117, 130, 
/ ^ 131, 156, 539. 
David, 161, 187. 
Edward, 247. 
John, no, 131. 
Jo.seph, 109, 187. 
Mother, 117. 
Nathan, 173, 184, 1S8, 
541. 



Pierson, Samuel, 188. 

>• Stephen, 79, 81, 83,86, 
109, no, 130, 131, 

156.157- 
Stephen, Jr., no, n7, 

129, 130. 
Pinney, Benjamin, 634. 
Edmund, 633. 
Eleazer, 634. 
Humphrev, 633. 
Royal W.', 636. 
Samuel, 634. 
Charles H., 391 ; Biog., 

633- 
Pinto, Abraham, 130. 
Peterson, Arnold, 515. 

T. B., 650. 
Phelps, Anson G., 309, 310, 
312, 526, 547; 548; 
Biog., 631. 
Edward D., 518. 
Judge, 239. 
Noah A., 523. 
Mary L, 523 
Phillips, Albert W., Biog., 
632. 
Col., 593. 
Phol, Wm., 517. 
Phylo, Wm., 312. 
Plant, Ebenezer, 191. 
Piatt, George, 515. 

Orlando L., 514. 
Plumb, David W., 393,406, 
410; Biog., 636. 
Mrs., 151. 
Noah, 636. 
Poe, Edgar A., 649. 
Poem on the Rebellion, 

488. 
Pool, Michael, 1 87, 190, 192. 
Pootatuck, xciii. 
Pope, Robert, 188. 
Pork Hollow, 181. 
Pritchard, Lieut. Jabez, 

Biog., 638. 
Porter, Amasa, 286, 557 ; 

Biog., 637. 
Potter, Henry T., 393, 404. 

405. 
Powe, Oliver, 510. 
Powers, John, 515. 
Powheak, 120. 
Pratt, Gen., 443. 

Miss Julia, 650. 
Preble, Com., 569. 
Pride, Wm.,496. 
Prince, Charles, 517. 
Prindle, Betsey, 449. 

Chauncey, 233, 470. 
John, 169, no, 157 

188, 304. 
John, Jr., 156. 
Joseph, 257. 



Prindle, Mordecai, 257. 
Pringle. John, 83, 86, n3, 
n7, n8, 124, 130, 

131- 
Pritchard, Elisha, 204. 

Eunice, 161. 

Jabez, 177. 

Leverett, 450, 480. 

Lieut., 647. 

James, 144, 183, 449. 

James, Jr., i6i, 187. 
Proctor, Charles H., 606. 

S. H., 264. 
Provost, George, 587. 
Public School, 122. 

Birmingham, 387. 
Pulling, A. B., 467. 
PuUon, Pizzarp S., 493, 505. 
Pullman, Joseph, 467. 
Punderson, Abbe, 454, 455. 
Punkups, xciv. 
Punwon, 96. 
Purvis, John, 470. 
Pushee, Gilman W., 513. 
Pussecokes, 94. 
Putnam, Daniel J., 484. 
Quakers' Farm, 145, 221, 
229. 

a village in O.xford, 
236. 
Quash, Rosvvell, 182. 
Quassapaug, xcvi. 
Queen Anne. 96. 
Queen Elizaoeth, 102. 
Querrimus, xxix, xxxii. 
Quick, Thomas, 508. 
Quinn, John, 499. 
[ohn M., 501. 
Quiiitard, Eli S., 333, Biog. 

335- 
Randall, H. W., 4S0. 
Ramsdfll, Parker R., 514- 
Radcliff Brothers, 410. 
Random, August, 513. 
Railroad, the Naugatuck, 

3"- 
New Haven and Der- 
by, 332- 

Raretoon, 95. 

Rashkoinoot, 95. 

Raynolds, Rufus K., 467. 

Raynor, Menzies, 461. 

Rawlinson, William, 236. 

Rawneton, 96. 

Razes, an Arabian, 222. 

Read, Hollis, 660. 

Red House, 226, 263. 

Red Mountain, xcvii. 

Redshaw, Thomas, 507. 

Reilman, Jacob, 503. 

Remer, Abram, 257. 
Lewis, 257. 
Joseph H., Biog., 639. 



840 



INDEX. 



Remer, John E., 496. 

Simon, 639. 
Reed, Rev. Hollis, 291. 
Reecl, Peter, 509. 
Reemer, Joseph H., 152. 
Reeves, General, 643. 
Records, curious, 100. 
Riggs, Ebenezer, no, 161. 
156, 231, 243, 229, 
447- 

Edward, 118, 156. 

Charles, 495, 498, 504, 

George F., 514. 

George S., 513. 

Hill, 152. 

Homer, 511. 

John, 97, 109, no, n8, 

125, 129, 130, 131, 
135, 146, 157, 161, 
179, 180, 184, 228, 
232, 235, 243, 305, 
590, 592. 

John, Jr., 175, 186, 187. 

Capt. Joseph, 157, 169, 
175, 178, 184, 186, 
202, 223, 449. 

Joseph, Jr., 204, 205. 

Joseph, H., 215, 518. 

Lois, 161. 

Mark E., 513. 

Sarah, 592. 

Samuel, 79, 82, 84, 86, 
88, 89, 94, 96, 99, 
103, 104, 105, 109, 
no, 115, 116, 117, 

126, 129, 130, 131, 
140, 157, 229, 484, 
446, 447, 610. 

Regan, Michael, 485. 
Reiley, Edward, 500. 

Bernard, 500. 
Revolution, Derby's first 

act, 168. 
Reynolds, John Y., 517. 
Rice, George, 482. 

Phineas, 462. 
Richardson, Charles J., 498. 

Daniel L., 493. 
Ricketts, Geo. R. A., 482. 
Rider, Arthur, 480. 

John J., 481. 
Rimmon Falls, xciv, 203, 

, . 450, 473- 
Rimmon Rock, xciv. 
Riley, Michael, 500. 

Patrick, 509. 
Riggs, Moses, 187, 469. 

Nancy, 611. 
Rives, Wm., 520. 
Roads, bridges and floods, 

Roberts, George, 462. 
Robertson, John, 493. 



[ Rock Rimmon, cut of, 445. 
Rogers, Ami, 470. 

Evan, 461. 

George, 484. 
Henry C, 469. 

Hiram M., 507. 

Samuel, 650. 
Roberts, Charlotta, 461. 

John, 501. 
Roberson, Joseph, 517. 
Robertson, David, 493. 
Robinson, Geo. H., 483. 

Judge, 536. 
Roe, John, 187. 
Rockhouse Hill, 95. 
Rolfe, Leander H., 494. 
Rose, Henry, 520. 
Rosecrans, Mahala, 460. 

General, 460. 
Ross, Robert, 512. 
Rowe, Daniel, 461. 
Royce, John E., 505. 
Roselle, Samuel, 534. 
Root, Edward, 505. 

Polly H., 525. 
Rourkovvhough, 33. 
Rowell, David B., 507. 
Rowaugasuck, loS. 
Rowagosook, 120. 
Rowan, Wm., 385. 
Rugg, Wm., 507. 
Ruggles, Thomas, 264, 265, 

286, 287. 
Rush, Doct., 651. 
Russell, Charles L., 486, 
^ 490. 503. Biog-, 640. 

Geo. D., 490. 

Joseph, 179, 184, 188. 

L. H., 553. 

Samuel, 156, 217. 

Samuel S., 640. 

Timothy, 131,135,157, 
217. 230,231. 

Wm., 558. 
Ryan, Cornelius, 502. 

James, 502. 

John, 520. 

Patrick F., 512, 516, 
520. 
Rye, N. Y., in Revolution, 

170. 
Sabaday Houses, 128, 152. 
Sackett, Lucius, 515. 
Saltonstall, Caroline, 525. 
Sanford, Ephraim, 100. 

George W., 513. 

H. S., 643, 644. 

N. H., 332. 

Mamerry, 224. 

N. C, 645. 

Samuel, 220, 223, 469, 
652. 

Samuel P., 224. 



Sanford, Rev. Mr., 234. 
Satterlee, Samuel R., 482. 
Saul's Swamp, xcvi. 
Sausonnaman, 132. 
Saw7er, Jane A., 666. 

Jennie M., 666. 

Henry S., 666. 
Saxeburg, Frederick, 504. 
School districts laid out, 

159, 160. 
School-Huuse Co., 204. 
Schools, order of the Court, 
106, 107. 

The first record of, 
105, 106. 
Schully, Michael, 498. 
Schuyler, General, 580. 
Schyer, William, 493. 
Scofield, Arnold, 462, 464. 
Schooner Modesty, 266. 
Scott, Jesse, 484. 

John, 484, 496, 509. 

Joseph, 154, 643. 

William, 500. 
Scoville, Bennett, 513. 

Charles, 514. 
Scraping Hole Plain, 447. 
Searle, Roger, 462. 
Seabury, George, 471. 
Sears, Henry E., 512. 
Seaton, Mr., 559. 
Sentinel Hill P'ield, its 

proprietors, 131. 
.Separates, 135. 
Seymour, Origin S., 537. 

Richard, 635. 

Record, 483. — 

Thomas H., 443. 

Savings Bank, 481. 

Manufacturing Compa- 
nies, 481, 482. 

The town of, 442 ; why 
so named, 442, 443. 
Shannon, O. Evans, 471. 
Sharp, David W., 498. 

Lugrand, 468; Biog., 
644. 

W. C, 147, 222, 468, 
480, 481, 483. 
Sharpe, Mary, 644. 

Thomas, 644. 
Shea, James, 502. 
Sheep, pasture for, 81. 
Sheffield, William, 256. 
Sheff rev, Charles W., Biog., 

645. 
Shehan, Cornelius, 516. 
Sheldon, Francis, 498, 516. 

Lydia, 672. 

Sperry M., 49S1 
Shelton and the Dam, 391. 

borough of, 406. 

Dr. Gould A., 411. 



INDEX. 



841 



Shelton, Edward N., 155, 
158.309,312,388,393, 
406, 541, 645. 

E. N., speech of, 395. 

E. DeForest, 409. 

Geo. A., Biog , 646. - 

Geo. P., 48 1. 

Water Co., 411. 
Shepard, Horace M., 536 ; 

Biog., 647. 
Sherman, Andrew M., 509. 

Charles L., 494. 

Cut, 321. 

George W., 493, 505. 

Ira, 311. 

.Saimiel, 93. 
Sherwood, Joseph, 1S7. 

Matthew, 93. 
Shey, Joseph, 512. 
Skifling, 120. 
Shawngiim, xcvii. 
Ship Building in Derbv, 

262. 
Shipman, Wm. D., 537. 
Short, Sylvester, 520. 
Shortall, John, 496. 
Shorttell, Cullum, 498. 
Shrub Oak, 454. 
Silliman, Prof., 558. 
Sisowecum, 120. 
Skiff, Walter, 513. 
Skokorat, xciv, 447. 

road, 451. 
Slade, Wm. R., 312. 
Sloan, Wm., 507. 
Slocum, Mr , 568. 
.Small Pox, 222. 
Smith, Abner, 219, 220, 222, 
300. 

Andrew, 109, tie, 129, 
131. 156, 175. 169, 
184, 187. 

Abraham, Jr., 188. 

Anson, 517. 

Arthur E., 496, 508. 

Bela, 464. 

Benjamin, 500. 

B. \V., 481. 

Charles, 234. 

Charles W., 520. 

Clark, 223. 

Daniel, 221, 283, 465. 

Uwight C, 515. 

Edward, 223. 

Elizabeth, 223, 283. 

Eneas, 553. 

Enoch, 187, 188, 219. 

Enoch, Jr., 224. 

Ephraim, 79, 82, 86, 94, 
109, 130, 156, 467. 

Ephraim, Jr., 1 10. 

Fitch, 312. 

Frederick E , 509. 
106 



Smith, Friend li., 508. 
George, 484, 508. 
George A., 517. 
George H., 501. 
Henrv, 518. 
Ira, 478. 
Ira B., 493. 
Isaac, 143, 178, 183, 

186, 223, 606. 
James, 504, 507. 
James M., 462. 
Jesse, 4S0. 

John, 122, 123, 127, 129, 
130, 156, 500,513. 

John, Jr., 145. 

John D., 210, 465, 470. 
606, 647, Biog., 646. 

Jonas, 153. 

Joseph, 130, 157, 184, 

187, 223. 
Josiah, Jr., 283. 
J. V. C, 559. 
Levi, 2S6. 
Lyman, 504. 
Mary, 266. 
Matthew, 501. 
Nathan, 1.57, 169, 175, 

187, 188. 

Oscar, 514. 

Polycarp, 204. 

Rachel, 251. 

Richard, 187, 502. 

Samuel, 1S7, 204. 

Samuel, Jr , 161. 

Seymour M., 493, 505 

Sheldon, 273,63 1, Biog.. 
647. 

Sylvester, 465, 468, 48 1 . 

Wilbur W., 519, 483. 

Susan, 223. 

Thomas, 100. 
.Somerset, Duke of, 635. 
Soule, Henchman S., 4S2. 
South End, 121. 
.Sparks, Jared, 585. 

Thomas, 466. 

Wm. IL, 504. 
Speake, Wm., 633. 
Spencer, Edward, 501. 

Henry, 498. 

Hiram P., 491. 

Jehiel, 187. 

J. L., 477. 

Zachariah, 410. 
Sperry, Asa, 535. 

Adaline, 475, 535. 

Emeline, 475. 

Eunice, 535. 

Isaac, 475. 

Marcus, 483. 

Norman, 4S3. 

N. D., 332. 

.Silas, 4S4. 



Spinning Squaw, xxxii, 

x.xxiii. 
Spinning Squaw's Land, 

xcvii. 
Sprague, Ezra, 509. 
Sqontk, xcv. 

Squabble Hole, 116, 297. 
.^quantuck, xciii. 
Squaw, Sarah, 119. 
.Squapmasutte, xcv. 
Squires, Frank, 493. 
St. James's Church, 154, 

155- 
Statts, Rev. H. T., 292. 
Stamp Act, 167. 
Stantfln, Rev. Robt. P., 292. 
Star Pin Co., 410. 
Stastockham, 94. 
Stearns, Charles, 466, 467. 
Steamboating on the Ousa- 

tonic, 272. 
Stebbins, Benjamin, 14. 
Steele, Bradford, 161, 169, 

173, 175, i8o, 183, 

184, 186, 191, 448, 

450. 473. 477. 480, 
647, 305. 

Bradford, Jr., 450. 

Elisha, 450. 

Mason A., 499. 

Samuel, xxix, xxx. 
Stenernagel, George. 496. 
Stephens, Edward, 461,649. 

Mrs. Ann, 453, 625; 
Biog., 648. 
Sterling, Gen., 581. 
Steuben, Baron, 583. 
Stevens, Ebenezer, 461. 

Edward, 512. 

Ferry, 304. 

J. A., 4.S4. 
Stevenson, Thomas, 467. 
Stiles, Benjamin, 157. 

Ephraim, 93. 

Nathan, 469. 

Phebe, 449. 
Still, Jacob L., 520. 
.Stillson, David, 630. 
Stocking, Omer C, 507. 
Stocking, Summerlield S., 

507 
Stockwell, Geo. E., 469. 
Stoddard, Abiram,6i i, 455, 
458,461; Biog., 651; 
portrait, 652. 
Thomas, Biog., 654. 
Wm., A., 49S. 
Stouck, Wm , 493. 
Stone, A. L., 244. 
David M., 244. 
Martha, 655. 
Mrs. Ellen, 252. 
Stone, Noah, 244, 546. 



842 



IxMDEX. 



Stone, Noah, Biog., 655. 
Leman, 248, 252, 258, 
274. 305.306; Biog., 
654 ; building, 258. 
RoUin S., 475. 
Storer, E. G., 484. 
Storrs, J. W., 442, 488, 655; 
poem by, 397. 
Wm N., 468, 469, 484. 
Stratford Bridge, 269. 
Strapp, Edward, 485. 
Street, diaries, 498. 
Strict Congregalionalists, 

'35- 
strong, Adino, 109, 116, 
n8, 131. 

Rev. Mr., 231, 232. 
Studley, Enoch P., 507. 

John P., 507. 
Stuart, Edwin W., 514. 

Horace, 515. 
Styles, Benjamin, 130. 
Swift, Chipman, 453. 

Ephraim G., 475. 

Job, 658. 

John, 451, 532. 

Zephaniah, 231, 287, 
291, 454, 473, 474. 

5^5' 557. 563- ^^'og- 
658, Portrait, 659, 
Success Hill, 451, 532. 
Sugar Street, 258, 297. 
Sullivan, John, 2d, 503. 

Peter, 485. 
Suracasks, xcv. 
Sulton, Harry, 236. 
Summers, Joseph, 157. 

S. N., Biog. 656, Por- 
trait 657. 
Sunday-school, M. E. Sey-I 

mour, 468. 
Sunkaqiiene, 94. 
Sykes, Oliver, 462. ; 

Owen, 465. 
Swan, James, 477, 482. | 
Swan's Mills, 483. 
Swain, Richard, 461. 
Tackamore, 94, 120. i 

Tack and I>oit Factory in 



Shelton, 409. 
Taphow, xxxii, xxxiii. 
Tavern, the fust, 112, 113. 
Taylor, General, 643. 

Geo. L., 467. 

Joshua, 461. 

Nathaniel W., 473. 
Taxes, Grand List, Sz, 8^, 

Grand List in 17 18, 
129. 

Grand List of the Col- 
ony in 1775, 180. 

rates of, 179. 



Tazchun, 95. 
Tennyson, James, 517. 
Terrell, Almon, 312. 

Wales, 505. 
Terry, Caleb, 145. 

Josiah, 145. 

William, Biog. 661. 
Tibbals, John, 79, 83, 86, 
89, loi, 109, no, 
117, 118, 126, 130, 

131. 157. 446, 447- 
Tiffany, Luke, 498. 

C. C, 292. 
Tift, John, 145. 
Tisachomo, 108. 
Thatcher, George, 291, 660, 
15iog., 66r. 
William, 462. 
Thayer, Reuben W., 517. 

William A., 518. 
The Last Draft in Revolu- 
tion, 194 
Town of Oxford, 228. 
Wigwam, xcvii. 
Thomas, Edmund, 500. 
George W., 484. 
Noble W., 462. 
Thomasseet, 95. 
Thompson, George, an an- 
ecdote, 268. 
Anthony, 540. 
Bridget, 540. 
Charles, 475, 595. 
Lsaac, 258. 
Jabez, 169, 173, 775. 

176. 
James, 257, 470. | 

James A., 498. 
Levi, 186. I 

Sheldon, 257. | 

Wm., 257. j 

Wm. J., 476. 
Tobie, 89, 95, 96, 97, 98,1 

447- ; 

(Indian), 193. 
Tobie's Grant, 229. 
land, 95. 
story of, 97. 
Rock, 161 



Toby's Rock,s, xciv. 
Todd, Abraham, 134. 

Ambrose, 470. 

Daniel, 186, 187, 283. 

Rev. Mr., 138, 234. 
Toll Bridge, 140. 
Tomlinson, Abigail, 283. 

Abraham, 109, 1 10, 130, 

'57- 
Agur, 89, 90,92, 175, 

184,' 186, 215, 2l6, 

54S. 
Benjamin, 175,186,204, 
217. 



Tomlinson, Capt., 257. 

Capt. John, 182, 184, 

^ 186, 2S3. 

Charles A., 239. 

Col. 270. 

Dan, 188, 191, 307. 

Daniel, Biog., 299. 

David, 184, 188, 239. 

David T., 239. 

Mrs. David, 462. 

Edmund B., 512. 

Harrison, 481, 482. 

Henry, 169, 175, 188, 
216'. 

Isaac, 129, 157, 1S6. 
John, 130,131,157,175, 

178, 190. 
John L., 277, 300, 301, 
574. 599. Biog., 662. 
Jonah, 1S8. 
Jonas, 79, 83, 86. 
Joseph, 187, 217, 4ro, 

653- 
Levi, 191, 204, 450. \y^ 
Mark, 493, 503. 
Noah, 175, 179, 184, 

186, 188, 217. 
Perry, 494. 
Peter, 511. 
Ransom P., 517. 
Russell, 469, 306. 
Samuel, 130, 147, 157. 
Webb, 184, 186, 191. 
1 Widow, 109, 117. 

Wm., Sr., 109, no. 
I Wm., 79, 8r, 82, 86, 

I , 109, 130, 157, 246. 

J Tompson, Jabez, 204. 
Topliff, Rev. Stephen, 231. 
Torrance, David, 587, Biog., 

662. 
Totoquan, xxvii. 
Towantuck, xcv. 
Town Patent, iii. 
Towner, John, 130,145, 156. 
Towsowwam, 132, 
Trac}', Thomas, 496. 
Train, Asa M., 545. 

Band of Dei by, 88. 
Trangrani, The, 78. 
Traver, Theodore W., 498. 
Travis, Robert, 465. 
Treat, Robert, 610. 
Trinity Church, Seymour, 

469. 
Trowbridge, Isaac, 145. 

Israel, 860. 
Truesdale, Lucius B., 499. 
Trumbull, Benjamin, D.D., 
87.137, 171,284,458, 
533, 625. 
Tryon, General, 181, 182, 
;8i. 



INDEX. 



<S43 



Tryon, Joachim T., 515 
Tucker, David, 204. 
Frederick, 5K). 
tlideon, 23O. 
Reuben, 17S. 
Samuel, 283. 
Sarah, 2S3. 
S. C, A^A- 
William, 469.^ 
Zephaiiiah, iSS. 
Tucker's Ring, xcvi. 
TuUar, Martin, 282, 284, 

286, 448- 
Turgeon, Oliver, 510. 
Turkey Hill, 198; a grant 
to the Indians, 121. 
Turner, Chester \V., 465. 
Maria Clapp, 671. 
Mr. 242. 
Turnpike, New Haven, 305 ; 
Oxford, 306; New 
Milford, 307. 
Tusser, Mr., 102. 
Tuttlc, Lucius, 4S2. 

Wm. M., 477. 
Twining, Prof., -324. 
Twitchell, Benjamin, 204. 
John, 109, no, 130, 
13'. 145. J 57. -j3- 
Samuel, 283. 
Two-Mile Island, 19S. 
Tyler, Bennett, 473. 
Joseph, 493, 504. 
Morris, 333 ; Biog , 334^ 
Thomas, 109. 
William, Jr., loi. 
Tyther, Wm. H., 493, 505. 
Ufford, Ira L., 663. 
Union Bank, 470. 
Up Town, 163. 
Upson, Hiram, 482. 

Mfg. Co., 482. 
Upson Post, 484. 
Utley, Rev. Mr., 631. 
Van Dun, Charles, 493- 
Vinton, J., a(^- 
Vose, Thomas, 150, 207, 
257, 272, 273, 45-. 

565- 
Vorse, J. H., 287, 292; 

Biog., 663. 
Valley, The Naugatuck, 

description of, 315. 
Van Rcns.selacr, Stephen, 

457- 
Wachu, xcv. 

Wadhams, Geo. H-, 312. 
Waerashganoot, 108. 
Wakclce, Henry, 127. 

I^wis, 484. 

Louisa, 637. 
Wakeman, Mr., xxviii. 
Waldo, Loren P., 537- 



Wales, Dr., 577. 
Walker, Aaron, 520. 

Wm. F., 471. 
Wallis, Lord, 594. 
Wallace, Thomas, Biog., 
663. 
Thomas, Jr., 487. 
Walsh, Owen, 508. 
Waukacun, 94. 
Wangroth, Francis, 501. 
War, English and French, 

91, 92. 
War of 1S12, 300. 
War of the Rebellion, 486. 
Ward, Charles T., 496- 

Bennett, S02. 
Ware, Elton W., 491. 
Warner, Ebenezer, 188, 204, 
450. 
Theodore F., 512. 
Warriner, Marcus, 508. 
Washband, P.owers, 469. 
Washburn, Ebenezer, 462. 
W^ashborn, Ephraim, 147. 
Washburn, Hope, 88. 
Josiah, 161. 
Samuel, 109, 130, 157. 
Widow, 117. 
Wm., 109, no, 129, 

130. 157- 
W^ashington Bridge, 269, 
271,272. 
General, 177, 199, 580, 
584, 594- 
Waskawakes, n9. 
Watapeck, xcv. 
Waters, David R., 513. 

Henry VV., 51 2. 
Watiens, 132. 
Watrous, Geo. H., 53S. 
Watson, David, 516. 
Maria, 635. 
Royal I., 635. 
Wattak'i, 120. 
Watts, Robert, 635. 
Wayland, Francis. 538. 
Wayne, Gen., 240, 241. 
Weaver, Jabcz, 505. 
Webb, Col., 578. 

Joseph, 15iog., 665. 
Rev. Joseph, 87, 98. 
Webster, A. W., 629. 
Daniel, 632, 651. 
J. W., 538. 
Wm. R., 4<>'^- 
Wecobemeas, xcv. 
Weed, John, 129. 145. '5''' 
Jonas, 145. 
Joseph, 145. 
Wequacuk, 96 
Wequaruush, xcv. 
Welch, |ohn, 50S, 511. 
Werner," Frederick, 500. 



Weroces, 96. 

Wescpintook, 95, 202, 229. 
Wetupaco, 94. 
Weyle, Gilbert, 512. 
Whcadon, Charles A., 408. 
Wheelan, Franklin, 508. 
Whelan, Bernard, 502. 

Patrick, 5n. 
Wheeler, Abel, 243, 284. 

Elbert £., 513. 

Horace, 4n. 

James, 147, 24S. 

John, 494- 

Joseph, 96, 163, 164, 

183, 184. 
Joseph, Jr., 96. 
Moses, 184, 1S8. 
Nathan, 450. 
Robert, 184, 187, 243. 
Sally, 473- 
Samuel, 179, 187, 230, 

231, 243- 
Samuel, Jr., 175, 186. 
Thomas, 245, 262. 
Whipple, James P.., 493. 
Whistler, John, 503. 
Whitcomb, Cyrus B., Biog., 
665. 
Eliza, 665. 
James, 665. 
Rev. C. B., 292. 
White, Augustus, 516. 
Calvin, 470, (106. 
Carleton, 251. 
James, 520. 
Joel, 477- 
John, 469. 
Rev. Calvin, 299. 
Rev. Mr., 156. 
W^ W., 484- 
Whitefield, Rev. George, 

151- 
Whitemore, E. Turrel, 1S6. 

John, 204. 

Terrel, 184, 45°- 
I Whiting, Henry, 169, 256. 

Julius E., 508. 

Louisa S., 605. 

William, 256. 
Whitlock, John, 340, 343- 
Whitney, Archibald, 252, 

(XX3. 

Henry, 1S4, 1S6, 

Ranford, 161, 187. 
Stephen, i'>3, 248, 600. 
• Stephen, Jr., 252. 

Thomas B , 493. 
Whiltingham, Bishop, 540. 
Whittlesey, Charles, 188. 
Mr., 210. 
Samuel, 134. 
, Whymbs, John D., 509. 



844 



INDEX. 



■'y 



Wigwam Swamp, xcvii. 
Wilbur, Warren, 493, 494. 
Wilcox, Darius, 409. 

John, 500. 

& Howe Co., 409. 
Wilcoxson, George, 504. 

Judge, 236. 

N. J., 229; Biog., 666. 
Wildman, Rev. Benj., 2S4. 
Wilkinson Brothers & Co., 
408. 

Thomas P., 408. 

Wm., 408. 
Will Doctor, 108, 120. 

Toto, 108. 

Mashok, 96. 
Willard, J. L., 475. 
Williams, Bishop, 471. 

Charles, 501. 

John, 501. 

Joshua, 286. 

Mr., 139. 

Peter T., 493. 
Willoughby, Martin V., 510. 
Wilson, Wm., 519. 

Wyant, 517. 
Winterbotham, Ann S.,461. 

John, 452, 453. 

John H., 460. 

Martha E , 461. 

Robert, 461. 

Wm., 461. 
Wire, Samuel, Biog., 666. 
Wiswell, James, 46S. 
Wolcott, Oliver, 2S4, 6co 

Wm., 157. 
Wolfshon, Saul, 493, 501 



Wonawak, xlviii. 
Wood, Abner, 462. 
Charles, 504. 
-Charles II., 508. 
Woodcock, Samuel, 460. 
Woodbury path, 304. 
Wooden, Hezekiah, 161, 

204, 451. 
Woodruff, Geo. C, xxx. 
John, 51 1. 
Oscar L., 502. 
Woodtick, xcvi. 
Woodward, Eugene, 49-, 

499. 
Woolsey, Elijah, 221, 463. 
Wooster, Abraham, 145, 
161, 237, 667. 
Arthur, 238, 283. 
Capt John, 193. 
Clark, 666. 

Col. Wm. B., 408, 409. 
Daniel, 216. 
David, 79, 86, 90, 96, 
109, no, 156, 218, 
229, 444, 447. 
Edward, 79, 82, 86, 93, 

124, 608, 6[i, 667. 
Edwin, 393, 406 ; Biog., 

407, 408. 
Eleazer, 18S. 
Elizabeth, 283. 
Ephraim, 469. 
Gen. Clark, 312. 
Gen. David, 173, 174, 
176, 177, r8i, 237, 
273 ; J^iogv 667. 



Wooster, Henry, 109, no, 
112, 132, 213. 
Isaac, 205 
Jacob, 225. 
John, 144, 160, i6i, 

204, 307, 449, 450. 
Joseph, 238. 
Leslie B., 515. 
Mary, 130. 
Moses, 156. 
Nathan, 238. 
Nathaniel, 238. 
Wooster's Park, 225. 
Wooster, Rev. Henry, 23S 
Russell, 238. 
Samuel, 161, 237. 
Sylvester, 157. 
Thomas, 78, 79, 81, 84, 
86, 95, 96, 109, no, 
115, n7, 130, 672. 
Timothy, 98, 109, no, 
130, 145. 153. 156- 
157. 229. 
Walter, 188. 
William B., 238, 481, 
505, 662. 
Worthington, Thomas E , 

50S. 
Wright D. R., 538. 
Wyant, George S., 519. 
Yale, Thomas, 175, 186, 188. 
Mary, 533. 
Mr., 283, 548. 
Young, Henry, 509. 
Yyouson, 95. 



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